Shaun Timmins
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Shaun Timmins is a former Australian and State representative rugby league player who played for the Illawarra Steelers and the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League competition from 1994 to 2006.
Born in Kiama, NSW in 1976 Timmins played junior football in Kiama. He debuted for the Steelers in round 18 of 1994 against the Cronulla Sharks. Timmins was a tremendously versatile player performing at Five-Eighth, Centre, Lock, and 2nd Row at representative and club levels.
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[edit] Club career
He played 86 games for the Illawarra Steelers and was a foundation player in the joint venture St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999, playing in that year's Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm. He played over 125 games for the Dragons before leaving the club at the end of 2006.
[edit] Representative career
Timmins first represented Australia in 1999. He played nine State of Origin games for the New South Wales Blues from 2000 to 2004 and eight Tests for Australia from 1999 to 2004.
[edit] Rising above injuries
In 2000 he suffered an injury which revealed a chronic knee condition. His representative ascendancy stopped when he was sidelined for 18 months including the whole 2001 season.
He returned to the field in 2002 and showed tremendous ability to again represent NSW and Australia in a Test match against Great Britain. He was named the Dragon's best player in 2002.
In 2003 after just one club game in the five eighth role he was selected for Country and then for NSW at five eighth. A 2003 recurrence (in the other knee) of his condition prevented his national selection for the Kangaroo Tour that year and threatened the end of his career.
Following five knee operations all up Timmins made a remarkable recovery in the 03/04 off season and a return to form saw him represent Australia in the 2004 ANZAC Test against New Zealand. He played for NSW that year and entered State of Origin folklore in game I by kicking the winning field goal in extra time.
Timmins was a powerful runner in his early career and ruthless defender throughout. He often played himself to a stand-still demonstrating leadership by physical example. He proudly played a number of games as stand-in captain for the Dragons.
[edit] End of career
Following the 2004 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, France and the USA, Timmins announced retirement from representative football, expressing a focussed intention to win a premiership with the Dragons. Such wasn't to be, with Timmins' last game the loss in the 2006 Grand Final qualifier against Melbourne.
Timmins' 2007 contract discussions with the Castleford Club in the UK became unrailed following that club's relegation to 2nd Division. After speculative talks with the Gold Coast Titans he was forced into retirement due to the condition of his knees.
