Lachlan Coote (born 6 April 1990) is a former professional rugby league footballer who last played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
Coote previously played in the National Rugby League for the Penrith Panthers and the North Queensland Cowboys, with whom he won the 2015 NRL premiership and 2016 World Club Challenge. Coote represented Scotland and Great Britain at an international level, and also played for the City Origin and Prime Minister's XIII teams.
Coote was born in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. He was raised in Sydney's Greater West, and is of Scottish descent
He played his junior rugby league for the Windsor Wolves, and attended Windsor High School He was a representative of New South Wales and Australia at junior level.
Coote joined the Penrith Panthers as a teenager, playing in their premiership-winning Harold Matthews Cup team in 2006. In 2007, he played in the Panthers' S.G. Ball Cup team that lost in the grand final to the Parramatta Eels. Coote was named player of the tournament and was named to play for New South Wales under-17. Later that year he represented the Australian Schoolboys on their undefeated tour of New Zealand.
Coote started the 2008 season playing for the Panthers in the inaugural season of the National Youth Competition. A clear stand out performer, Coote scored 138 points in 12 games and was selected in the New South Wales under-18 side, scoring 14 points in the Blues' victory over Queensland. At the end of the season he was named at fullback in the NYC Team of the Year.
After regular Penrith fullback Rhys Wesser was ruled out with injury, Coote made his first grade début on 27 June in the Round 16 clash with the Brisbane Broncos at CUA Stadium. In the first draw of the 2008 season, he had an outstanding game, winning Man of the Match. While Wesser returned from injury in the next game against Parramatta, Coote remained in the first grade side, being named as winger. At the end of the season, he was awarded Penrith's Ben Alexander Rookie of the Year award.
After the departure of Rhys Wesser to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Coote started the season as Penrith's first choice fullback. In Round 3 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, he scored his first NRL try in the 12–10 win at Brookvale Oval. In Round 14 against Manly-Warringah, Coote suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and finished the year with 12 matches and four tries.
In an effort to prevent further injury, Coote added 10 kg of muscle to his frame in the off-season and started the 2010 season weighing in at 85 kilograms. He played his first full season of NRL, playing 20 games and scoring a career-high 17 tries, including a hat trick against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 8. He represented NSW City for the first time, starting at fullback and scoring a try in their 30–18 loss to Country.
After battling osteitis pubis throughout the 2010 season, Coote opted for surgery in the offseason and returned in time for Round 1. He finished the year with 15 appearances and was the Panthers equal highest tryscorer alongside David Simmons with 12 tries.
Despite Penrith finishing in second last place, Coote represented NSW City for the second time and lined up for the Prime Minister's XIII in their annual end of season match against Papua New Guinea. He finished the season at five-eighth after coach Ivan Cleary moved him from fullback in Round 20.
Coote started the 2013 NRL season at five-eighth but tore his pectoral muscle in Round 2 against the Wests Tigers. Despite being ruled out for the season, Coote returned in round 22, playing in the club's last five games.
On 2 September, Penrith announced that Coote had been released from the final year of his contract to sign a three-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
Of Scottish descent, Coote was named in Scotland's squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup but withdrew to focus on a full pre-season with the Cowboys.
Coote tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in North Queensland's first game at the Auckland Nines, ruling him out for the entire 2014 NRL season.
Coote started the season in the Queensland Cup, playing two games for the Cowboys' affiliate side the Northern Pride. He made his North Queensland début in their round 3 loss to Brisbane, playing fullback. He would go on to cement his spot as the club's first choice fullback, as the side went on a club record 11 game winning streak.
Coote continued to contribute successfully throughout the 2015 season, and solidified himself as a premier playmaker alongside Dally M medalist Johnathan Thurston as well as hooker, Jake Granville, and five eighth Michael Morgan. The 'spine' for the North Queensland Cowboys was instrumental in their success during the 2015 season. These four players were named NRL.com's #1 playmaking spine for 2015. Coote was named by popular NRL journalist Andrew Voss, as the #1 fullback in the competition at defusing kicks. as well as being lauded for his impressive positional play at fullback.
On 4 October, Coote was a member of North Queensland's Grand Final winning side, starting at fullback in the 17–16 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.