{{Short description|Former PNG international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Nev Costigan |fullname = Neville Costigan |image = Neville Costigan Hull KR.jpg |image_size = |caption = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|03|16}} |birth_place = [[Rabaul]], [[East New Britain, Papua New Guinea]] |height = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|101|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |retired = yes |position = {{rlp|LK|SR|PR|HK}} |club1 = [[Brisbane Broncos]] |year1start = 2003 |year1end = 06 |appearances1 = 45 |tries1 = 4 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 16 |club2 = [[Canberra Raiders]] |year2start = 2007 |year2end = 08 |appearances2 = 25 |tries2 = 5 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 20 |club3 = [[St. George Illawarra Dragons|St. George Illawarra]] |year3start = 2009 |year3end = 10 |appearances3 = 42 |tries3 = 5 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 20 |club4 = [[Newcastle Knights]] |year4start = 2011 |year4end = 13 |appearances4 = 57 |tries4 = 6 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 24 |club5 = {{nowrap|[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]}} |year5start = 2014 |year5end = |appearances5 = 24 |tries5 = 3 |goals5 = 0 |fieldgoals5 = 0 |points5 = 12 |teamA = [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] |yearAstart = 2007 |yearAend = 10 |appearancesA = 6 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |teamB = [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]] |yearBstart = 2008 |yearBend = 13 |appearancesB = 6 |triesB = 0 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 0 |source =<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/|title=Players|website=LoveRugbyLeague.com|access-date=22 November 2021|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403181023/https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/neville-costigan/summary.html|title=Neville Costigan – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project|publisher=Rugby League Project|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> |updated = 27 December 2012 }}

'''Neville Costigan''' (born 16 March 1985) is a Papua New Guinean former professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. A [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]] international and [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] representative forward, he played in the [[National Rugby League]] for Australian clubs the [[Brisbane Broncos]], the [[Canberra Raiders]], the [[St. George Illawarra Dragons]] (with whom he won the [[2010 NRL Grand Final]]) and [[Newcastle Knights]]. Costigan then finished his career in the [[Super League]] with [[Hull Kingston Rovers]].

==Background== Born in [[Rabaul, Papua New Guinea]] on 16 March 1985,<ref>{{cite news|last=Ritchie|first=Dean|title=Not being from Queensland no bar to Cane Toad State of Origin selection|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/maroons-in-a-state-of-denial/story-e6frexnr-1226034271134|access-date=6 April 2011|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|date=6 April 2011}}</ref> Costigan's father is [[Australian people|Australian]] and his mother is from [[Dyaul Island]]. He played his junior football for the Mackay Wests Tigers in [[Queensland, Australia]], having moved to Australia with his parents at a young age. Costigan was then signed by the [[Brisbane Broncos]].

==Playing career== ===Brisbane Broncos=== In Round 26 of the [[2003 NRL season]], Costigan made his [[NRL]] début for the Broncos against the [[St. George Illawarra Dragons]]. That year Costigan won the Broncos' Rookie of the Year award, and in his short time at the club, established a reputation as being a big hitter in defence.

In 2006, Costigan was involved in an off-field incident and had his contract terminated by the Broncos. It was revealed Costigan was charged with drink driving after he was caught driving around [[Brisbane, Queensland]] with a [[Blood alcohol content|blood alcohol level]] of 0.13, almost three times the legal limit<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200608/s1711857.htm|title=Broncos sack Seymour, Costigan|publisher=ABC Sport|location=Australia|date=10 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811183125/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200608/s1711857.htm|archive-date=11 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/another-bronco-in-trouble-20060810-gdo56j.html|title=Another Bronco in trouble|date=9 August 2006|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> As a result, he missed the Broncos' [[2006 NRL Grand Final]] victory.

===Canberra Raiders=== After being sacked by the Broncos, Costigan signed a contract with the [[Canberra Raiders]] starting in 2007. In 2007, Costigan was seen on video headbutting [[Sydney Roosters]] winger [[Amos Roberts]] at the conclusion of the Round 5 match between the [[Canberra Raiders]] and [[Sydney Roosters]], which caused controversy. In May 2007, Costigan was selected for the [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] team. He retained his bench spot for the second game. [[File:Neville Costigan.jpg|thumb|right|Costigan playing for PNG]] On 13 August 2008, Costigan signed a 2-year contract with the [[St. George Illawarra Dragons]] starting in 2009, re-joining the coach that sacked him from the [[Brisbane Broncos]], [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]].<ref name="2009 NRL Player Movements">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=National Rugby League Live|date=4 October 2008|access-date=4 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005172545/http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|archive-date=5 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=614021|title=Costigan Signs for Dragons|website=Wwos.ninemsn.com.au|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> In 2008, Costigan was named in the [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team#Current squad|Papua New Guinea]] squad for the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]].<ref name="Wilshere handed Kumuls captaincy">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7669326.stm|title=Wilshere handed Kumuls captaincy|publisher=BBC|date=14 October 2008|access-date=14 October 2008}}</ref> He was considered one of the 'Players to Watch' in the World Cup by NRL Live.<ref name="World Cup Players to Watch">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/world-cup-players-to-watch-pool-a/|title=World Cup Players to Watch|publisher=National Rugby League Live|date=17 October 2008|access-date=20 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105180351/http://www.nrllive.com.au/world-cup-players-to-watch-pool-a/|archive-date=5 January 2009}}</ref> Costigan went on to play 3 games for [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]] in the tournament.

===St. George Illawarra Dragons=== In April 2009, Costigan was named in the preliminary 25-man squad to represent [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] in the opening [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] match for 2009.<ref>{{cite news|work=Fox Sports|location=Australia|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25398645-5016947,00.html|title=Queensland name preliminary State of Origin squad|access-date=28 April 2009|date=28 April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918133045/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25398645-5016947,00.html|archive-date=18 September 2012}}</ref> He was then selected on the bench for Game 3 after forwards [[Ben Hannant]], [[Petero Civoniceva]] and [[Nate Myles]] were ruled out due to injury and suspension. In 2010, Costigan was selected for [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] in all 3 matches of the [[2010 State of Origin series]]. Costigan played {{rlp|pr}} in the Dragons' [[2010 NRL Grand Final]] victory over the [[Sydney Roosters]], with the Dragons winning 32–8, in which was his final game for the club. On 27 June 2010, Costigan signed a 3-year contract with the [[Newcastle Knights]] starting in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/neville-costigan-signs-three-year-deal-to-join-newcastle-knights/story-fn2mcuj6-1225922076080|title=NEVILLE COSTIGAN SIGNS THREE YEAR DEAL TO JOIN NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS|work=Fox Sports|location=Australia|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref>

===Newcastle Knights=== Costigan said about the move, "Newcastle is a club I am excited about going to, I have now played 100 NRL games and would like to think that I can achieve the 200 game milestone at the Knights. I had other options but I like the town, the lifestyle it offers, their fanatical supporters and the fact I can play a part in the direction the club is heading over the next couple of years. I am also impressed with the coaching staff and other people associated with the Knights that I have met."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=27248 |title=NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS SIGN NEVILLE COSTIGAN – Newcastle Knights |website=newcastleknights.com.au |access-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728093151/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=27248 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 12 April 2011, it was announced that Costigan's former [[Brisbane Broncos]] and [[St. George Illawarra Dragons]] coach, [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]] had signed a 4-year contract with the [[Newcastle Knights]] starting in 2012, making the Knights the third club that Costigan and Bennett had been at together. On 22 July 2013, Costigan signed a 2-year contract with [[Super League]] side [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] starting in 2014, re-joining former Knights assistant coach [[Craig Sandercock]].

===Hull Kingston Rovers=== Costigan commenced playing in England in 2014, but left the club after one season due to "personal reasons".<ref>{{cite web|title=Forward Neville Costigan leaves Hull KR early|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/29836752|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 December 2014|date=30 October 2014}}</ref>

===Townsville Blackhawks=== In December 2014, Costigan signed a 2-year contract with [[Queensland Cup]] side, [[Townsville Blackhawks]], starting in 2015.<ref>http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/neville-costigan-signs-two-year-blackhawks-deal/story-fnjfzr2z-1227162474841 {{dead link|date=November 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/playerprofiledisplay/Knights/Neville%20Costigan/3569 2013 Newcastle Knights profile]

{{St. George Illawarra Dragons squad - 2010 NRL Premiers}} {{Papua New Guinea 2008 Rugby League World Cup squad}} {{Papua New Guinea 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Costigan, Neville}} [[Category:1985 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Papua New Guinean sportsmen]] [[Category:Brisbane Broncos players]] [[Category:Canberra Raiders players]] [[Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players]] [[Category:Newcastle Knights players]] [[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team captains]] [[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team players]] [[Category:Papua New Guinean emigrants to Australia]] [[Category:Papua New Guinean rugby league players]] [[Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players]] [[Category:Rugby league hookers]] [[Category:Rugby league locks]] [[Category:Rugby league players from New Ireland Province]] [[Category:Rugby league props]] [[Category:Rugby league second-rows]] [[Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players]] [[Category:Townsville Blackhawks players]] [[Category:Papua New Guinean male boxers]]