LEGENDS: BRANDON COSTIN

We look at the career of the legend of the game who helped us retain our Super League status, and beat Leeds for the first time in 38 years, in 2003.

The Australian had two spells with us, playing for the Giants in the 2001 season, as well as re-joining us for the 2003 and 2004 Super League campaigns.

Costin began his career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1993, playing six times for the Australian side, kicking four goals and scoring no tries during his short spell in Sydney.

Costin then decided to make the move to the Western Suburb Magpies for the 1994 season. He played 60 times for the club in a three-and-a-half-year stint at the Magpies. The centre managed to score 26 tries, including a hat-trick in a 42-10 win against the Gold Coast Titans in 1996.

Midway through the 1997 season, Costin moved to the Eastern Suburbs (now known as the Sydney Roosters). He only managed ten appearances for the side, scoring six times, and also kicking three goals. He left after just half a season to join the Canberra Raiders, ahead of the 1998 NRL season.

4⃣2⃣0⃣+ Appearances
7⃣9⃣ Tries
2⃣ Challenge Cup Finals
1⃣ League Leaders Shield

Look back at the career of @BigEorl 🔗 https://t.co/ayUmh4TPy1

— Huddersfield Giants (@Giantsrl) July 25, 2019

Costin enjoyed a more consistent spell at the Raiders, averaging 20 appearances per season during his three years in Canberra. He managed 18 tries in his 60 appearances for the side during his stint there. He also kicked six goals during his spell at the Raiders, before he moved to England and the Super League, to face a new challenge, at the Huddersfield Giants.

In his first spell for us, Costin was a standout. He scored 15 tries in 25 games for the Giants, as well as adding 34 goals. That includes two tries against the likes of next Friday’s opponents, the Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity and the Warrington Wolves. Costin left for the Bulls at the end of the 2001 season, after the Giants were relegated.

In his one season at Bradford, Costin featured in the World Club Challenge, as the Bulls beat the Newcastle Knights. He also featured in the Super League Grand Final, as the Bulls were beaten by St Helens. He featured 22 times for the Bulls in all competitions that season, scoring eight times, including braces against the London Broncos and St Helens.

The club bounced straight back up for the 2003 Super League campaign, when Costin re-signed for the Giants after a spell with the Bulls. Costin stayed at the club for two years this time around, before retiring in 2004. The Australian played 23 times in the league and cup in his first season back, scoring 20 tries, and also adding a further 20 goals. This included braces against the Widnes Vikings, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and the London Broncos. 

⏪Throwback to July 2003 and it was a momentous afternoon at the McAlpine Stadium as @GiantsRL completed their first win over Leeds in 38 years when Brandon Costin’s 79th minute touchdown sealed the long-awaited 30-24 win 🏉

Who will win this relegation four-pointer on Friday? pic.twitter.com/fj1jrL1B3T

— Sky Sports RL (@SkySportsRL) July 30, 2019

In his final year as a professional rugby league player, Costin featured 25 times in all competitions. He scored 10 times, as well as adding a further 41 goals in his final season. He ended his career with a hard fought 28-22 win over the Salford Red Devils, a game where he kicked six goals to contribute to the win.

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