Gary Freeman

Gary Ross Freeman MNZM (born 4 December 1962) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s, who both captained and coached the New Zealand national team. He was arguably one of New Zealand's greatest Test halfbacks and at the time of his retirement he was the most-capped New Zealand test player and also held the record for most consecutive tests for New Zealand with 37. As a player, he was a notably enthusiastic exponent of the face massage, typically as second or third man to the tackle.

Freeman played his club football in New Zealand for Auckland's Northcote club, in the UK for England's Kent Invicta and Castleford clubs, and in Australia for Sydney's Balmain (with whom he reached the 1988 and 1989 Grand Finals), Eastern Suburbs (with whom he won the 1992 Dally M Medal), Penrith and Parramatta clubs.

Freeman began the 1996 ARL season as captain of his new club, the Parramatta Eels. The captaincy was eventually transferred to fellow Kiwi Jarrod McCracken and at the end of the 1996 season Freeman retired.

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