Matt Donovan (born 20 September 1970) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Coffs Harbour Comets in the Group 2 Rugby League competition. He is nicknamed Mister Magic.[2]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mathew Donovan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 20 September 1970 Macksville, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing, Centre, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career
editA utility back, Donovan first played for the Macksville Sea Eagles in the Group 2 Rugby League competition and was part of the side that won the premiership in 1991.[3]
He then spent time in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, playing for the Gold Coast Seagulls in 1992 and the Penrith Panthers in 1993.
Donovan then returned to the Group 2 Rugby League competition and became a star. Donovan has played for both the Orara Valley Axemen and the Coffs Harbour club.[4][5] In 1997, with Orara Valley, he won the Premier League in overtime with five attempts at the Advocate Park.[2] In 2008 with the same club he won another title under the leadership of Darryl Fischer. He later moved to Coffs Harbor Comets, reaching the 2010 final and losing to Port Macquarie.[2]
In 2012, Donovan left the club from Coffs Harbor to join Bellingen Valley / Dorrigo Magpies, although it was rumored that he would retire after leaving Comets.[2] He has repeatedly said that he will end his career in the team from Mackville.[6] Since 2015, he has been an assistant to Gavin Hanna, President of the Woolgulga Seahorses of the Group 2 Rugby League.[7]
Donovan was named in both the 1990s and 2000s Group 2 Rugby League "team of the decade" and is regarded as one of the 'top five' from the centenary of the game in Group 2.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Mathew Donovan – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project.
- ^ a b c d White, Greg (10 February 2012). "Mr Magic out for a Magpie farewell". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Macksville District Rugby League Club reunion group2.leaguenet.com.au
- ^ Mustangs dazed after Axe attack[permanent dead link] The Macleay Argus, 28 August 2007
- ^ Finals action begins Archived 22 July 2012 at archive.today Coffs Coast Independent, 25 August 2011
- ^ Webster, Andrew (12 July 2013). "There's no hard feelings for GI in his real home". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Woolgoolga Seahorses swimming in Group 2 next year". Daily Telegraph. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Group 2 'team of decade' The Coffs Coast Advocate, 9 October 2009