Sam Burgess

Burgess in January 2011
Personal information
Full name	Samuel Burgess
Born	(1988-12-14) 14 December 1988 (age 23)[1] Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	114 kg (17 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row, Lock
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–09	Bradford Bulls	80	14	5	0	66
2010–	South Sydney	31	4	0	0	16
	Total	111	18	5	0	82
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2008–10	England	8	4	0	0	16
2007	Great Britain	2	1	0	0	4
2010	NRL All Stars	1	0	0	0	0
As of July 16th, 2010
Source: Rugby League Project

Sam Burgess (born 14 December 1988) is an English professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League. A Great Britain and England international representative forward, he previously played for English club Bradford Bulls of Super League.

Early and personal life[link]

Burgess was born on 14 December 1988 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He played his junior rugby for Dewsbury Moor. He attended Heckmondwike Grammar School to receive a secondary education before becoming a rugby player. His late father, Mark Burgess, was also a rugby league footballer who played for Nottingham City, Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury and Hunslet.^[2] His older brother Luke, and younger twin brothers Tom and George, are all professional rugby league footballers.^[3] He regularly trains with Chris Feather (who is a personal trainer) who currently lives with him in Australia and plays with the Wyong Roos in the Central Coast.

He also used to play for Liversedge Cricket Club. Burgess supports Leeds United in Association football. He is now living in Sydney.

Bradford Bulls[link]

Burgess made his Super League début against Leeds in 2006. After a highly successful début season with the Bulls, Burgess was awarded the Senior Academy Player of the Year Award by the club. In 2007 Burgess has established himself as a first team regular. After a great full season he was called up for the Great Britain squad for the 2007 Test series with New Zealand, and was named as young player of the year in Super League. Burgess made his Great Britain début against New Zealand in the 1st test in October 2007, scoring a try. Burgess also played in the centenary match between the All Golds and Northern Union; he was awarded the Man of the match. He gained attention for his big hit on New Zealand prop Fuifui Moimoi during the Kiwi's 2007 tour when he was only 19 years old.^[4]

At the end of 2008's Super League XIII, Burgess was forced to rule himself out contention for the England 2008 World Cup squad because of injury.^[5]

Burgess, in his last game in the UK before moving to the NRL, played a prominent role in the final of the 2009 Four Nations tournament, scoring two tries in England's loss to Australia.^[6]

South Sydney Rabbitohs[link]

In September, 2009, the South Sydney Rabbitohs announced they had signed Burgess on a four year deal from the 2010 season. Burgess, on contract at Bradford until the end of the 2010 season, was released after the clubs agreed on a compensation fee.^[4][7] South Sydney co-owner and A-list celebrity Russell Crowe persuaded Burgess to choose his club over others that were competing for his signature, after inviting Burgess and his mother to the set of Robin Hood, which he was filming in England at the time.^[8] Burgess played Prop-Forward for the NRL All Stars in the inaugural All Stars match after Rabbitohs prop Dave Taylor injured his ankle at training. It was played at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on February 13, 2010. The NRL All Stars lost the game 16–12.

It has been said in the media that "Sam Burgess is the best Pommie to come out here in 20 years" meaning he is the best English exported player to play in the NRL for 20 years.

He was selected to play for England against France in the one-off test in 2010.^[9] He gained a spot on the panel hosting The Footy Show.

Burgess was given a one week ban by the NRL judiciary for a grade one grapple tackle. He was placed on report during Round 21, against the Canterbury Bulldogs, for a grapple tackle made on Canterbury five-eighth Ben Barba. Burgess will miss the Round 22 clash against the West Tigers. This suspension has come at a fairly pivotal time in the season, with forwards Michael Crocker, Luke Stuart, Scott Geddes, and Dave Taylor all ruled out from the clash (and many ahead) already.^[10]

Burgess continued to represent England at the end of the season in the 2010 Four Nations tournament.

His shoulder was injured in the first game of the 2011 NRL season against the Roosters on 11 March, for which he needed surgery and a month of rest. But as soon as he came back from that, he injured his ankle and is out for the remainder of 2011.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sam Burgess Official Player Profile
• International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Burgess' off-the-field challenge

Steve Matai

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Matai
Nickname	The Waterboy, The Hitman[1]
Born	(1984-08-05) 5 August 1984 (age 27) Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Position	Centre, Five-eighth
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2005–	Manly Sea Eagles	140	54	16	0	248
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–2010	New Zealand	12	0	1	0	2
Source: RLP, Herald Sun

Stephen "Steve" Matai (born 5 August 1984 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage. He is the first cousin of Junior Sa'u

Domestic career[link]

Early career[link]

Matai's junior clubs were the Bay Roskill Vikings and the Ponsonby Ponies in the Auckland Rugby League before he was selected to play for the Marist Richmond Brothers in the Bartercard Cup, before leaving in 2004.^[2][3]

Matai joined Queensland Cup side Ipswich Jets in 2004.^[2]

In 2005 Matai moved to another Queensland Cup side, but soon left the Wynnum Manly Seagulls after securing an NRL contract with their associate club, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.^[4]

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles[link]

Steve Matai celebrating victory for the Manly Sea Eagles

This section requires expansion.

Matai joined the Manly Sea Eagles from the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 2005 after impressing during a strong pre season of training and trials at the Brookvale Oval.^[4]

On 27 March 2005 Matai made his NRL debut in the round 3 match against the Melbourne Storm at Brookvale Oval.^[5]

Matai played in the 2007 NRL Grand Final defeat to the Melbourne Storm.^[6]

Matai is an occasional goal kicker for the Sea Eagles.

He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over the Melbourne Storm.^[7]

Representative career[link]

New Zealand[link]

On 14 October 2006 Matai made his test debut against Australia at Mt Smart Stadium in the 2006 Tri-Nations.^[8][9]

Matai has represented New Zealand on five occasions between 2006 and 2007.^[10]

On 14 October 2007 Matai was sent off by referee Steve Ganson in the trans-Tasman Test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.^[11][12]

He was given a 2 match ban, but given that Matai had ruled himself out of New Zealand's tour of Great Britain and France for off-season shoulder surgery, he served his suspension during Sea Eagles' trial matches in 2008.^[12]

Matai has been selected to make his 10th test appearance for New Zealand for the annual ANZAC Test in Melbourne

2008 Rugby League World Cup[link]

In August 2008 he was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[13] and in September 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad.^[14]

Matai missed New Zealand's World Cup match with Papua New Guinea after being handed a one-match ban for a high tackle against Australia.^[15]

Samoa[link]

Matai was named in the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[16] He qualified through his Samoan heritage.^[17]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Manly Sea Eagles profile
• NRL profile
• Richmond Rovers profile

Beau Ryan

Ryan in 2009
Personal information
Born	(1985-05-11) 11 May 1985 (age 27)
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Position	Wing, Centre, Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007–	Wests Tigers	90	43	0	0	172
As of 19 May 2012
Source: League Central Rugby League Project

Beau Ryan (born 11 May 1985) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League. He plays primarily in the backs.

Playing career[link]

Ryan played junior football with Wests Illawarra. In 2003, Ryan was selected to represent in the New South Wales Schoolboys team. In 2005 he won a premiership with the St. George Illawarra Dragons Jersey Flegg Cup team^[1] under coach Steve Price, but left the club as he was behind centres Matt Cooper, Mark Gasnier and Wes Naiqama.^[2]

Making his NRL debut in round 16 of 2007, Ryan played a further 2 games that year, scoring a try in his second appearance. The next season, he played in 15 games.

From 2009 onwards, Ryan was a regular on the wing for the Wests Tigers. He scored a personal best 13 tries that year, including seven tries in the last 4 games. Soon after, Ryan signed a contract to remain with the Tigers until the end of the 2012 season.^[3]

Injury hampered Ryan's season in 2011, and he didn't take his regular position on the wing until round 14. He scored 8 tries in the remaining 13 games, including the last try of the qualifying final match against St George as the Wests Tigers came from 12-6 down at half time to win 21-12.

Television career[link]

From 2009, Ryan began making regular comedic appearances on The Footy Show,^[4] and in 2010 started his own comedy segment, "Beau Knows...".^[5] He has also created two popular characters; DJ Yallah, an Egyptian-Australian DJ from Bankstown and Donnie Palmer, a Titans trainer who is obsessed with doing stretches.

Coach Tim Sheens said of Ryan's television appearances, "Some players play golf on their day off. He goes and has some fun doing some television. At the moment, TV is his interest and good luck to him as long as it doesn't overtake his football."^[6]

Career highlights[link]

• First Grade Debut – Round 16, 2007 vs Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium.

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

• Beau Ryan at Wests Tigers
• Beau Ryan at the Rugby League Project

Mitchell Pearce (born 7 April 1989) is an Australian rugby league footballer currently playing for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League. A representative for New South Wales in State of Origin, Pearce's position of choice is halfback.

Senior career[link]

Debut season[link]

Pearce made his National Rugby League debut for the Sydney Roosters on 24 March 2007 against the North Queensland Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium.^[1] After only three First Grade appearances for the Roosters, Pearce's contract was extended by the club to until the end of the 2010 season.^[2]

Pearce had a solid debut season, scoring 2 tries and registering 13 try assists.^[3] Despite this, a back injury kept him out of the latter part of the season.^[4] In an early career highlight, Pearce ran 80 metres to score a last-minute try, snatching victory for the Sydney Roosters against the Penrith Panthers in a 24–20 win on 16 June 2007.^[5]

2008 season[link]

Pairing Braith Anasta in the halves, Pearce had a strong start to the 2008 season. His performances in the early rounds were such that he was considered in the running for the New South Wales halfback position for the 2008 Rugby League State of Origin series.^[6][7] Pearce's Origin chances were strengthened when he was named as starting half-back for the City Origin Team in the annual City vs Country Origin match.^[8] In his senior representative debut, Pearce played a solid game, helping City to a 22-all draw with Country.^[9] Pearce's Origin dream was finally realised when, on 24 June 2008, it was announced that he would replace the injured Peter Wallace as halfback for the NSW Blues against Queensland in the 2008 Origin Decider at ANZ Stadium on July 2.

2009 season[link]

This season is not a good one despite losing partner Braith Anasta to a season-ending knee injury, he cannot find good form for the Roosters.^{[citation needed]}

2010 season[link]

This season kicked off very well for Mitchell Pearce. He scored 2 tries in Round 1 and also in Round 2. He continued to impress the crowd with his partners, Braith Anasta and Todd Carney. The switch of Todd Carney to his preferred role at five-eighth allowed the two to create a powerful combo which was deemed by many as the best halves pairing in the league. Before Game I of State of Origin, he suffered shoulder injury which put him out six weeks and missed out the opening. He then became the halfback for games II and III of State of Origin. Unfortunately, he had little influence on both games, seemingly reluctant to accept responsibility for play-making.

2011 season[link]

This season wasn't one to remember for the roosters. They struggled and didn't page the top 8. Yet, Pearce showed sparks of brilliance, as he was chosen for all origin games. He was a shining beacon in a resurgent Blues side, and came close to winning the series. Also, in the end of the season, Pearce alongside Anasta (in the halves) manaaged to steer the chooks, away from a wooden spoon. As they both found form and defeated 4 top sides, including the Melbourne Storm.

External links[link]

• Sydney Roosters profile
• NRL profile

References[link]

Beau Champion (born 23 December 1986 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. His preferred playing position is at Centre aftert being groomed as a halfback in his debut year^[1]. Champion has represented City in the 2010 City v Country Origin as well as making the 2010 Indigenous All-Stars Squad.

His second cousin is Greg Inglis of South Sydney ^[2] .

On 8 November, it was revealed that Champion's cousin Greg Inglis would most likely sign with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.^[3] Champion, along with Rabbitohs owner and Australian actor Russell Crowe, Inglis's close friend Anthony Mundine and billionaire Andrew Forrest, were influences for Inglis's shock move to Redfern.

On 24 December, it was officially announced that Inglis had signed the contract with the Rabbitohs for three seasons, ironically at the expense of Champion, who signed with Melbourne Storm for the same period.^[4]

On 24 December Champion signed a 3 year deal with Melbourne Storm, ironically replacing and inheriting the position of his cousin Inglis. He left the Rabbitohs, having played in 70 games and scoring 33 tries and 5 goals.

On Friday the 13th of May Champion signed with the Gold Coast Titans, meaning that the 2011 NRL season will not only be his first season with the Melbourne Storm, it would also be his last. He played his last game with the Storm in their preliminary final loss to the New Zealand Warriors, with Champion scoring a try in the game. He left the Melbourne Storm, having played in 16 games and scoring 8 tries.

References[link]

External links[link]

• South Sydney 2010 Squad
• South Sydney Squad 2008
• Beau Champion at the Rugby League Project