11 Facts About Laurie Spina

Laurie Joseph Spina was born on 21 May 1963 and is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and rugby league commentator.

In 1995, Spina was the inaugural captain of the North Queensland Cowboys.

Laurie Spina's consistency earned him his first Foley Shield match against previous year title holders, Mount Isa, in which he won Man of the match.

In 1983, Laurie Spina moved to Sydney, where he joined the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership.

Laurie Spina would spend the rest of the season as North Sydney's starting halfback.

Laurie Spina was the starting halfback throughout the majority of his stint with the Roosters, starting 89 of his 99 games in the position.

In 1987, many judges thought Laurie Spina would represent Queensland in the 1987 State of Origin series after playing in a State of Origin trial played at Lang Park between a Queensland Residents team and a New South Wales-based Residents team.

Laurie Spina was widely thought to have had a better game than his opposite halfback, Ipswich's Allan Langer.

Laurie Spina moved to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for the 1990 season.

In 1995, at age 31, Laurie Spina returned to first grade, being named the inaugural captain of the newly introduced North Queensland Cowboys in the Australian Rugby League competition.

Laurie Spina retired at the end of the 1995 season, playing 13 games and scoring one try for North Queensland.