Ryan Girdler
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Ryan Girdler (born 19 September 1972, Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league player. He played centre and was a successful goal-kicker. Thanks to his on-field skills and good looks he became a popular figure in rugby league.
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[edit] Rugby league career
Girdler first played in the NSWRL for the Illawarra Steelers in 1991. During his time at Illawarra, he struggled with injuries and with the likes of Paul McGregor and Brett Rodwell cemented as the Steelers centre pairing, received few chances to reach his full potential.
This prompted a move to the Penrith Panthers in 1993 where he stayed for the rest of his career. Ryan won a Premiership with the Panthers in 2003 and retired at the end of the 2004 season.
In 1997 he played five Super-League tests for Australia as well as three games for New South Wales. After Super-League, Girdler was then selected for New South Wales in State of Origin.
In 2000 Ryan set one of his many records at Penrith, kicking 78 goals in the season. Later that year Ryan was selected to play for the Kangaroos in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Ryan scored three tries and kicked 17 goals for a 46 points in total when the Kangaroos defeated Russia 110 to 4 at The Boulevard, Hull.
In 2002, Ryan was once again injured, a knee injury ruling him out for half the season, despite the injury, Ryan was able to set another record at the Penrith club, scoring 28 points in a match against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Penrith Stadium in July.
In 2003 he was injured in the opening round and did not make a return until round 14. 2003 was the last year that Ryan would represent Australia, scoring the first try in a game against Wales, 76 to 4. That season the Panthers finished minor premiers and went on to win the grand final.
His last game was the Preliminary Final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs who went on to win the 2004 NRL premiership.
[edit] Records
Girdler was the top point-scorer in 1997's Super League premiership season. During the 2000 State of Origin he scored 32 points in one game, equalling Dally Messenger's for most points in an interstate game. His tally of 1690 first grade points is the 7th highest in history, and he was the first player to score 100 tries and kick 500 goals (a feat only recently emulated by Hazem El Masri).
[edit] Club-Penrith
- Most Points (Match): 28 (2002)
- Most Goals (Season): 78 (2000)
- Most Points (Season): 229 (1999)
- Most Points (Penrith): 1,472
[edit] State-NSW
- Most Goals (Match): 10 (2000)
- Most Points (Match): 32 (2000)
- Most Points (Series): 52 (2000)
- Most Tries (Series): 5 (2000) record held with Lote Tuqiri (2002 for QLD)
- Most Goals (Series): 16 (2000)
[edit] Country-Australia
Note that both records were pool game at the 2000 World Cup and were not counted as Test Matches.
[edit] Off the field
Girdler was a regular on the rugby league television show The NRL Footy Show. Girdler eventually gained his own segment on the show, firstly in 2001 with his fishing segment, Gone Fishin' and then an occasional recurring segment from 2002 which is titled Their House, the name parodying Australian lifestyle program Our House. This segment is now called "My Home".
Girdler is currently a member of the Penrith Panthers coaching team and is currently dating long-time friend, Emma Milharcic.[citation needed]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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