Gold Coast

(formerly Gold Coast-Tweed)

Gold Coast-Tweed were one of the three teams admitted to the competition for 1988, along with Brisbane and Newcastle.

The club was taken over by the Seagulls Leagues club in February 1989, and for 1990 they dropped 'Tweed' from their name and changed their nickname and playing strip. The arrangement lasted until the end of 1995, when the club grew tired of the lack of on field success and withdrew their support.

Local millionaire businessman Jeff Muller stepped in to take over the license, moving the team to Carrara and changing their name to the Gladiators (although many others were suggested). Two months of controversy ensued, mostly brought about by Muller's interference in the day-to-day running of the club. (It was reported that his wife has ordered the selection of players for the first grade side on the attractiveness of their 'butts'.) During Muller's reign the club went through a succession of chief executives and first grade coaches, but they also won their first ever major trophy, the World Sevens Plate. In the end the ARL kicked him out and took over the running of the club themselves.

At the end of 1997 the South Queensland club ran into financial difficulties, and an attempt was made to merge them with the Chargers. However, the attempt failed.

Ground: Carrara Stadium. Capacity: 18,000.
Formerly: Seagulls Stadium, Tweed Heads (1988-95).
First Season: 1988.
Nickname: The Chargers.
Formerly: The Giants (1988-89),
The Seagulls (1990-95),
The Gladiators (Feb 1996).
Colours: Jade, purple, black and gold.
Formerly: light and dark blue (1988),
black, white and silver (1989),
white with black and red stripes (1990-95).
Coach: Phil Economides.
Representative Players 1996: nil.

Last Ten Years

      PL WN DR LS BY  FOR  AGA  DIF PTS   PLACE
Coach: Bob McCarthy
1989  22  7  1 14  -  223  383 -160  15   14/16
1990  22  4  0 18  -  233  567 -334   8   15/16
Coach: Malcolm Clift
1991  22  2  1 19  -  240  492 -252   5   16/16
Coach: John Harvey
1992  22  6  1 15  -  288  423 -135  11*  16/16
1993  22  1  0 21  -  229  572 -343   2   16/16
1994  22  5  1 16  -  363  618 -255  11   15/16
1995  22  4  1 17  -  350  628 -278   9   17/20
Coach: Phil Economides
1996  22  5  1 16  -  359  521 -162  11   18/20
  * 2 points deducted for a breach of the replacement rule.
1997  22 10  1 11  -  438  466  -28  21    7/12    6th
1998  24  4  0 20  -  289  654 -365   8   19/20

Honours -- Club

Coca-Cola World Sevens (Plate): 1996.
First Grade highest placing: 6th in 1997.

Harold Matthews Shield: 1991.

Honours -- Players

Club Internationals (2): Wally Lewis, Dale Shearer.

First Grade Records

Single Match:
- Most tries: 4--Shane Russell v Wests, 8 Mar 1997; 3--Danny Peacock v Penrith, 28 May 1995.
- Most goals: 8--Brendan Hurst v South Queensland, 21 Jul 1996; 6--Mike Eden v Easts, 29 Apr 1989; Mike Eden v Manly, 2 Jul 1989; Wayne Bartrim v Easts, 27 Aug 1994.
- Most points: 20--Wayne Bartrim (2T,6G) v Balmain, 31 Jul 1994; Brendan Hurst (1T,8G) v South Queensland, 21 Jul 1996; 17--Mike Eden (1T,6G,1FG) v Manly, 2 Jul 1989; 16--Mike Eden (1T,6G) v Easts, 29 Apr 1989; Craig Weston (2T,4G) v Souths, 21 Jun 1992; Wayne Bartrim (1T,6G) v Easts, 27 Aug 1994.
- Attendance at Carrara Stadium: 22,688 v Brisbane, 18 Mar 1994.
- Attendance at Seagulls Stadium: 13,423 v Brisbane, 8 May 1988. (A crowd of 13,900 watched the Wally Lewis Celebrity Challenge, 19 Sep 1992).
Season:
- Most tries: 14--Danny Peacock, 1995; 10--Wayne Bartrim, 1994; 8--Scott Mieni, 1988; Lee Oudenryn, 1996.
- Most points: 124--Wayne Bartrim (10T,42G) 1994; 107--Brendan Hurst (3T,47G,1FG) 1996; 90--Brendan Hurst (2T,41G) 1995; 79--Mike Eden (1T,36G,3FG) 1988.
For club:
- Most tries: 28--Danny Peacock, 1991-95; 18--Wayne Bartrim; 15--Jamie Goddard*; 12--Ben Gonzales; 11--Brett French; 10--Mark Ross.
- Most points: 224--Wayne Bartrim (18T,76G); 197--Brendan Hurst* (5T,88G,1FG); 142--Mike Eden (4T,61G,4FG); 112--Danny Peacock (28T); 104--Peter Benson (8T,36G).
- Most appearances: 82--Brett Horsnell, Clinton Mohr; 77--Wayne Bartrim; 72--Robert Simpkins; 68--Peter Gill; 67--Chris Close, Danny Peacock; 61--Billy Johnstone; 58--Ben Gonzales; 56--Geoff Bagnall, Terry Cook, Ron Gibbs.
Best wins: 52-4 v South Queensland, Suncorp Stadium, 21 Jul 1996; 38-12 v Souths, Sydney Football Stadium, 5 Aug 1990; 32-6 v Balmain, Seagulls Stadium, 31 Jul 1994; 29-6 v Manly, Seagulls Stadium, 2 Jul 1989; 28-6 v Souths, Seagulls Stadium, 25 Mar 1995.
Worst losses: 56-6 v Canberra, Bruce Stadium, 13 Aug 1995; 46-0 v Manly, Brookvale Oval, 15 Aug 1993; 46-0 v Cronulla, Caltex Field, 5 Jun 1994; 50-6 v Canberra, Bruce Stadium, 17 Apr 1988; 46-2 v Balmain, Seagulls Stadium, 23 Jun 1990; 48-4 v Canberra, Bruce Stadium, 22 May 1993; 50-6 v Newcastle, Marathon Stadium, 22 Aug 1993.
First Grade Coaches: Bob McCarthy (1988-90), Malcolm Clift (1991), Wally Lewis (1992-93), John Harvey (1994-95), various (early 1996), Phil Economides (1996-present).

First Grade Premiership record (1997)

-------------------------------------------------------------
Auckland                2   0   0   2    30    72   -42  0.00
  Carrara Stadium       1   0   0   1    14    28   -14  0.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   0   0   1    16    44   -28  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Balmain                12   5   0   7   198   232   -34  0.83
  Seagulls Stadium      3   1   0   2    50    82   -32  0.67
  Carrara Stadium       2   2   0   0    54    22    32  2.00
  Leichhardt Oval       6   2   0   4    80   112   -32  0.67
  Parramatta            1   0   0   1    14    16    -2  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Brisbane               12   2   0  10   164   311  -147  0.33
  Seagulls Stadium      4   1   0   3    73    99   -26  0.50
  Carrara Stadium       1   1   0   0    25    12    13  2.00
  Suncorp Stadium       4   0   0   4    38   100   -62  0.00
  ANZ Stadium           3   0   0   3    28   100   -72  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Canberra               14   2   0  12   120   397  -277  0.29
  Seagulls Stadium      6   2   0   4    58   110   -52  0.67
  Carrara Stadium       1   0   0   1    12    26   -14  0.00
  Seiffert Oval         2   0   0   2     6    74   -68  0.00
  Bruce Stadium         5   0   0   5    44   187  -143  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Canterbury             12   0   0  12   126   277  -151  0.00
  Seagulls Stadium      7   0   0   7    74   148   -74  0.00
  Belmore               5   0   0   5    52   129   -77  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Cronulla               13   1   0  12    96   301  -205  0.15
  Seagulls Stadium      7   1   0   6    60   159   -99  0.29
  Shark Park            6   0   0   6    36   142  -106  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Suburbs        17   2   0  15   246   437  -191  0.24
  Seagulls Stadium      6   2   0   4   102   154   -52  0.67
  Carrara Stadium       2   0   0   2    34    47   -13  0.00
  SFS                   8   0   0   8   100   204  -104  0.00
  Parramatta            1   0   0   1    10    32   -22  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Illawarra              17   7   1   9   233   372  -139  0.88
  Seagulls Stadium      6   3   0   3    81   104   -23  1.00
  Carrara Stadium       2   2   0   0    39    30     9  2.00
  WIN Stadium           8   1   1   6    88   224  -136  0.38
  Parramatta            1   1   0   0    25    14    11  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Manly Warringah        16   2   1  13   194   380  -186  0.31
  Seagulls Stadium      6   1   0   5    73    98   -25  0.33
  Carrara Stadium       2   1   0   1    31    20    11  1.00
  Brookvale Oval        8   0   1   7    90   262  -172  0.13
-------------------------------------------------------------
Newcastle              13   6   1   6   181   299  -118  1.00
  Seagulls Stadium      6   3   1   2    94    85     9  1.17
  Carrara Stadium       1   1   0   0    32    24     8  2.00
  Marathon Stadium      6   2   0   4    55   190  -135  0.67
-------------------------------------------------------------
North Queensland        2   1   0   1    24    32    -8  1.00
  Carrara Stadium       1   0   0   1    14    24   -10  0.00
  Stockland Stadium     1   1   0   0    10     8     2  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
North Sydney           16   1   1  14   184   442  -258  0.19
  Seagulls Stadium      5   1   1   3    46   110   -64  0.60
  Carrara Stadium       2   0   0   2    42    62   -20  0.00
  North Sydney Oval     9   0   0   9    96   270  -174  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Parramatta             13   6   0   7   226   292   -66  0.92
  Seagulls Stadium      5   4   0   1   101    68    33  1.60
  Carrara Stadium       1   0   0   1     8    18   -10  0.00
  Parramatta            7   2   0   5   117   206   -89  0.57
-------------------------------------------------------------
Penrith                11   1   1   9   142   292  -150  0.27
  Seagulls Stadium      6   1   0   5    68   149   -81  0.33
  Carrara Stadium       1   0   0   1     8    14    -6  0.00
  North Sydney Oval     1   0   0   1    12    47   -35  0.00
  Penrith               3   0   1   2    54    82   -28  0.33
-------------------------------------------------------------
St George              16   2   1  13   202   360  -158  0.31
  Seagulls Stadium      7   1   1   5    92   152   -60  0.43
  Carrara Stadium       2   1   0   1    32    36    -4  1.00
  Kogarah               5   0   0   5    54   126   -72  0.00
  Belmore               1   0   0   1    12    14    -2  0.00
  Shark Park            1   0   0   1    12    32   -20  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
South Queensland        4   3   0   1   122    50    72  1.50
  Seagulls Stadium      1   0   0   1     8    14    -6  0.00
  Carrara Stadium       1   1   0   0    40    18    22  2.00
  Suncorp Stadium       2   2   0   0    74    18    56  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
South Sydney           17   7   1   9   326   304    22  0.88
  Seagulls Stadium      5   2   0   3    94    89     5  0.80
  Carrara Stadium       2   1   0   1    44    22    22  1.00
  SFS                   9   3   1   5   170   177    -7  0.78
  Redfern Oval          1   1   0   0    18    16     2  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Western Reds            2   0   1   1    34    42    -8  0.50
  Seagulls Stadium      1   0   0   1    20    28    -8  0.00
  WACA Perth            1   0   1   0    14    14     0  1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Western Suburbs        13   1   1  11   148   310  -162  0.23
  Seagulls Stadium      6   0   0   6    74   144   -70  0.00
  Carrara Stadium       1   0   0   1    10    26   -16  0.00
  Campbelltown          6   1   1   4    64   140   -76  0.50
-------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL                 222  49   9 164  2996  5202 -2206  0.48
-------------------------------------------------------------

1996 results

Premiership:
  1. Mar 23s H North Sydney         L 26-42  6   8,291
  2.     31  A Manly Warringah      L 22-36 18   5,895
  3. Apr  7  * South Sydney         W 18-16 15   4,015
             at Redfern Oval.
  4.     14  H Manly Warringah      L  6-10 17  10,643
  5.     20s H Illawarra            W 28-20 11   7,251
  6.     28  A Parramatta           W 27-14 10   9,160
  7. May  4s H Sydney City          L 10-13 13   3,300
  8.     12  A Newcastle            L  0-42 14  12,471
  9.     18s A Cronulla Sutherland  L 10-18 14   3,623
 10. Jun  1s H Sydney Tigers        W 28-16 14   3,670
 11.     16  H Penrith              L  8-14 15   1,500
 12.     23  A Western Suburbs      L 10-42 16   4,083
 13.     29s H South Sydney         L 16-18 16  11,153
 14. Jul  5f A Western Reds         D 14-14 16   5,728
 15.     14  H Auckland             L 14-28 16  11,870
 16.     21  A South Queensland     W 52-4  15   8,776
 17.     26f H North Queensland     L 14-24 15   5,777
 18. Aug  3s H St George            L 10-22 16   9,029
 19.     11  A Canterbury Bankstown L 16-26 16   5,760
 20.     17s H Canberra             L 12-26 17   5,901
 21.     25  A Brisbane             L 10-38 18  25,749
 22. Sep  1  A North Sydney         L  8-38 18   6,177

Results for the last five years

Auckland:                         North Queensland:
    1995 L 16-44 (a)                  1995 W 10-8  (a)
    1996 L 14-28 (h)                  1996 L 14-24 (h)
Balmain:                          North Sydney:
    1992 W 26-14 (a)                  1992 L  6-19 (a)
    1993 L  6-12 (a)                  1993 L 14-22 (a)
    1994 L 18-40 (a)                  1993 L 16-46 (h)
    1994 W 32-6  (h)                  1994 L  8-36 (a)
    1995 L 14-16 (a)                  1994 L 10-36 (h)
    1996 W 28-16 (h)                  1995 L 10-50 (a)
Brisbane:                             1995 D 14-14 (h)
    1992 L 10-14 (Wagga)              1996 L 26-42 (h)
    1992 L 18-24 (a)                  1996 L  8-38 (a)
    1992 L 10-30 (h)              Parramatta:
    1993 L  6-14 (a)                  1992 W 26-6  (h)
    1994 W 25-12 (h)                  1993 L 10-32 (a)
    1994 L 12-48 (a)                  1994 L 24-26 (h)
    1995 L 20-27 (h)                  1994 W 36-24 (a)
    1996 L 10-38 (a)                  1995 W 22-18 (h)
Canberra:                             1996 W 27-14 (a)
    1992 W 12-10 (h)              Penrith:
    1992 L 10-33 (a)                  1992 L 12-16 (a)
    1993 L  4-48 (a)                  1992 W 12-8  (h)
    1994 L 14-18 (Penrith)            1993 L 18-30 (h)
    1994 W  8-4  (h)                  1994 D 18-18 (a)
    1995 L  6-56 (a)                  1994 L 20-22 (h)
    1996 L 12-26 (h)                  1995 L 24-48 (a)
Canterbury Bankstown:                 1996 L  8-14 (h)
    1992 L 16-20 (h)              South Queensland:
    1993 L  0-6  (Brisbane)           1995 L  8-14 (h)
    1993 L  4-35 (h)                  1996 W 52-4  (a)
    1994 L 20-44 (a)              South Sydney:
    1995 L 20-32 (h)                  1992 W 20-6  (a)
    1996 L 16-26 (a)                  1993 L 24-36 (a)
Cronulla Sutherland:                  1993 L 13-16 (h)
    1992 L  0-20 (h)                  1994 L 12-30 (a)
    1992 L 12-14 (a)                  1995 W 28-6  (h)
    1993 L  2-24 (h)                  1995 W 22-2  (a)
    1994 L  0-46 (a)                  1996 W 18-16 (a)
    1995 L 14-40 (h)                  1996 L 16-18 (h)
    1996 L 10-18 (a)              St George:
Illawarra:                            1992 L 10-20 (h)
    1992 W 18-8  (h)                  1993 L 18-26 (h)
    1992 L 14-36 (a)                  1994 L 16-40 (a)
    1993 L  4-5  (h)                  1994 L 20-30 (h)
    1993 L  0-26 (a)                  1995 L  6-18 (h)
    1994 L 14-30 (h)                  1995 L 16-46 (a)
    1995 L 16-34 (a)                  1996 L 10-22 (h)
    1996 W 28-20 (h)              Sydney City:
Manly Warringah:                      1992 W 30-10 (Brisbane)
    1992 L 22-28 (a)                  1992 L  8-18 (a)
    1992 L  2-16 (h)                  1993 L 12-14 (a)
    1993 L  8-14 (h)                  1993 L 10-24 (h)
    1993 L  0-46 (a)                  1994 L 12-30 (h)
    1994 L 14-18 (h)                  1994 L 28-30 (a)
    1995 L  8-28 (h)                  1995 L 16-28 (a)
    1995 L 10-36 (a)                  1996 L 10-13 (h)
    1996 L 22-36 (a)              Western Reds:
    1996 L  6-10 (h)                  1995 L 20-28 (h)
Newcastle:                            1996 D 14-14 (a)
    1992 L  6-42 (a)                  1992 L  8-15 (h)
    1992 D 20-20 (h)                  1993 L 10-14 (a)
    1993 W 22-6  (h)                  1993 L 22-32 (h)
    1993 L  6-50 (a)                  1994 L  4-38 (a)
    1994 W 12-10 (h)                  1995 L 16-26 (h)
    1995 L 20-27 (h)                  1996 L 10-42 (a)
    1996 L  0-42 (a)