Terry Leabeater (born 16 June 1958 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop forward in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) premiership during the 1970s and 1980s.
Playing Career
Leabeater was graded by the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1975 and made his first-grade debut for the club against St. George in Round 18 of the 1979 season at Lidcombe Oval. He played for Western Suburbs from 1979 to 1982, making 42 appearances and scoring 2 tries (8 points).
In 1983, Leabeater signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, where he made 4 first-grade appearances and captained the reserve-grade team to the 1983 semi-finals. He returned to Western Suburbs in 1985, playing 21 games as the club finished second last.
Leabeater then joined the Parramatta Eels in 1986. He was a member of Parramatta's 1986 premiership-winning team, which defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 4–2 in the grand final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. As of the 2025 season, this remains Parramatta's most recent premiership victory. He played 48 games for Parramatta between 1986 and 1988, with his final first-grade match coming against his former club Western Suburbs in Round 22 of 1988, which Parramatta won 16–12 at Parramatta Stadium.
Career Statistics
| Club | Years | Games | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Suburbs | 1979–1982 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 1983–1984 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Suburbs | 1985 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Parramatta Eels | 1986–1988 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1979–1988 | 115 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Post-Playing Career
In 2014, Leabeater's leagues club membership at Parramatta was suspended for five years, and an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) was filed against him by former teammate Steve Sharp and deputy Parramatta chairman Tony Issa. Leabeater was alleged to have threatened the pair in relation to boardroom elections at the club.
