Mark Coyne (born 16 August 1967) is an Australian former rugby league footballer, a state and international representative player and an Insurance Executive. His football club career was with the St George Dragons and the joint-venture of the St George Illawarra Dragons – he captained both sides. He played principally at but sometimes as a in his notable representative career. He was also the brother of another first grade footballer, Peter Coyne.
In an era when players also worked while playing Coyne had already spent ten years working in the Financial Industry utilizing his marketing degree before retiring from the NRL in 1999. Upon retirement he moved into the insurance industry focussing on personal injury claims management. His knowledge and experience led him to senior roles within the industry, including Executive General Manager of GIO's national workers compensation claims operations and Executive/Managing Director of Coal Services Pty Ltd, a specialist workers compensation insurance scheme for the coal mining industry.
In 2012 Mark commenced as Chief Executive of EML after joining the organisation two years earlier. Under Mark's leadership, EML has seen strong growth over the past six years with the business doubling in size. Mark has a degree in Business Management, was a Director of NRMA Road Service and a Director of the Police and Citizens Youth Club for a decade. He remains committed to charity work as a board member of the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation and is a Benefactor of the NSW Children's Cancer Institute.
Club career
A Queenslander, Coyne was graded with the Brothers club in Brisbane, playing in the 1987 Brisbane Rugby League Grand Final and scoring a try. He then relocated to the St George Dragons in Sydney in 1988. He made his first grade debut in 1989 and impressed with his trademark right foot step.
In Round 14 of the 1991 season, Coyne became the first player to score a try on the famous Adelaide Oval in the first NSWRL premiership match played in South Australia. On a cold and wet night in June, St. George defeated Balmain 16–2 in front of 28,884 fans, the largest attendance of the 1991 minor round.
In 1992, Coyne played in St. George's 28-8 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos. Coyne played in the 1993 Grand Final for the St. George club where once again they lost to Brisbane 14–6. 1994 saw Coyne take on the role as captain of St. George, a year when they failed to make the finals.
Coyne's leadership capabilities were fully acknowledged in 1995 when he was captain of St. George, Vice Captain of Queensland and made his Test debut for the Kangaroos. In 1996 Coyne lead the Dragons to another Grand Final, but despite playing a great game himself the club lost controversially to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 20–8.
In 1998, Coyne was honoured with a testimonial year at St. George and impressively, he chose to donate all the proceeds ($135,000) of that testimonial season to a children's charity.
Coyne retired in 1999, whilst playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and after 12 seasons wearing the Dragons' Big Red V. By the end of his career he had played in 9 Test matches; 19 Origins and more than 200 first grade matches, of which more than 100 were as captain.
Representative career
Coyne made his State of Origin debut in game II of 1990 for Queensland, after impressive performances in the centres for his club. Mark had to bide his time and wait another two years before being selected for Queensland in games II and III of 1992. In game II that year Coyne popped up a great pass to send Billy Moore over for a try. Queensland went on to win the match 5–4. In 1993 Coyne played in all three games and set up a try for Mal Meninga in game II.
But 1994 would ultimately provide the most memorable of Coyne's State of Origin appearances and enabled his entry to the annals of Maroon and Origin folklore. In game I, with Queensland down 12-10 and 40 seconds left on the clock, from deep in their own half the Maroons started one of the most memorable try-scoring movements. Allan Langer handled the ball twice in the 11-pass sequence which was finished when Coyne extended his arm in the right corner to thwart the last ditched defensive efforts of Brad Fittler and Ricky Stuart, breaking Blues' hearts in the process and winning the match in a heart-stopping finish. Although NSW went on to win the series 2–1, Channel 9 television commentator Ray "Rabbits" Warren famously stated in his call of the try "That's not a try that's a miracle".