Brian Battese
# Brian Battese

Brian Battese (born 25 March 1961) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward in the 1980s. He played in the Brisbane Rugby League and New South Wales Rugby League premierships.

## Playing career

A South Lismore junior, Battese played with Wynnum-Manly Seagulls in the Brisbane Rugby League Premiership. He played in Wynnum-Manly's 1982 Grand Final victory over Souths before moving to Sydney club, Western Suburbs Magpies, in 1983. After one season with the club, he moved to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs for two seasons under coach Warren Ryan. Although Battese started the 1984 season in reserve-grade, in April he replaced the injured Phil Gould and retained the position for the remainder of the year and played in the premiership winning team against Parramatta. In 1985, Battese was a member of the victorious Canterbury team that defeated St. George in the grand final.

Battese spent the 1985–1986 off-season with Salford City in England before returning to Australia to join Eastern Suburbs. After a move to the A.C.T. in 1988, Battese played only two matches for the Canberra Raiders before retiring.

## Post playing

Battese now teaches at St. John's College in Lismore and coaches junior rugby league.

## Footnotes

* ↑ "Brian Battese". Rugby League Project. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
* ↑ Platt, Darrell (1991). A History of Salford Rugby League Club. Salford Rugby League Club.
* ↑ "The yahoos fell by the wayside as the band played on". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 October 1985.
* ↑ Geoff Newling (6 November 2008). "Farrer in a fight to cling on". The Northern Daily Leader. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
* ↑ Steve Spinks (27 May 2006). "Kyogle a tough trip for Brothers". The Northern Star. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
