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| Full name | Neville Costigan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1985-03-16)16 March 1985 (age 40) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 101 kg (15 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock, Second-row, Prop, Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Neville Costigan (born 16 March 1985) is a Papua New Guinean former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. APapua New Guinea international andQueenslandState of Origin representative forward, he played in theNational Rugby League for Australian clubs theBrisbane Broncos, theCanberra Raiders, theSt. George Illawarra Dragons (with whom he won the2010 NRL Grand Final) andNewcastle Knights. Costigan then finished his career in theSuper League withHull Kingston Rovers.
Born inRabaul, Papua New Guinea on 16 March 1985,[3] Costigan's father isAustralian and his mother is fromDyaul Island. He played his junior football for the Mackay Wests Tigers inQueensland, Australia, having moved to Australia with his parents at a young age. Costigan was then signed by theBrisbane Broncos.
In Round 26 of the2003 NRL season, Costigan made hisNRL début for the Broncos against theSt. George Illawarra Dragons. That year Costigan won the Broncos' Rookie of the Year award, and in his short time at the club, established a reputation as being a big hitter in defence.
In 2006, Costigan was involved in an off-field incident and had his contract terminated by the Broncos. It was revealed Costigan was charged with drink driving after he was caught driving aroundBrisbane, Queensland with ablood alcohol level of 0.13, almost three times the legal limit[4][5] As a result, he missed the Broncos'2006 NRL Grand Final victory.
After being sacked by the Broncos, Costigan signed a contract with theCanberra Raiders starting in 2007. In 2007, Costigan was seen on video headbuttingSydney Roosters wingerAmos Roberts at the conclusion of the Round 5 match between theCanberra Raiders andSydney Roosters, which caused controversy. In May 2007, Costigan was selected for theQueenslandState of Origin team. He retained his bench spot for the second game.
On 13 August 2008, Costigan signed a 2-year contract with theSt. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2009, re-joining the coach that sacked him from theBrisbane Broncos,Wayne Bennett.[6][7] In 2008, Costigan was named in thePapua New Guinea squad for the2008 Rugby League World Cup.[8] He was considered one of the 'Players to Watch' in the World Cup by NRL Live.[9] Costigan went on to play 3 games forPapua New Guinea in the tournament.
In April 2009, Costigan was named in the preliminary 25-man squad to representQueensland in the openingState of Origin match for 2009.[10] He was then selected on the bench for Game 3 after forwardsBen Hannant,Petero Civoniceva andNate Myles were ruled out due to injury and suspension. In 2010, Costigan was selected forQueensland in all 3 matches of the2010 State of Origin series. Costigan playedprop in the Dragons'2010 NRL Grand Final victory over theSydney Roosters, with the Dragons winning 32–8, in which was his final game for the club. On 27 June 2010, Costigan signed a 3-year contract with theNewcastle Knights starting in 2011.[11]
Costigan said about the move, "Newcastle is a club I am excited about going to, I have now played 100 NRL games and would like to think that I can achieve the 200 game milestone at the Knights. I had other options but I like the town, the lifestyle it offers, their fanatical supporters and the fact I can play a part in the direction the club is heading over the next couple of years. I am also impressed with the coaching staff and other people associated with the Knights that I have met."[12] On 12 April 2011, it was announced that Costigan's formerBrisbane Broncos andSt. George Illawarra Dragons coach,Wayne Bennett had signed a 4-year contract with theNewcastle Knights starting in 2012, making the Knights the third club that Costigan and Bennett had been at together. On 22 July 2013, Costigan signed a 2-year contract withSuper League sideHull Kingston Rovers starting in 2014, re-joining former Knights assistant coachCraig Sandercock.
Costigan commenced playing in England in 2014, but left the club after one season due to "personal reasons".[13]
In December 2014, Costigan signed a 2-year contract withQueensland Cup side,Townsville Blackhawks, starting in 2015.[14]