Gareth Widdop

Gareth Widdop
Widdop playing for the Storm in the 2010 NSW Cup
Personal information
Full name Gareth Edward Widdop
Born 12 March 1989[1]
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Weight 90 kg (14 st 2 lb)[2]
Playing information
Position Five-eighth, Fullback, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–13 Melbourne Storm 70 10 25 1 91
2014– St George Illawarra 32 3 80 3 175
Total 102 13 105 4 266
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–14 England 14 3 18 0 48
As of 30 March 2015
Source: RLP

Gareth Widdop (born 12 March 1989 in Halifax, West Yorkshire) is an English professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Australian club St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League. An England national representative utility back, he previously played for the Melbourne Storm, with whom he won the 2012 NRL Premiership.

Early years

Widdop grew up in Halifax, England where he played his junior rugby for King Cross before moving to Melbourne with his family at the age of 16 where he attended Bayside Secondary College. As a teenager Widdop went to the 2006 NRL Grand Final and continued to play in the Victoria Rugby League for Altona Roosters under his father Gary.[3] He was introduced to the Storm by Dean Lance and was taken into the Storms Academy U18 program by Paul Bramley the High Performance Manager at the time, he went onto represent Victoria and the Australian Affiliated U18 Schoolboys and he eventually signed for Melbourne Storms' Under 20s team.

Professional playing career

Melbourne Storm

He made the NYC team of the year and also scored the match winning try and goal in the Toyota Cup Grand Final for the Storm against the Wests Tigers Under 20s.[4] He was named the Storms' NYC player of the year in 2009.

2010

In 2010, Widdop's first season in the first team at Melbourne Storm, he was named in Melbournes' 23-man touring party in preparation for the 2010 World Club Challenge against Leeds Rhinos but was not chosen to play but did pick up the man of the match award in their warm up game against the Harlequins .[5][6] His first game for the Storm was in Round 7 against the New Zealand Warriors where he played centre at Etihad Stadium. Round 12 saw him appear at Fullback in place of the rested Billy Slater. Widdop scored a try and 3 conversions in the match at AAMI Park. Widdop was put back in the centres for his third and final appearance in 2010 for the Storm, the Round 25 clash against the Wests Tigers.

2011

Widdop appeared in every game for the Storm during the 2011 season, his first try came in Round 3 against North Queensland Cowboys. Gareth kicked a goal in Round 5 and Round 13 he also kicked a further 4 goals in Round 14, in this game he also kicked a field goal. He scored a try against the New Zealand Warriors in Round 16 and he kicked a goal in Round 18. He also signed a new deal to remain with the Storm for another 2 years with a 3rd year option.

2012

Widdop appeared in every game for the Storm in the 2012 season (except Round 22) including the finals series game against South Sydney Rabbitohs, Manly Sea Eagles and Canterbury Bulldogs. His first points of the season came in the form of a goal in Round 3 against Gold Coast Titans. He also kicked a goal against Sydney Roosters in Round 4. Widdop scored his first try of the season against Newcastle Knights in Round 5, capitalizing on Cameron Smith's lovely pass to touch down after an impressive right foot step to beat Jarrod Mullen. Gareth also kicked a goal in Round 9 against Penrith Panthers. Widdop kicked 5 goals in Round 12 (Brisbane Broncos). Gareth scored a try in Round 13 (New Zealand Warriors). Widdop kicked a goal in Round 14 (Wests Tigers). Gareth kicked 2 goals in Round 18 (Canberra Raiders). Widdop scored a try in Round 19 (North Queensland Cowboys). Gareth scored another try in Round 23 (Gold Coast Titans). He kicked a goal in the semi-final game against Manly Sea Eagles in which the Storm won 40-12. Widdop topped off a great 2012 season with a 14-4 Grand Final win over the Canterbury Bulldogs.

2013

Widdop started the 2013 season as five-eighth in Melbourne Storm's 18-14 win over Super League champions Leeds Rhinos in the 2013 World Club Challenge. He played from Round 1 to Round 15. On 19 April 2013 it was announced that Widdop had signed a four-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons, starting in 2014.[7]

Widdop featured in the Finals against South Sydney Rabbitohs. He scored a try in Round 1 against St George Dragons, he also kicked a goal in Round 2 against North Queensland Cowboys. Widdop also kicked a goal in Round 5 against Wests Tigers. Widdop scored the winning try in the Round 6 win against South Sydney Rabbitohs. He also scored in the Storm's 38-6 win in Round 13 against Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He kicked a goal against Gold Coast Titans in Round 15 before he dislocated his hip in an awkward tackle.

St. George Illawarra Dragons

2014

Widdop debuted for the Dragons in their season opening 44-24 win over the Wests Tigers; he proved his worth having a hand in four of the team's seven tries and kicking a perfect eight from eight goals.[8] He featured in Round 1-26 (St George had two bye rounds). Widdop scored against Wests Tigers (2 tries, 12 goals), New Zealand Warriors (9 goals, 1 drop goal), Cronulla Sharks (4 goals), Brisbane Broncos (5 goals), South Sydney Rabbitohs (2 goals), Melbourne Storm (1 try, 6 goals), Sydney Roosters (4 goals), Canterbury Bulldogs (1 goal), Penrith Panthers (1 goal), Gold Coast Titans (8 goals, 1 drop goal), North Queensland Cowboys (3 goals, 1 drop goal), Manly Sea Eagles (2 goals), Canberra Raiders (3 goals) and Newcastle Knights (1 goal). The signing of Benji Marshall to the Dragons part way through the season meant a new halves partner for Widdop.

2015

Widdop featured in the World Club Series against Warrington Wolves. He featured in Round 1 (Melbourne Storm) to Round 5 (Newcastle Knights). He scored against Warrington Wolves (3 goals), Canberra Raiders (3 goals), Manly Sea Eagles (4 goals) and Newcastle Knights (2 goals).

Season Appearance Tries Goals F/G Points
2014 St George Illawarra 24 3 61 3 137
2015 St George Illawarra 6 0 12 0 24
Total 30 3 73 3 161

Representative career

2010

On 1 June 2010 Widdop received a surprise call-up into new England coach Steve McNamara's 19-man squad for the match against France on 12 June 2010. He featured at fullback and scored a try with his first touch of the ball, he also kicked 2 goals when Kevin Sinfield was substituted. In mid-September he was once again called up to the England squad for the Four Nations, he started at fullback in an 18-all draw in the warm up match against New Zealand Māori side in which he kicked 3 goals. Widdop was once again on the scoresheet as England lost their opening game 24-10 against reigning world champions New Zealand, scoring a try and kicking a goal. He was not selected for the game against Australia but was on the bench in the final game against Papua New Guinea where he came on at centre to kick a goal in the 36-10 victory.

2011

In his first international game of 2011 he was selected on the bench for the 32-18 win in the test against France. Widdop was also on the bench for the 2011 Four Nations opening game against Wales where he scored a try with the final play of the game. He also featured off the bench in the 36-20 loss to Australia at Wembley Stadium. Widdop once again came off the bench in the 28-6 win over New Zealand, having a last minute try disallowed. Widdop once again featured on the bench in the 30-8 loss to Australia in the 2011 Four Nations final.

2013 World Cup

Widdop was selected to represent England from the bench against Italy where he came on and kicked a goal in the 15-14 loss. He featured in the 2013 World Cup in the 28-20 loss against Australia. He came off the bench against Ireland and kicked a goal in the 42-0 win. Widdop wasn't selected for the final group game against Fiji or the quarter final against France.[2] However he returned and replaced Rangi Chase at Stand-off half back in the last minute loss in the semi-final against New Zealand.

2014

Widdop was selected in the 2014 Four Nations series squad. He featured against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand in the group stages. He scored in all three matches with six, two and one goals respectively.

Honours

Premiership: 1

2012

Minor Premiers: 1

2011

World Club Challenge: 1

2013

References

  1. ↑ Stott, Julie (23 October 2011). "England Four Nations Pen Pics". News of the World (UK: News Group Newspapers Ltd.). Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Gareth Widdop". rlwc2013.com. Rugby League International Federation. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Jenkinson, Lance (19 April 2015). "Altona Roosters plan to make it a year to remember". Maribyrnong Star Weekly.
  4. ↑ Gareth Widdop rleague.com
  5. ↑ "Storm name World Club Challenge party". superleague.co.uk. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  6. ↑ "World Club Challenge squad chosen". melbournestorm.co.au. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Gareth Widdop to Join Dragons in 2014 - St.George Illawarra Dragons
  8. ↑ Gareth Widdop stars as Dragons outlast Tigers, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 2014

External links