{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Alan Tongue |fullname = |image = Alan Tongue.jpg |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|10|13}} |birth_place = Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|87|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{Rlp|LK|HK|SR}} |club1 = Canberra Raiders |year1start = 2000 |year1end = 11 |appearances1 = 220 |tries1 = 31 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 1 |points1 = 125 |teamA = {{nowrap|Prime Minister's XIII}} |yearAstart = 2008 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 3 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |teamB = Country Origin |yearBstart = 2009 |yearBend = |appearancesB = 1 |triesB = 1 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 4 |retired = yes |source =<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Alan_Tongue/summary.html|title=Alan Tongue – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|publisher=Rugby League Project}}</ref> |updated = 29 September 2019 }}
'''Alan Tongue''' (born 13 October 1980) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. A Country New South Wales representative forward, he captained the Canberra Raiders for several seasons in the NRL.
==Background== Tongue was born in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
==Early years== While attending Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in 1998, Tongue was selected to play for his country in the Australian Schoolboys team.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Sporting Pulse|title=Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424|access-date=2008-10-10|archive-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131030043/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424|url-status=dead}}</ref> While attending Farrer, Tongue was on a scholarship contract with the Brisbane Broncos from grades 10 to 12.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/07/26/legend-qa-alan-tongue/ | title=Legend Q&A: Alan Tongue | date=26 July 2020 }}</ref>
==Playing career== Tongue is a 10-year veteran at Canberra, making his debut in 2000 and winning the Raiders' ''Rookie of the Year'' award after joining the club in 1998. He spent the majority of his early years moving between the backrow and the interchange bench. He established his position within the side in 2005, and in 2006 Tongue broke the record for most tackles in the regular season with 1,087.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21269488-5006066,00.html Tongue ties up top spot]</ref> The next highest ranking player was Nathan Hindmarsh with 911. Tongue was also voted the Raider's ''Player of the Year'' in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rleague.com/db/player/t/tongue_alan/index.php |title=Tongue tied with the Raiders until 2010 |access-date=16 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318211400/http://www.rleague.com/db/player/t/tongue_alan/index.php |archive-date=18 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
At the end of the 2008 NRL regular season, Tongue was awarded Dally M recognition for ''Lock of the Year'' and ''Captain of the Year'' after leading the Raiders to 6th on the competition ladder. Tongue was also named in the Prime Minister's XIII at the end of 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx |title=Tongue named in PM'S XIII |access-date=29 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026074858/http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx |archive-date=26 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Tongue was selected in the City vs Country match on 8 May 2009.<ref>{{cite news|work=Fox Sports|location=Australia|title=Blues halfback duel in two as Mitchell Pearce misses selection|first=Todd|last=Balym|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25422326-5016947,00.html|date=2009-05-03|access-date=2009-05-03}}</ref> In this game he scored a rare try in a 40–18 defeat.
In his 200th game for Canberra, on 28 August 2010, a Tongue supporter commented on the opposition (North Queensland Cowboys, through its player Willie Mason) in a sexually suggestive crowd poster shown prominently at the stadium and in TV coverage: "Who needs a Big Willie when you have a great Tongue?". In this game, Tongue returned to the side, and suffered another injury, in a 48-4 high scoring win over the Cowboys at Canberra Stadium<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706111754/http://www.raiders.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=29653&raiders-in-the-eight-in-tongue%E2%80%99s-200 Raiders in the eight in Tongue’s 200], Canberra Raiders, 28 August 2010, accessed 29 August 2010</ref> that had the Raiders join the top 8 teams in the competition and join the finals rounds for the 2010 competition.
Tongue announced his retirement on 17 August 2011.
==Post-playing career==
Tongue is an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador for the Australian Government and an Apprentice Mentor in the NRL's Trading Up program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcai.com.au/news/index/view/news/431|title=Australian School-Based Apprentice of the Year Says Genuine Is Best|date= 29 January 2016|access-date=9 September 2019|publisher=Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries}}</ref> As an NRL Ambassador, since 2017 he has conducted workshops as part of the NRL's Voice Against Violence program.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/domestic-violence-alan-tongue-spokesman-for-nrl-prevention-campaign/news-story/9bcd66acbe3cc354ddfb17050627ed43|title=Domestic violence: Alan Tongue spokesman for NRL prevention campaign|date=30 April 2017|first=Dave|last=Riccio|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref>
Tongue was named ACT Australian of the Year in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-31/former-canberra-raiders-captain-alan-tongue-named-act-aoty/7981320|title=Former Canberra Raiders captain Alan Tongue named ACT Australian of the Year|date=31 October 2016|access-date=9 September 2019|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *https://web.archive.org/web/20120323005002/http://www.raiders.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=42046&title=update-tongue-to-retire-at-end-of-2011 *https://web.archive.org/web/20120323005016/http://www.raiders.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=42049 *[http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Alan_Tongue.html Alan Tongue] at the ''Rugby League Project'' *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706111609/http://www.raiders.com.au/default.aspx?s=nrl-player-profile-display&id=494&team=Raiders&alan-tongue Canberra Raiders profile] *http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/player?id=100076&name=alan-tongue&team=55004
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{s-bef | before = Clinton Schifcofske }} {{s-ttl | title = Canberra Raiders captain | years = 2007–2011 }} {{s-aft | after = Terry Campese }} {{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tongue, Alan}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Canberra Raiders captains Category:Canberra Raiders players Category:Country New South Wales Origin rugby league team players Category:Prime Minister's XIII players Category:Rugby league locks Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league players from Tamworth, New South Wales Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen