Jharal Yow Yeh

Jharal Yow Yeh
Yow Yeh playing in the Toyota Cup in 2009
Personal information
Born 22 December 1989
Emu Park, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
Position Wing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–14 Brisbane Broncos 60 33 0 0 132
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011 Australia 3 3 0 0 12
2011 Queensland 3 2 0 0 8
2010–12 Indigenous All Stars 3 1 0 0 4

Jharal Yow Yeh (born 22 December 1989) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League (NRL). An Australian international and Queensland state of Origin representative three-quarter back, he also played for the Indigenous All Stars. Yow Yeh spent his entire club career with the Broncos, which was cut short due to a bad leg break and complications.

Background

Yow Yeh was born in Brisbane, Queensland to Rhonda Yow Yeh. He was raised by his mother in northern Brisbane;[1][2] Yow Yeh is an Aboriginal Australian of the Margany tribe.[3] His surname is Cantonese; his great-great-grandfather was Chinese and lived in Vanuatu before settling in Queensland.[1] Yow Yeh is related to former Balmain Tigers player Kevin Yow Yeh, who died before he was born. While Kevin Yow Yeh has often been reported as Jharal's great-uncle, he was actually Jharal's grandfather's first cousin; the family describes their relationship as "third cousins".[1][4]

Yow Yeh attended Ferny Grove State High School, where he finished his senior education in 2006. After graduating from school Yow Yeh played junior football for West Arana Hills and Norths Devils. He played in the Under-20s for the Brisbane Broncos and was named in the 2008 National Youth Competition's team of the year.

Playing career

Yow Yeh made his National Rugby League debut for the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in the 2009 NRL season's Round 1 clash with the North Queensland Cowboys.[5]

Yow Yeh was named to the Indigenous All Stars team in 2010, during which season he injured his leg, missing five rounds. The same year he was named to the Queensland rugby league team for Game II of the 2010 State of Origin series, but was not needed to play. He saw playing time for Queensland in the 2011 State of Origin series, scoring his first State of Origin try in his Game I debut. The same year he was named to the Australian national team, filling in for injured wingers Lote Tuqiri and Darius Boyd. On 3 November 2011 Yow Yeh was named international rookie of the year at the annual RLIF Awards dinner at the Tower of London.[6]

Yow Yeh featured in the 2012 NRL All Stars Game as the right winger for the Indigenous All Stars team.[7] Yow Yeh started strong in the 2012 NRL season, scoring a crucial try in the second half against the Parramatta Eels, the Broncos winning 18–6. In round 4 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the 2012 NRL season, Yow Yeh suffered compound fracture of the lower right leg. Down 12–0 at the time of his injury, the Broncos went on to win 20–12. However Yow Yeh's 2012 season was over with a serious injury described as "motorbike-like".[8] On 28 April 2013, Yow Yeh returned to rugby league, playing second row for the Norths Devils.[9]

Yow Yeh announced, in March 2014, that he would retire from the game after failing to fully recover from the leg injury he suffered in 2012.[10]

Statistics

Season Team Pld T G FG Pts
2009 Brisbane Broncos 14 9 – – 36
2010 Brisbane Broncos 19 8 – – 32
2011 Brisbane Broncos 23 14 – – 56
2012 Brisbane Broncos 4 2 – – 8
Total 60 33 - - 132

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Badel, Peter (May 6, 2013). "The boy who was never going to give up". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Badel, Peter (5 May 2013). "Broncos flyer Jharal Yow Yeh tells of his life growing up without a dad". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Nathan Ryan (16 August 2012). "Yow Yeh wants to be a Bronco for life". sportsnewsfirst.com.au. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  4. ↑ James Phelps (30 December 2008). "Yow Yeh puts family ghosts to rest". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  5. ↑ Jharal Yow Yeh. broncos.com.au
  6. ↑ "Slater scoops player award". Sky Sports. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  7. ↑ http://www.nrl.com/indigenous-all-stars-team-named/tabid/10976/newsid/65573/default.aspx
  8. ↑ Austin King (16 August 2012). "Yow Yeh is eager to return". Central Telegraph. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  9. ↑ http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/brisbane-broncos-superstar-jharal-yow-yeh-back-from-horrific-ankle-injury-at-last/story-fn2mcuj6-1226631096724
  10. ↑ Yow Yeh to retire, Brisbane Broncos official website, 17 March 2014

External links