Joel Clinton
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Joel Clinton (born 8 December 1981) is a rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers. Clinton was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. Standing at 197 cm and 114 kg, he is an imposing player, and a big piece of the large Panthers pack. Clinton has kept the Panthers on the front foot this season with his bruising runs and uncompromising defense.
[edit] Playing career
Before becoming the beloved Panthers stalwart that he is, Clinton also played for the Paramatta Eels. Clinton rose to prominence in the 2003 Premiership, where he emerged as a standout in the surprising Panthers season. Clinton helped the Panthers come back from last in 2001, to become Minor Premiers and Grand Final Champions in 2003.
Clinton was rewarded for his form with test selection for Australia in 2003. Clinton described the experience as "a great personal bonus but did not compare to winning the premiership with the guys you train and play with all year long."
Clinton's good form continued into 2004 and was selected in the Australian Test Team that took on the Kiwis in the annual ANZAC Test. His performance on debut was highly rated by rugby league experts, so it came as a shock to many when Clinton was overlooked for selection for NSW in all three games of the 2004 State of Origin series.
[edit] 2006 season
Clinton plays prop, wears Number 8, and is a dominating force on the NRL field.
The Panther's first loss of the season came against the Raiders, a close, golden-point match. During the match, Clinton was hit by a high tackle by Raiders hooker Simon Woolford. Clinton copped a black eye, but got up off the ground smiling, and continued playing. However, Clinton's ability to brush off any hit, no matter how hard, left Woolford claiming the high tackle wasn't that serious. These comments left Clinton steaming, saying "[Woolford] should learn to keep his mouth shut."
In the second Panther's loss against the Melbourne Storm, Joel Clinton was a shining light in a lacklustre looking Panthers side. The Panthers conceded numerous soft tries, but Clinton kept chasing and defending as hard as ever.
In May 2006, Clinton was selected to trial for the NSW State of Origin team in the Country v. City game. Clinton played for City, and before the game commented that he intended to "smash his way into the NSW side." Clinton saved a certain try in the first 20 minutes, diving on a cross-kick into the in-goal by Country. City eventually lost by 2 points, conceding tries while Clinton was off the field.
[edit] Golf
Joel began golfing when fellow Panther Craig Gower invited him out for a round. Ever since, Joel has enjoyed his golf, playing two rounds most weeks, and now averages a 73 over 18 holes. Joel describes golf as "very relaxing, and a chance to get away from everything".
Clinton has entered numerous Pro-am events in Australia, and recalls his favourite golfing moment as "when I won the longest drive by an amateur and I won a TV for that, plus my drive was only just short of the pro who won the overall longest drive."
Clinton also recounts his worse golfing moment as when "there was a competition for the closest to the pin where the winner got a holiday. The Channel Nine 'Footy Show' team and about 2000 people were there and my shot went just five metres."
Joel's other hobbies include water skiing, snow boarding, and fishing.
