Ian Schubert
Ian Schubert | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 22, 1956 Comboyne, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Rugby league player, coach, salary cap auditor |
| Years active | 1970s–1980s (player), early 1990s (coach) |
| Known for | Australian international rugby league player; NRL chief salary cap auditor |
Ian 'Shoey' Schubert (born 22 August 1956) is a former Australian professional rugby league player active during the 1970s and 1980s who subsequently took on the role of chief salary cap auditor for the National Rugby League. As an Australian international representative, Schubert's lengthy club career commenced with an impressive debut season at Eastern Suburbs. After experiencing a downturn in form, he rejuvenated his career with stints at Manly-Warringah and Western Suburbs, reclaiming his place in the Australian national team despite having spent a year in reserve grade. By the time he retired, Schubert had played 269 first-grade matches, placing him third on the all-time NSWRFL appearances list.
In 1982, Schubert was selected for the 1982 Kangaroo tour, joining the undefeated squad famously known as "The Invincibles". Although he did not participate in any test matches during the tour, he appeared in 12 minor games and scored three tries.
Playing career
Raised in Comboyne, Ian was discovered while representing the Wauchope high school rugby league team. In 1972, he earned selection for the Australian Schoolboys team. Following a recommendation to Eastern Suburbs coach Jack Gibson in 1974, Schubert quickly established himself as a first-grade regular on the wing, overtaking previous leading try-scorer Bill Mullins. When fullback Russell Fairfax suffered an injury, Schubert transitioned to fullback, recording fourteen tries that season. His performance peaked in the grand final against St George, where he was awarded 'Man of the Match' and secured selection for Australia's World Cup squad that year, during which he scored several hat-tricks including one versus Wales.
Throughout the 1976 NSWRFL season, Schubert featured both at fullback and wing for Eastern Suburbs in their unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge encounter against British champions St. Helens held in Sydney. Although his form declined following his debut year, he maintained a place on the 1978 Kangaroo tour, participating in ten matches. Upon returning to Australia in 1979, a dip in performance saw him demoted to reserve grade by coach Bob Fulton. He missed Eastern Suburbs' 1980 grand final defeat before signing with Western Suburbs in 1981, where he played a role in their reserve grade grand final victory.
Schubert later returned to Eastern Suburbs as a ball-playing forward after increasing his weight; however, injuries restricted his game time. Despite this setback, he was selected for his second Kangaroo tour in 1982. After Easts chose not to renew his contract, he joined Manly in 1983, making a significant impact during a successful campaign and earning Player of the Series honors in the 1983 KB Cup. Nevertheless, he eventually lost his position in the first-grade side.
From 1986 to 1988, Schubert rejoined Western Suburbs and contributed to improving the club’s standing from the bottom of the NSWRL ladder. During this period, he served as their primary goal-kicker and leading point-scorer. Approaching retirement, he recorded his first career field goal and was honored by being named second-rower and vice-captain in Western Suburbs’ Team of the Eighties.
In the Australian off-season of 1986, Schubert made 21 appearances for English club Leigh RLFC (Heritage No. 958).
Later years
Prior to concluding his playing career in 1989, Schubert took on the role of coach for Western Suburbs' reserve grade team. In the early 1990s, he showcased his coaching abilities with Canterbury-Bankstown; however, the Super League conflict and Chris Anderson's influence prevented him from obtaining a first-grade coaching position. In more recent times, Schubert has become well-known for his work as an auditor overseeing the National Rugby League's salary cap, where he identified violations that attracted widespread media coverage.
On 22 April 2010, Schubert disclosed that the Melbourne Storm had been exceeding the salary cap for a period exceeding five years, a revelation that garnered significant attention both nationally and internationally.