{{Short description|Greece international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = George Gatis |fullname = |image = |caption = |country = |position = {{rlp|HK}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|03|25|df=yes}} |birth_place = Townsville, Queensland, Australia |height = 174 cm |weight = {{convert|89|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = North Qld Cowboys |year1start = 2001 |year1end = 03 |appearances1 = 24 |tries1 = 4 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 16 |club2 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}} |year2start = 2006 |year2end = 07 |appearances2 = 39 |tries2 = 6 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 234 |club3 = Huddersfield Giants |year3start = 2008 |year3end = |appearances3 = 10 |tries3 = 1 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 4 |club4 = North Qld Cowboys |year4start = 2008 |year4end = |appearances4 = 1 |tries4 = 0 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 0 |teamA = |yearAstart = |yearAend = |appearancesA = |triesA = |goalsA = |fieldgoalsA = |pointsA = |retired = yes |source =<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/george-gatis/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref> |updated = 15 August 2009 }}
'''George Gatis''' (born 25 March 1978) is a former rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|hk}} in the 2000s in the NRL and the Super League.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>
He played for the New Zealand Warriors, and the North Queensland Cowboys in two separate spells in the National Rugby League, and the Huddersfield Giants in the European Super League.
==Background== He was born in Townsville, Queensland, Australia and is of Greek heritage.
==Playing career== In his junior years playing Rugby League Gatis would play for Souths Townsville and Centrals in the TDJRL.
Gatis originally played for the Wests Panthers and the Easts Tigers in the Queensland Cup.<ref>[http://queensland.rleague.com/results/1998/round-22.php Round 22: 15, 16 August] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517203353/http://queensland.rleague.com/results/1998/round-22.php|date=17 May 2008 }} ''queensland.rleague.com''</ref>
===North Queensland=== He made his first grade début for the North Queensland Cowboys in 2001. Gatis played 24 games for the Cowboys between 2001 and 2003.
A broken arm in 2003 followed by a knee reconstruction kept Gatis out of first-grade for several years.
===New Zealand Warriors=== When the New Zealand Warriors visited Townsville in 2005, assistant coach Kevin Campion offered Gatis a chance to come and spend the pre-season with the Warriors.<ref name="TVNZ_650436">{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/content/650436|title=George Gatis|date=24 January 2006|work=Television New Zealand|access-date=1 October 2011}}</ref>
Gatis accepted the offer and, in 2006, he was signed by the New Zealand Warriors.<ref>{{cite news|format=fee required|publisher=AAP Sports News (Australia)|title=Warriors' Gatis in first National Rugby League (NRL) match since 2003|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-120256626.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516222235/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-120256626.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-05-16|access-date=2007-12-10|date=2006-03-21}}</ref> He played in thirty nine games for the club over two seasons.
===Huddersfield=== In August 2007 Gatis signed for the Huddersfield Giants for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. However, just three months into a two-year contract with Huddersfield, George quit the club for personal reasons.<ref name="Hooker Gatis quits Huddersfield">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/huddersfield/7360868.stm|title=Hooker Gatis quits Huddersfield|publisher=BBC|date=2008-04-22|access-date=2008-04-22}}</ref>
===Retirement=== Gatis returned to Australia and helped his parents fish and chip shop. During the 2008 season he signed with the North Queensland Cowboys, and played one NRL match for the club, starting at hooker. For the majority of the season he played with the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup.<ref>Josh Alston [http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/05/24/13349_sport.html Gatis back in town] ''Townsville Bulletin'', 24 May 2008</ref> He retired at the end of the season.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_561922">{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/sport/league/561922|title=By George, Gatis calls it quits|date=3 August 2008|work=Sunday News|access-date=1 October 2011}}</ref>
==Post-retirement== Following retirement, Gatis continued to work in his family's business. He later became a prison officer with Queensland Corrective Services.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Jackson |title=Once were Warriors: Life after league for some of Mt Smart's favourite sons |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/104736684/whats-become-of-the-warriors-life-after-league-for-some-of-mt-smarts-favorite-sons |website=Stuff |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref>
==International career== Gatis, of Greek heritage, played for the Greece national team several times in non-test fixtures. He received Greek citizenship in November 2007.<ref>{{cite news|format=fee required|publisher=AAP Sports News (Australia)|title='m happy with all my Giants|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-172086863.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516222248/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-172086863.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-05-16|access-date=2007-12-10|date=2007-12-05}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://giantsrl.dnsupdate.co.uk/playerProfiles/NewsArticle.asp?Index=686 Huddersfield Giants profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420202231/http://giantsrl.dnsupdate.co.uk/playerProfiles/NewsArticle.asp?Index=686 |date=20 April 2008 }} * <small>{{cite book| last1=Whiticker|first1=Alan|last2=Hudson|first2=Glen|title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players|year=2007 |publisher=Gary Allen Pty Ltd|location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales|isbn=978-1-877082-93-1|page=609}}</small>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gatis, George}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Auckland rugby league team players Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian people of Greek descent Category:Sportspeople of Greek descent Category:Counties Manukau rugby league team players Category:Huddersfield Giants players Category:North Queensland Cowboys players Category:New Zealand Warriors players Category:Mackay Cutters players Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league players from Townsville Category:Wests Panthers players