1. Craig Gower was born on 29 April 1978 and is an Italian-Australian former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
28 Facts About Craig Gower
1. 2.
Craig Gower is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia and rugby union for Italy.
3.
Craig Gower returned to rugby league with the London Broncos in the Super League and then finished his playing career with one more National Rugby League season at the Newcastle Knights.
4.
Craig Gower played his junior football for the Colyton Colts before being signed by the Penrith Panthers.
5.
In Round 11 of the 1996 ARL season Craig Gower made his ARL debut for the Panthers against the Gold Coast Chargers.
6.
Craig Gower made his representative debut in his second season in first-grade when still aged only eighteen.
7.
Craig Gower was selected in the Australian Super League side for the ANZAC Test against New Zealand in 1997.
8.
Craig Gower appeared in both Super League Tests against New Zealand and made the end of year Super League tour to Great Britain, playing in all three Tests in England at halfback.
9.
Craig Gower was selected for the ANZAC Test that year but was dismissed following a disciplinary incident.
10.
In 2000, Craig Gower won the Hooker of the Year award at the 2000 Dally M Awards.
11.
In 2002, Craig Gower debuted for the City Origin team in the annual City vs Country Origin clash.
12.
Between 2002 and 2005, Craig Gower captained the Panthers, the highlight of which was the 2003 NRL Grand Final victory over the Sydney Roosters.
13.
Craig Gower was named Australia's captain for the Test match against France on the 2005 Tri-Nations tour.
14.
Craig Gower became the second Penrith Panthers player to captain his country, after Brad Fittler in 1995.
15.
On 26 June 2007, Craig Gower switched codes by signing with French Top 14 rugby union side Bayonne, having two years still to run on his contract at the Panthers.
16.
In 2008, Craig Gower expressed his desire to play rugby union for Italy.
17.
On 13 June 2009, Craig Gower made his first appearance for Italy at fly-half against Australia after being selected for the mid-season tour of Australia and New Zealand.
18.
On 14 November 2012, Craig Gower extended his Broncos contract by a year, making him a Bronco until the end of 2014.
19.
In June 2013, Craig Gower gained a release from his Broncos contract to return to Australia and negotiate a contract with National Rugby League club the Newcastle Knights.
20.
On 8 June 2013, Craig Gower signed a contract with the Knights for the remainder of the 2013 NRL season.
21.
Craig Gower was named in the Italy squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
22.
On 25 June 2016, Craig Gower was inducted into the Penrith Panthers hall of fame alongside Grahame Moran, Royce Simmons, and Greg Alexander.
23.
Craig Gower has been involved in a number of alcohol-related off-field incidents.
24.
In 1999, Craig Gower exposed himself to a female Irish tourist in a Coogee bar, blaming his behaviour on alcohol intoxication.
25.
Craig Gower was dumped from the squad and fined A$2,500 by the NRL and a further A$500 in court after pleading guilty to indecent exposure.
26.
Craig Gower was handed a "final warning" by the National Rugby League and fined A$100,000, with A$90,000 to be paid to an NRL programme encouraging the responsible use of alcohol by league players and $10,000 to replace the destroyed golf cart.
27.
Craig Gower was "deeply unhappy" that the Penrith Panthers club did not defend his reputation, and at one stage threatened to "walk" from the club.
28.
Allegedly inebriated with alcohol in a bar at Kings Cross on 11 February 2007, Craig Gower allegedly tried to kiss one man before biting him on the neck and sparking a brawl, and is accused of assaulting another man.