Glenn Patrick Lazarus (born on 11 December 1965 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He primarily played as a front-rower. He had a playing career which spanned between 1987 and 1999, during which he played for premiership-winning teams with the Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm. Also known as 'the brick with eyes', he was, at his peak, widely-regarded as the best front-row forward in the game.
Lazarus began his first grade career with the Canberra Raiders in 1987, going on to win the 1989 New South Wales Rugby League premiership with them. He would play in the next two seasons' grand finals with Canberra, winning the 1990 championship but losing the 1991 grand final, both against the Penrith Panthers.
In 1992, Lazarus joined the Brisbane Broncos, with whom he would play the largest portion of his career. He won two more premierships with them in 1992 and 1993 (both against the St. George Dragons). This was a remarkable feat of playing in consecutive grand finals for five seasons. In fact, it was only a broken leg suffered during a World Club Challenge match in 1997 that prevented Lazarus from also playing in that year's premiership-winning Brisbane side as well.
Lazarus joined the newly established Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League's inaugural season in 1998, and was named as the club's first captain. He went on to win another premiership with the Storm in 1999. Lazarus announced his retirement from the game with five premierships for three different clubs (Canberra 1989-90, Brisbane 1992-93 and Melbourne 1999), a truly unique achievement.
Lazarus played 19 matches for New South Wales in State of Origin between 1989 and 1999, scoring two tries. He is the equal ninth most capped New South Wales player (with Benny Elias and Michael O'Connor) and, at the time of his retirement, was second only to Paul Harragon as the most capped New South Wales forward in Origin history.[1] He was known for his powerful, relentless charges and in his prime was the first prop chosen for any NSW State of Origin side.
He was selected for the 1990 and 1994 Kangaroo tours, although his appearances in the latter tour were restricted due to injuries.
Opposing Great Britain and New Zealand sides, when quizzed, frequently regard Glenn Lazarus as unmatched as a forward.[citation needed] It is widely recognised that Lazarus is one of the best props of the modern era.
In 2000, Lazarus was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.[2] In 2005, the western grandstand of Olympic Park Stadium was named the Glenn Lazarus stand in his honour.[3]
For the Storm's tenth year, Lazarus was named captain of the decade.
In February 2008, Lazarus was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.[4]
At the end of the 2008 Queensland Cup season, Lazarus, who served as assistant coach at the Ipswich Jets club under the departing Kevin Walters was named as head coach of the club from the 2009 season.
