Mark Geyer OAM
Former Rugby League Player & Media Identity
Mark Geyer OAM enjoyed a contentious professional career in rugby league during the 1980s and 1990s. Renowned for spending as much time on the field as he spent on the sidelines, he represented Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin.
Since hanging up his boots, Mark has been part of The Grill Team -Triple M’s Sydney breakfast show, a regular panellist on the rugby league talk show The Sunday Roast, and a panellist on NRL on FOX. He has also written extensively about rugby league for various newspapers and sporting magazines. Articulate, engaging and spontaneous, Mark Geyer is a speaker who never fails to surprise and entertain.
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Mark Geyer didn’t play as many games as he should have. Suspensions kept pace with appearances on the field for a good part of his career, due in part to his exuberant tackling and in greater part to a dose of hot-headedness.
While the majority of Mark’s club career was spent with Penrith, he also played with the Balmain Tigers and the Western Reds. A veteran of 14 seasons in the top grade, Mark reached the height of his career during a six year stint at Penrith. He helped the Panthers to two Grand Finals against Canberra in 1990 and 1991, setting up all three Penrith tries in the triumph over the Raiders the second year. During this period he represented Australia on three occasions and played Origin for the Blues.
But in the 1990s Mark was also one of the code’s more controversial players due to his ability to generate headlines regarding both his on- and off- field activities, which gained him at least as much attention as his playing talent. He was involved in that infamous confrontation with Queensland captain Wally Lewis that cost him a five-match suspension. Mark just couldn’t keep out of trouble.
Since retiring, Mark Geyer has made a name for himself in the media. He has also been involved in a number of charities, such as the Fight For Life charity boxing event, and as the ambassador for the Save Our Sons charity. In response to the 2010-2011 Queensland floods, Mark organised the 2011 Legends of Origin charity match which raised $455,345 for the recovery effort.
On Australia Day 2013, Mark was announced in the Honours List. He received an Order Of Australia medal for “service to the sport of Rugby League football, and to the community through a range of charitable organisations.”