Brett Dallas

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Brett Dallas
Personal information
Full name Brett Dallas
Date of birth October 18, 1974 (1974-10-18) (age 33)
Place of birth Mackay, Australia
Height 1.75m
Weight 85 kg
Nickname(s) Dallas, King of the Wing
Youth clubs
Years Club
St Patricks Mackay
Senior clubs*
Years Club Apps (points)
1992 ‐ 94
1995 ‐ 98
1999 ‐ 06		 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
North Sydney
Wigan		 43 (72)
76 (184)
177 (428)
Representative teams
1993 ‐ 97
1995 ‐ 97		 Queensland
Australia		 10 (?)
6 (?)

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Brett Dallas (born October 18, 1975) is an Australian former rugby league player whose career included stints with both Canterbury and North Sydney in the domestic Australian competition, and the Wigan Warriors in the European Super League competition. His primary position was winger and he is regarded as one of the fastest men to play for Queensland.

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[edit] Early career

Dallas began his career at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 1992, and was at the club until 1995 when he transferred to North Sydney. There he made 76 appearances, scoring 46 tries. He left North Sydney to join Wigan when the club merged with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to form the new franchise, Northern Eagles.

[edit] Wigan Warriors career

Dallas made his Wigan debut against Salford in a pre-season friendly. He had to wait until the fourth round of the Challenge Cup to score his first try for the club in a 98-4 victory over Whitehaven Warriors.

Dallas was out of action for 10 weeks in 2000 after sustaining a broken jaw sustained in an away victory against Bradford Bulls. At the time he was Wigan's leading try-scorer with 17. He made a try-scoring return to first team action in the last match of the regular season at St Helens, in a 42-4 victory that secured Wigan the 2000 Minor Premiership. He finished the season with a total of 20 tries behind only fellow Aussie Steve Renouf and Kris Radlinski.

Dallas again missed the end of the 2002 Super League season with a knee injury requiring a full reconstruction operation in Australia. Whilst he was at home with his family he took the opportunity to get married.

He returned to the club in 2003 but again succumbed to a hamstring injury, and was linked with Australian club Cronulla Sharks. However, Dallas was determined to win back his place in the Wigan side and declined the deal. His decision was fully justified, as he returned to form in the latter half of the season, helping Wigan to reach the 2003 Grand Final, in the process earning a new contract. Dallas' good form continued into 2004, earning himself a new two-year contract which makes him one of the club's longest serving overseas players.

[edit] Representative career

Dallas made 10 appearances for Queensland in State of Origin (1993-1997). He made his international debut for Australia against New Zealand in 1995, scoring two tries. In total he made six Test appearances, including four matches in the World Cup (which Australia won) and has scored nine tries. His most recent Test appearance was in 1997.

[edit] Retirement

Dallas played his final game in Wigan colours on the 15 September 2006 against Hull FC after 14 years in rugby league which included a Challenge Cup win with the Wigan Warriors in 2002. Dallas wanted to score a try in his final game for Wigan but was unable to do, so instead took the final conversion kick at goal. His kick, however, just missed. At the end of the game, his final act in Wigan colours was to leave his boots in the centre of the field as he was applauded by Wigan spectators all over the stadium. It was regarded as a fitting tribute to the supporters of Dallas over the years and an emotional final night of action from the flying Aussie winger. There were rumours that Dallas would return to Australia to play in the NRL but, in a speech to the Wigan fans after his final game, he said that he has no plans for the near future apart from enjoying his retirement.

[edit] External links