Royce Simmons
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Royce Simmons | |
| Date of birth | b. 1960 | |
| Place of birth | Gooloogong, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Senior clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (points) |
| 1980–1991 | Penrith | 233 (61) |
| Representative teams | ||
| 1984–1988 1986–1987 |
New South Wales Australia |
10 (4) 10 (0) |
|
* Professional club appearances and points |
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Royce Simmons (b. 1960 in Gooloogong, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league test hooker, New South Wales representative, long-serving Penrith Panthers player in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, and coach.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Playing career
After trialling with both St. George and Souths, Simmons was eventually given a contract in 1980 with Penrith. Simmons played much of his first year at lock but was moved to hooker late in the 1981 season.
In 1983, Simmons was appointed captain of the team, a position he retained until 1990 when he captained the Panthers in the 1990 Grand Final loss to the Canberra Raiders, and despite struggling with injuries, memorably scored two tries in the 1991 Grand Final against the same opponents. The Panthers won their first premiership, and Simmons retired.
[edit] Representative career
Simmons was first selected to represent New South Wales as a hooker for games II and III of the 1984 State of Origin series, replacing Rex Wright who had been chosen for game I.
A successful 1986 series against Queensland, including a Man of the Match in game I, secured Simmons a place as the first Penrith player to represent Australia. He made his debut against New Zealand in July 1986 and played in ten international games over the next year. Simmons' final test appearance came in Australia at Lang Park against New Zealand, losing 6–13.
Simmons was selected for all games of the 1987 State of Origin series, including the fourth game held in Philadelphia. His last appearance in a New South Wales jersey was in game I of the 1988 series, losing 18–26.
[edit] Coaching career
Simmons went on to become Panthers coach in the closing stages of the 1994 season after Phil Gould was dismissed, and served until he was himself sacked from the position after the 2001 season, when the Panthers won the wooden spoon.[1] The Panthers made the finals twice under Simmons' tenure, in the 1997 Super League finals and National Rugby League season 2000 finals.
Since 2003, Simmons has served as the assistant coach at the Wests Tigers under his former coach Tim Sheens.[2]
In October 2004, Simmons was named at hooker in the Panthers' Team of Legends.[3]
| Preceded by Phil Gould 1990-1994 |
Coach Penrith Panthers 1994-2001 |
Succeeded by John Lang 2002-2006 |
[edit] References
- Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen (2007). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Wetherill Park, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd, 609. ISBN 9781877082931.
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
- Royce Simmons at the Rugby League Project
- Royce Simmons (player) at NRL Stats
- Royce Simmons (coach) at NRL Stats
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