Matthew Gidley

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**Matt Gidley**
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Gidley
Date of birth	July 1, 1977
Place of birth	Newcastle, Australia
Height	6'1" (1.86m)
Weight	14st 11lbs (94Kg)
Nickname	Flick
Position	Centre
Club information
Current club	St Helens
Number	3
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (points)
1996-06 2006-07	Newcastle Knights St Helens	221 (272) 8 (20)
Representative teams
2000-04 1999-04	New South Wales Australia	11 (?) 11 (?)
* Professional club appearances and points counted for domestic first grade only.

Matthew Gidley (born July 1, 1977 in Newcastle, NSW) is an Australian rugby league player for the St Helens RLFC in the Super League competition and also for New South Wales & Australia. Gidley played all his junior football in the five-eighth position, however with the brilliant Matthew Johns taking up the position in the Knights line up, he slotted in to right centre. He recently became only the 4th Newcastle Knight to play more than 200 career games. Matt is the older brother Newcastle Knights five-eighth Kurt Gidley.

[edit] Football Combinations and Style of Play

Gidley became famous for his wing/centre combination with former Knight Timana Tahu. A common play was for the ball to be sent out to the right side of the field where Gidley would run, draw one or two players in before doing the famous Gidley flick pass to Tahu or placing a grubber kick down the line. This play was used at both club and representative level.

Gidley is often merited on his selfless play as he normally chooses to promote the ball to his winger instead of trying to run the ball himself. He is some times criticised for his lack of speed which is required for the centre position he plays.

2006 saw a rejuvenation of sorts for Gidley seeing him recapture some of his old magic flick pass play with Knights winger Brian Carney.

In 2006 Gidley retired from representative football, aiming to focus on playing well at club level. This move was questionable as it was right before the annual City vs Country Origin clash which many say Gidley was going to make the Country side in the centre position.

Gidley has won one NRL Premiership with Knights, in 2001 (Over the Parramatta Eels 30-24).