Lachlan Coote


Lachlan Coote, also known by the nicknames of "Cootey", and "Pop", is a Scotland and Great Britain international rugby league footballer who plays as a for St. Helens in the Super League.
He played for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL, and was a member of the North Queensland Cowboys' 2015 NRL premiership and 2016 World Club Challenge winning sides. Coote has also played for the City Origin and Prime Minister's XIII teams.

Background

Coote was born in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. He was raised in Sydney's Greater West, and is of Scottish descent
He played his junior rugby league for the Windsor Wolves, and attended Windsor High School He was a representative of New South Wales and Australia at junior level.

Early career

Coote joined the Penrith Panthers as a teenager, playing in their premiership-winning Harold Matthews Cup team in 2006. In 2007, he played in the Panthers' S.G. Ball Cup team that lost in the grand final to the Parramatta Eels. Coote was named player of the tournament and was named to play for New South Wales under-17. Later that year he represented the Australian Schoolboys on their undefeated tour of New Zealand.
Coote started the 2008 season playing for the Panthers in the inaugural season of the National Youth Competition. A clear stand out performer, Coote scored 138 points in 12 games and was selected in the New South Wales under-18 side, scoring 14 points in the Blues' victory over Queensland. At the end of the season he was named at in the NYC Team of the Year.

Playing career

2008

After regular Panthers' fullback Rhys Wesser was ruled out with injury, Coote made his first grade début on 27 June in the Round 16 clash with the Brisbane Broncos at CUA Stadium. In the first draw of the 2008 season, he had an outstanding game, winning Man of the Match. While Wesser returned from injury in the next game against the Eels, Coote remained in the first grade side, being named as winger. At the end of the season, he was awarded Penrith's Ben Alexander Rookie of the Year award.

2009

After the departure of Rhys Wesser to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Coote started the season as the Panthers first choice fullback. In Round 3 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, he scored his first NRL try in the 12–10 win at Brookvale Oval. In Round 14 against the Sea Eagles, Coote suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and finished the year with 12 matches and four tries.

2010

In an effort to prevent further injury, Coote added 10 kg of muscle to his frame in the off-season and started the 2010 season weighing in at 85 kilograms. He played his first full season of NRL, playing 20 games and scoring a career-high 17 tries, including a hat trick against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 8. He represented NSW City for the first time, starting at fullback and scoring a try in their 30–18 loss to Country.

2011

After battling osteitis pubis throughout the 2010 season, Coote opted for surgery in the offseason and returned in time for Round 1. He finished the year with 15 appearances and was the Panthers equal highest tryscorer alongside David Simmons with 12 tries.

2012

Despite the Panthers finishing in second last place, Coote represented NSW City for the second time and lined up for the Prime Minister's XIII in their annual end of season match against Papua New Guinea. He finished the season at five-eighth after coach Ivan Cleary moved him from fullback in Round 20.

2013

Coote started the 2013 NRL season at five-eighth but tore his pectoral muscle in Round 2 against the Wests Tigers. Despite being ruled out for the season, Coote returned in Round 22, playing in the club's last five games.
On 2 September, Penrith announced that Coote had been released from the final year of his contract to sign a three-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
Of Scottish descent, Coote was named in Scotland's squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup but withdrew to focus on a full pre-season with the Cowboys.

2014

Coote tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Cowboys' first game at the Auckland Nines, ruling him out for the entire 2014 NRL season.

2015

Coote started the season in the Queensland Cup, playing two games for the Cowboys' affiliate side the Northern Pride. He made his Cowboys début in their round 3 loss to the Broncos, playing fullback. He would go on to cement his spot as the club's first choice fullback, as the side went on a club record 11 game winning streak.
Coote continued to contribute successfully throughout the 2015 season, and solidified himself as a premier playmaker alongside Dally M medalist Jonathan Thurston as well as hooker, Jake Granville, and five eighth Michael Morgan. The 'spine' for the North Queensland Cowboys was instrumental in their success during the 2015 season. These four players were named NRL.com's #1 playmaking spine for 2015. Coote was named by popular NRL journalist Andrew Voss, as the #1 fullback in the competition at defusing kicks. as well as being lauded for his impressive positional play at fullback.
On 4 October, Coote was a member of the Cowboys' Grand Final winning side, starting at fullback in the 17–16 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.

2016

Coote was named in the Cowboys 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. On 21 February, he was a member of the Cowboys' 2016 World Club Challenge winning side, starting at fullback in the side's 38–4 victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium.
On 27 April, despite much larger deals being offered elsewhere, Coote re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of the 2018 season, after his early season form saw him touted as a possible selection for New South Wales.
In May, Coote was selected in the City Origin side but withdrew due to a rib injury. Coote ended 2016 having started every game for the Cowboys' at fullback
In October, Coote was named in Scotland's 2016 Four Nations squad. In the final round of the tournament, Coote was awarded man of the match honours in Scotland's 18–18 upset draw with world number one nation New Zealand.

2017

Despite an injury interrupted start to the season, Coote played 21 games for the Cowboys in 2017, scoring two tries and kicking two field goals. On 1 October, he started at fullback in the club's 2017 NRL Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm.

2018

Coote missed the first three games of the 2018 NRL season due to a hamstring injury. Upon returning from injury he played for the Cowboys' Queensland Cup feeder side, the Mackay Cutters. He returned to the Cowboys in Round 6 but played just 9 games throughout the season, with Ben Hampton and Te Maire Martin being favoured at fullback.
On 28 September, Coote signed with St. Helens on a three-year deal starting in 2019.

2019

He played in the 2019 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.
In Coote's first season at St Helens, the club won the League Leaders Shield after finishing 16 points ahead of second placed Wigan. Coote would then play in the club's 23–6 grand final victory over Salford at Old Trafford.
He was selected in squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere. He made his Great Britain test debut in the defeat by Tonga.

Achievements and accolades

Individual

NRL

†Denotes seasons in which Coote won an NRL Premiership

International

Personal life

Coote has two children, a son named Bailey and a daughter named Mia, with his partner Laura Ottolino.