Dale Shearer

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Dale Shearer (born 1965 in St George, Queensland, Australia) was an Australian Aboriginal rugby league player.

[edit] Playing career

At the age of 18, Dale Shearer caught the attention of many people during his time at the North Queensland club, Sarina Crocodiles in the Winfield State League with some impressive performances. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles coach Bob Fulton was quick to sign him before anyone else in 1985. He made his test debut for the Kangaroos in 1986 and later in that year went on to represent the Kangaroos on their tour of England and France. He again toured with the Kangaroos squad four years later against England and France. Dale Shearer was a member of the Manly premiership winning side in 1987, but his time at the Manly club went sour when he took them to court in 1989 in a request to release him from his contract after a bitter dispute. He failed to win the court case but an agreement was made to let Shearer join the Brisbane Broncos in 1990. Shearer was not happy at the Broncos either and at the end of the 1991 season he moved to the struggling Gold Coast Seagulls. Shearer's Australian test career seemed to be over after a poor match against New South Wales in Melbourne in 1991. He fought his way back into the Queensland State of Origin side and was selected for Australia's three test series against New Zealand in 1993. He proved his critics wrong and was one of the stand out players in the three test series.