{{short description|Australia & PNG international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Xavier Coates |fullname = |image = XavierCoates2022.jpg |image_size = |position = {{rlp|WG}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|3|12}} |birth_place = Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |height = {{convert|194|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|108|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Brisbane Broncos}} |year1start = 2019 |year1end = 21 |appearances1 = 32 |tries1 = 17 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 68 |club2 = Melbourne Storm |year2start = 2022 |year2end = present |appearances2 = 76 |tries2 = 62 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 248 |teamA = {{nowrap|Papua New Guinea}} |yearAstart = 2019 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |teamB = Queensland |yearBstart = 2020 |yearBend = 25 |appearancesB = 13 |triesB = 6 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 24 |teamC = Australia |yearCstart = 2024 |appearancesC = 3 |triesC = 0 |goalsC = 0 |fieldgoalsC = 0 |pointsC = 0 |new = yes |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/xavier-coates/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> |updated = 5 October 2025 }}
'''Xavier Coates''' (born 12 March 2001) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|wg}}er for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League. He has represented Australia and Papua New Guinea at international level.
He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos. He has played for Queensland in the State of Origin series.
==Early life== Coates was born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to a mother from the Gulf Province in PNG and an Australian father. As an infant he moved with his family to Australia and initially spent two years living in Cairns before settling on the Gold Coast.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2019/08/27/the-broncos-podcast-xavier-coates/|title=The Broncos Podcast: Xavier Coates|date=27 August 2019|work=Broncos.com.au|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref>
He attended Marymount College throughout his upbringing and began pursuing an athletics career in primary school.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/broncos/xavier-coates-chose-a-rugby-league-career-over-a-possible-shot-at-the-olympics/news-story/90b2653a184642958e4243437d8cc612|title=Xavier Coates, fastest NRL player: Broncos star turned down a possible shot at the Olympics|date=24 June 2020|work=Courier Mail|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> His goal was to represent Papua New Guinea at the Olympics<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cqnews.com.au/news/nrls-fastest-man-dreamt-of-olympic-glory/4043801/|title=NRL's fastest man dreamt of Olympic glory|date=25 June 2020|work=Central Queensland News|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> but former NRL player and Marymount teacher Matt Geyer organised a phone call with then-Queensland captain Greg Inglis<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/11/10/the-inglis-pep-talk-that-put-coates-on-the-origin-path/|title=The Inglis pep talk that put Coates on the Origin path|date=10 November 2020|work=NRL.com|access-date=12 November 2020}}</ref> and the pair convinced Coates to pursue a career in rugby league instead.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/13/five-blinders-in-56-days---coates-stunning-rise-to-nrl/|title=Five blinders in 56 days – Coates' stunning rise to NRL|date=13 July 2019|work=NRL.com|access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref> Coates named Inglis as his sporting idol growing up<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin-2020-wayne-bennett-set-to-punt-on-xavier-coates/news-story/e42eed104999f03db5d144a001efee02|title=Wayne Bennett set to punt on Xavier Coates|date=28 October 2020|work=The Australian|access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> and was nicknamed 'Little GI' by his Broncos teammates due to the similarities in playing style.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/broncos-will-unleash-their-little-gi/3773098/|title=Broncos poised to unleash their 'little GI'|date=7 July 2019|work=Queensland Times|access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref>
== Junior career == Xavier Coates began playing junior football on the Gold Coast for the Currumbin Eagles<ref>{{Citation|title=Currumbin Eagles|date=2020-06-12|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Currumbin_Eagles&oldid=962107692|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref> in 2010 at the age of 9 years old. Coates never made an underage representative team as a junior, being overlooked on multiple occasions. After a brief pursuit of an athletics career, he returned to the field and played part in the Currumbin Eagles' undefeated premiership winning Under-16 team in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lindsay|first=Brendan|date=2017|title=2017 Grand Final Draw|url=https://33c3eec4-63f5-43c5-97cc-3b3e127df333.filesusr.com/ugd/6415ec_e6e4|access-date=30 June 2020|website=Rugby League Gold Coast}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
After being signed to the Bronco's Coates was invited to the Broncos' summer camp where he impressed coaches and trainers and was selected in the 2018 Queensland emerging Under-18 Origin Squad<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-12-21|title=Under 15, Under 16, Under 18 Emerging Origin squads|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2017/12/21/under-15-under-16-under-18-emerging-origin-squads/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Queensland Rugby League|language=en}}</ref> despite being 16 years old and never having played a representative game. Coates was selected in the 2018 Queensland Under-18 State of Origin<ref>{{Cite web|title=Xavier Coates|url=https://www.nrl.com/players/state-of-origin-u18s/qld/xavier-coates/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=National Rugby League|language=en}}</ref> side who went down to NSW 16–10.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NSW U18s v QLD U18s|url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/state-of-origin-u18s/2018/round-1/nsw-u18s-vs-qld-u18s/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=National Rugby League|language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, he was instrumental in the Currumbin Eagles' U17 Premiership where he was coached by former Melbourne Storm player Matt Geyer. He also featured in the Mal Meninga Cup with the Tweed Heads Seagulls.<ref>{{Citation|title=What a weapon!' – Xavier Coates|date=14 May 2019 |url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/05/14/what-a-weapon---xavier-coates/|language=en|access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref> In 2019 he was fast tracked<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-12|title=Five blinders in 56 days – Coates' stunning rise to NRL|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/13/five-blinders-in-56-days---coates-stunning-rise-to-nrl/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=National Rugby League|language=en}}</ref> to senior rugby league with the Currumbin Eagles,{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} making his Queensland Cup debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls, however as he was not a contracted Gold Coast Titans player, he was transferred to Broncos' feeder club Redcliffe Dolphins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Xavier Coates|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-cup/redcliffe-dolphins/xavier-coates/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Queensland Rugby League|language=en|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630020941/https://www.qrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-cup/redcliffe-dolphins/xavier-coates/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Coates was selected in junior representative teams (Under-18 South Coast) and the Under-18 Queensland Schoolboys squad<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-10|title=Schoolboys vie for England tour at national champs|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/20182/07/10/schoolboys-vie-for-england-tour-at-national-champs/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Queensland Rugby League|language=en}}</ref> and once again was selected in the Queensland emerging Under-18 Origin Squad and played in the junior State of Origin match against NSW,<ref>{{Cite web|title=QLD U18s v NSW U18s|url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/state-of-origin-u18s/2019/round-1/qld-u18s-v-nsw-u18s/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=National Rugby League|language=en}}</ref> where Queensland won the game 34–12, with Coates named player of the match.<ref>{{Citation|title=Player of the Match Xavier Coates|date=5 June 2019 |url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/06/05/queensland-under-18-player-of-the-match-xavier-coates/|language=en|access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref>
==Senior career== === 2019–2021: Brisbane Broncos === Coates made his international debut for Papua New Guinea in their 24–6 defeat by Samoa in the 2019 Oceania Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/live-scores/samoa-v-papua-new-guinea-oceania-cup-2019/381912#lineup |title=Samoa vs Papua New Guinea |publisher=Wide World of Sports |date=22 June 2019}}</ref> A month later, in round 16 of the 2019 NRL season he made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, scoring a try.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/02/round-16-team-announcements/ |title=Round 16 NRL team announcements |publisher=NRL.com |date=3 July 2019}}</ref>
He made 12 appearances for Brisbane in the 2020 NRL season, a year which saw Brisbane come last for the first time their history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/09/24/brisbane-get-wooden-spoon-as-cowboys-finish-on-a-high/|title=Brisbane get wooden spoon as North Queensland finish on a high|website=www.nrl.com|date=24 September 2020 }}</ref> Coates achieved the highest top speed of a player in the 2020 NRL season by hitting a top speed of 36.9 km/h against the Newcastle Knights in round 6 of the 2020 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/06/19/x-factor-coates-dethrones-addo-carr-as-nrls-fastest-player/|title=Coates dethrones Addo-Carr as NRL's fastest player|website=www.nrl.com|date=19 June 2020 }}</ref>
Coates was selected to make his debut for Queensland on the wing in game one of the 2020 State of Origin series, scoring a try in the 18–14 win. Coates then played game two scoring the first try in a 34–10 loss, however was ruled out of game three due to a groin injury suffered in the captain's run before the match.
In round 1 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries for Brisbane in the first half of the match against Parramatta. In the act of scoring the second try, Coates landed awkwardly on his neck and was taken from the field. Brisbane would go on to lose the match 24–16.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-12/brisbane-broncos-lose-to-parramatta-eels-xavier-coates-injured/13242554/|title=Brisbane Broncos' NRL losing streak continues as Parramatta Eels score comeback 24–16 win; Newcastle Knights beat Bulldogs|newspaper=ABC News|date=12 March 2021 }}</ref>
In round 3 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 24–0 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-27/nrl-parramatta-beats-cronulla-brisbane-defeats-bulldogs/100028698/|title=Parramatta unbeaten in NRL after 28–4 win over Cronulla as Brisbane and Warriors enjoy victories|newspaper=ABC News|date=27 March 2021 }}</ref> On 9 May 2021, Coates announced that he had signed a two-year deal to join Melbourne Storm for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2021/05/09/coates-to-join-melbourne-storm/|title=Coates to join Melbourne Storm|website=www.melbournestorm.com.au|date=9 May 2021 }}</ref>
In round 23 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 24–22 victory over the New Zealand Warriors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/08/22/devastated-walsh-not-to-blame-for-conservative-warriors-loss-brown/|title=Devastated Walsh not to blame for 'conservative' Warriors loss: Brown|website=www.nrl.com|date=22 August 2021 }}</ref>
=== 2022–present: Melbourne Storm === In round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, Coates made his club debut for Melbourne on his 21st birthday against Wests Tigers, scoring a try in a win at CommBank Stadium. He had his club debut jersey (cap number 217) presented to him by former Melbourne player Matt Geyer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2022/03/08/team-list---round-1-v-wests-tigers/|title=Round 1 Team List|website=www.melbournestorm.com.au|date=8 March 2022 }}</ref> In round 7, Coates scored four tries for Melbourne in a 70–10 victory over the New Zealand Warriors. In the 2022 elimination final, Coates scored a hat-trick in Melbourne's 28–20 loss against Canberra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/04/25/coates-scores-four-as-storm-notch-60-point-win-over-warriors/|title=Coates scores four as Storm notch 60-point win over Warriors|website=www.nrl.com|date=25 April 2022 }}</ref>
Coates would finish the 2022 season with 16 tries from 17 appearances for Melbourne, with an ankle injury suffered in game one of the 2022 State of Origin series sidelining the winger for seven matches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Xavier Coates: Season in Review |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2022/09/19/xavier-coates-season-in-review/ |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=20 September 2022 |date=19 September 2022}}</ref> In round 6 of the 2023 NRL season, Coates scored a hat-trick in Melbourne's 28–8 victory over the Sydney Roosters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-06/nrl-melbourne-storm-sydney-roosters/102198236/|title=Melbourne Storm defeat Sydney Roosters 28–8 to leap into NRL top four|newspaper=ABC News|date=6 April 2023 }}</ref> Coates played 21 games for Melbourne in the 2023 NRL season and scored 16 tries as the club finished third on the table. He played in the qualifying final defeat against Brisbane but was injured in the game and later ruled out for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-melbourne-storm-season-review/af9dab1e4f900cda437dc53f#:~:text=The%20expectations%20for%20the%20Storm,clubs%2C%20but%20not%20the%20Storm./|title=NRL 2023: Melbourne Storm season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}</ref>
Following his consistent 2023 season, Coates would be awarded the Melbourne Storm's Cameron Smith Player of the Year award as the club's best for the season.<ref name="2023Awards">{{cite web |title=Coates seals career-best season |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2023/10/03/coates-seals-career-best-season/ |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003103606/https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2023/10/03/coates-seals-career-best-season/ |archive-date=3 October 2023 |date=3 October 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> In round 8 of the 2024 NRL season, Coates scored a hat-trick in Melbourne's 54–20 victory over South Sydney. Coates was later taken from the field with a hamstring injury and ruled out for an extended period.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-25/nrl-anzac-day-warriors-titans-dragons-roosters-storm-rabbitohs/103764148/|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs' Anzac Day loss to Melbourne Storm made worse by Taane Milne's 'brain explosion' on Cameron Munster|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> Coates played a total of 16 matches for Melbourne in the 2024 NRL season as the club were runaway minor premiers. Coates played in Melbourne's 2024 NRL Grand Final loss against Penrith.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-06/nrl-grand-final-2024-quick-hits-biting-bunker-penrith-panthers/104422068/|title=NRL grand final 2024 quick hits: Biting allegation, Panthers halves swansong and a controversial bunker decision|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> In round 11 of the 2025 NRL season, Coates scored a hat-trick in Melbourne's 31-26 loss against Cronulla.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.totalrl.com/cronulla-sharks-impress-in-victory-over-melbourne-storm/|title=Cronulla Sharks impress in victory over Melbourne Storm|website=www.totalrl.com}}</ref>
On 6 September 2025, the Melbourne club announced that Coates re-signed with the club until the end of 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-06 |title=Xavier Coates extends to 2027 |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2025/09/06/xavier-coates-extends-to-2027/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Melbourne Storm |language=en}}</ref> Coates played 22 games for Melbourne in the 2025 NRL season including their 26-22 2025 NRL Grand Final loss against Brisbane.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2025/oct/05/nrl-2025-grand-final-melbourne-storm-v-brisbane-broncos-rugby-league-live/|title=Brisbane Broncos beat Melbourne Storm – as it happened|website=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>
On 20 February 2026, Coates was ruled out for 3 months after requiring surgery on his Achilles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-19 |title=Injury Update: Xavier Coates |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2026/02/20/injury-update-xavier-coates/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Melbourne Storm |language=en}}</ref>
== Statistics ==
=== NRL === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- |2019 | rowspan="3" |{{leagueicon|Brisbane|size=16}} Brisbane Broncos |3 |1 |4 |- |2020 |12 |5 |20 |- |2021 |17 |11 |44 |- |2022 | rowspan="5" |{{leagueicon|Melbourne|size=16}} Melbourne Storm |17 |16 |64 |- |2023 |21 |16 |64 |- |2024 |16 |10 |40 |- |2025 |22 |20 |80 |- |2026 | | | |- | |Totals |108 |79 |316 |} <nowiki>*</nowiki> <ref>{{Cite web |title=Xavier Coates |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/melbourne-storm/xavier-coates/ |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=Melbourne Storm |language=en}}</ref>
==Honours== ;Club * '''NRL Minor Premiers:''' 2024 ;Individual *'''Melbourne Storm Cameron Smith Player of the Year Award:''' 2023, 2025 *'''Dally M Try of the Year:''' 2024 *'''Peter Frilingos Headline Moment:''' 2024 *'''Melbourne Storm Best Try:''' 2024
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.broncos.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/brisbane-broncos/xavier-coates/ Brisbane Broncos profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706223044/https://www.broncos.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/brisbane-broncos/xavier-coates/ |date=6 July 2019 }} *[https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/melbourne-storm/xavier-coates/ Melbourne Storm profile]
{{Melbourne Storm squad}} {{Cameron Smith Player of the Year Award}} {{Papua New Guinea 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coates, Xavier}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Papua New Guinean sportsmen Category:Australia national rugby league team players Category:Brisbane Broncos players Category:Melbourne Storm players 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 players from the National Capital District (Papua New Guinea) Category:Rugby league wingers Category:Tweed Heads Seagulls players Category:Australian people of Papua New Guinean descent