Graham Lowe "Lowie" Legend who coached a team full of Carlaw Park Die Hards a team full of legends!
Playing career
Lowe was an Otahuhu Leopards junior and played in their premier side before he retired early due to injury.[1]
... Coaching career
1970s
Lowe had begun coaching the Otahuhu under-18's in 1974 before becoming a first grade coach in 1977 at Otahuhu. The club won the Fox Memorial in his first year as coach. In 1979 he moved to the Brisbane club competition, coaching the Norths Devils.
1980s
In 1980 Lowe took the Norths club to the Brisbane Rugby League's grand final which they won. From Norths he moved to Britain's Rugby Football League competition, where he was to coach English club Wigan. In 1983, Graham Lowe was appointed coach of New Zealand. He would relinquish the Kiwis role in 1985 but returned to coach the Kiwis in 1985 and 1986. Under Lowe's coaching the Kiwis won two and lost 5 games, mostly losing to the powerful Wally Lewis-led Australians (NZ lost all tree tests of the 1986 Trans-Tasman Tests).
However, under Lowe's coaching at club level, Wigan would re-emerge to be a power in the British game. It was while Lowe was coaching that Wigan were able to secure the signatures of Great Britain players Ellery Hanley and Andy Gregory. Lowe lead Wigan to their first RFL Championship in 27 years and would go on to guide Wigan to their 1987 World Club Challenge victory over Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, the English club's first ever WCC title. He would also lead Wigan to success in both the 1988 and 1989 Challenge Cup finals.
1990s
Moving back to Australia, Lowe coached the team he had beaten in the 1987 WCC, Manly-Warringah, between 1990 and 1992. He was successful in bringing the Sea Eagles back to the finals in 1990 and 1991. During 1991, Lowe was appointed coach of the Queensland
Morons State of Origin team, becoming the first and so far only non-Australian to coach in the rugby league showpiece. After being appointed
Morons coach Lowe suffered from health problems when a blood clot in his leg threatened to end not only his coaching career but his life. He recovered in time to lead Queensland to a 2–1 victory over NSW in the 1991 State of Origin series. He was re-appointed for the 1992 series but Qld went down to the Phil Gould-coached Blues two games to one.
Graham Lowe also coached the Western Samoan side for the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
In 1996, Lowe coached the North Queensland Cowboys on a one-year contract before stepping aside for Tim Sheens.
In the late 1990s he was a part owner of the Auckland Warriors.
2000s
In 2008 Lowe coached in New Zealand with the Bay of Plenty Stags of the National Provincial Competition.[2]
Administration career
On 25 November 2009, Lowe was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Manly Sea Eagles. He stood down from this position in April 2011 due to health issues.[3]
Honours
Lowe was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 1986.[4]
In the 2013 New Year Honours, Lowe was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.See More
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