Paul Harragon

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Paul Harragon, nicknamed Chief, is a former Australian rugby league player and a well-known media figure. He was born on 12 October 1968 in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales. He is 193 cm tall and weighed about 111 kg during his playing days.

Harragon spent his club career with the Newcastle Knights, joining them in 1988 and making his first‑grade debut in 1989 against the Balmain Tigers. He played for the Knights until 1999, appearing in 169 games and scoring 19 tries. He captained the Knights to their 1997 ARL premiership win over Manly-Warringah, a season in which he battled headaches and seizures but still led his team to the title.

In representative football, Harragon was a regular for Country NSW, New South Wales in State of Origin, and Australia. He played 20 consecutive State of Origin games for NSW from 1992 to 1998 and was a frequent choice for the Australian team, taking part in tours and Tests throughout the 1990s. He captained a World Cup Test for Australia in 1996 and played in notable matches such as the Rest of the World game in 1997. He missed the 1995 World Cup final due to injury.

Harragon retired from playing in 1999 because of a knee injury. After retirement, he became a broadcaster for NBN Newcastle and later joined Channel 9’s The Footy Show, where his “That’s Gold” segment became popular. He is a life member and former director of the Newcastle Knights and has worked as a spokesman for NIB Health Funds and Subway.

In 2016, Harragon appeared on the TV show I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia and finished second, winning prize money for his chosen charity, the Mark Hughes Foundation.