Michael Jennings (rugby league)

Michael Jennings

Personal information
Nickname	Jenko
Born	(1988-04-20) 20 April 1988 Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Position	Centre, Wing, Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007–12	Penrith Panthers	122	71	0	0	284
2013–	Sydney Roosters	55	37	0	0	148
	Total	177	108	0	0	432
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2008–12	Prime Minister's XIII	4	5	0	0	20
2008	Tonga	3	3	0	0	12
2009–13	City Origin	4	1	0	0	4
2009–14	New South Wales	12	3	0	0	12
2009–15	Australia	6	6	0	0	20
2010–13	NRL All Stars	3	1	0	0	4
Source: [1]

Michael Jennings (born 20 April 1988) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. A Tongan and Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative Centre, Jennings previously played for the Penrith Panthers before moving to cross-town rivals the Roosters, with whom he won the 2013 NRL Grand Final.

Background

Born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Jennings is of Tongan, Fijian and English descent.^[2] Jennings is the nephew of 1960s All Black Arthur Jennings.^[2]

He played his junior football for the Western City Tigers Mt Druitt and St Mary's Saints before being signed by the Penrith Panthers.^[3] Jennings played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2005. Jennings attended Blackett Primary School and St Dominic's College.^[4]

Jennings is the older brother of current Penrith Panthers players George Jennings and Robert Jennings.^[5]

Playing career

2007

In Round 2 of the 2007 NRL season, Jennings made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on the wing, scoring a try on debut in the Panthers 40-10 victory at Penrith Stadium.^[6] In Round 23 against the Newcastle Knights, Jennings scored a hatrick in the Panthers 46-12 win at Hunter Stadium.^[7] At the end of the year, Jennings was the Panthers highest tryscorer with 15 tries in 23 matches. Jennings won the Panthers Player of the Year award and the Rookie of the Year award as well as being nominated for the Dally M Rookie of the Year.^[8][9] In October 2007, Jennings played for the Junior Kangaroos.^[10]

2008

Jennings played in 23 matches and scored 12 tries for the Panthers in the 2008 NRL season. Jennings played for the Prime Minister's XIII team against Papua New Guinea and scored a try on debut.^[11] Jennings was named in the preliminary 46-man Australian and Tongan squads for the 2008 World Cup. Jennings was included in the final Tongan squad for the tournament and played in 3 matches, scoring 3 tries.^[12]

2009

On 8 May 2009, Jennings was selected for the New South Wales City team to play New South Wales Country, scoring a try in the 40-18 win in Orange.^[13] In May 2009, Jennings was selected for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2009 State of Origin series in Melbourne, Victoria.^[14][15] Jennings missed Game 2 but was again selected in Game 3 in the Blues 28-16 win at Suncorp Stadium.^[16] Jennings played in 19 matches and was the Panthers highest tryscorer with 17 tries, including 3 hatricks. In September 2009, Jennings was selected in the Prime Minister’s XIII squad, scoring a hatrick in the 42-18 win against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.^[17]

In October and November 2009, Jennings travelled to Europe with the Australian team for the 2009 Four Nations. Jennings made his debut for the Kangaroos in the match against France and scored 3 tries on debut as well as receiving the Man of the Match award in the 42-4 win.^[18] Jennings became the 4th Kangaroo since Lionel Morgan in 1960, Brad Mackay in 1990 and David Williams in 2008 to score a hatrick on debut for Australia.

2010

In 13 February 2010, Jennings was selected for the inaugural NRL All Stars team against the Indigenous All Stars at Cbus Super Stadium. Jennings played at centre and scored a try in the NRL All Stars 16-12 win.^[19] On 7 May 2010, Jennings played for NSW City Origin against NSW Country Origin at centre in the 36-18 loss.^[20] Jennings again played for New South Wales in Game 3 of the 2010 State of Origin series in the Blues 23-18 loss at ANZ Stadium.^[21] Jennings played in 25 matches and 16 tries for the Panthers in the 2010 NRL season.

2011

On 13 February 2011, Jennings was chosen to play for the NRL All Stars at centre in the 28-12 win over the Indigenous All Stars at Cbus Super Stadium.^[22] On 6 May 2011, Jennings played for City Origin against Country Origin at centre in the 18-12 loss.^[23] On 12 August 2011, Jennings was dropped from the Panthers NRL team for showing up to training under the influence of alcohol.^[24] Jennings was also fined $10,000 earlier in 2011 for drinking and it had been understood that he was on his last chance at the club. Jennings season was marred by numerous injuries, off-field controversies and he only scored 4 tries during the whole year, 1 at State of Origin level, 1 at club level and 2 whilst playing for the Windsor Wolves in the NSW Cup. In 2011, Jennings again played for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2011 State of Origin series controversially selected after a poor start to the 2011 season but responded with a performance where he scored a try and was rated as one of the best in a 16-12 beaten Blues team at Suncorp Stadium.^[25] In Round 13 against the Gold Coast Titans, Jennings played his 100th NRL career match for the Panthers in the 23-10 win at Cbus Super Stadium. Jennings played in 15 matches and scored a try for the Panthers in an out of sorts year for Jennings in the 2011 NRL season. In 19 September 2011, Jennings was selected in the Prime Minister's XIII squad.^[26]

2012

On 6 February 2012, Jennings was chosen to play for the NRL All Stars team at centre in the 28-12 win over the Indigenous All Stars at Cbus Super Stadium.^[27] In 2012, Jennings played in all 3 matches for New South Wales in the 2012 State of Origin series. For Game 1, Jennings became the first player in 30 years to be selected for New South Wales from reserve-grade after being dropped from the Penrith Panthers first-grade team.^[28] During the 2012 NRL season, rumours constantly surrounded Jennings and his situation at the club, with rumours speculating that Jennings was out of favour with the Panthers Coaching Director, Phil Gould and that the club was trying to release Jennings to free up salary cap space.^[29] Jennings played in 17 matches and scored 10 tries for the Panthers in what was to be his last year with the club. On 23 September 2012, Jennings played for Prime Minister's XIII in the 24-18 win over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.^[30]

2013

On 15 January 2013, after months of speculation, Jennings signed a 4-year contract with the Sydney Roosters, after being officially released by the Penrith Panthers.^[31][32]

In 21 April 2013, Jennings played for NSW City Origin in the 18-12 defeat to NSW Country Origin at Coffs Harbour.^[33] Jennings played in all 3 State of Origin games in 2013, scoring a solo try in Game 1 in the 14-6 win at ANZ Stadium.^[34] On 6 October 2013, Jennings played in the 2013 NRL Grand Final at centre with the Sydney Roosters being victorious over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 26-18. Jennings scored to seal the victory with a try from a James Maloney grubber, beating two Manly players with his speed.^[35][36] Jennings was the Roosters highest tryscorer with 20 tries in 26 matches in an excellent year for Jennings in the 2013 NRL season. After winning the Premiership, Jennings was named in the Australia Kangaroos 24-man squad for the 2013 World Cup,^[37] playing in a match against Fiji and scoring a try in the 34-2 win.^[38]

2014

Before the 2014 NRL season, the Roosters hosted the Wigan Warriors for the 2014 World Club Challenge match. Jennings played at centre and became the first player in World Club Challenge history to score three tries as the Australian premiers won 36-14 at SFS.^[39] Jennings scored the first try in the 2014 NRL season in the Roosters 28-8 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.^[40] In Round 2 against the Parramatta Eels, Jennings played his 150th NRL career match in the Roosters 56-4 smashing win at SFS.^[41] Jennings was selected for a centre position for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2014 State of Origin series in the 100th State of Match in the 12-8 win at Suncorp Stadium.^[42] Jennings was selected at centre for New South Wales in Game 2 of the series in the 6-4 win, resulting the Blues breaking their 8 year losing streak to Queensland.^[43] In Round 23, against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, Jennings scored his 100th NRL career try in a 48-4 win.^[44] Jennings finished off the Roosters 2014 NRL season with him playing in 21 matches and scoring 13 tries. On 14 October 2014, Jennings was selected in the Australia Kangaroos 24-man 2014 Four Nations squad.^[45] Jennings played at centre for Australia, scoring the opening try in the 22-18 loss to New Zealand at Westpac Stadium.^[46]

References

External links

• 2013 Sydney Roosters profile

Sydney Roosters – current squad Aubusson Cordner (VC) Cornish Elliot Evans Ferguson Friend (C) Guerra Hastings Jennings Kennedy Kenny-Dowall Langi Leuluai Liu Macdonald Maloney Manu McIlwrick Meehan Moa Napa Papalii Pearce (C) Setu Siejka Slaimankhel Stapleton Taukeiaho Tuivasa-Sheck Tupou Waerea-Hargreaves (VC) Coach: Robinson

National Rugby League season top try scorers 1908 Horrie Miller 1909 Tommy Anderson 1910 Arthur McCabe 1911 Dave Garlick 1912 Roy Algie 1913 Harold Horder 1914 Harold Horder 1915 Frank Burge 1916 Frank Burge 1917 Harold Horder 1918 Frank Burge 1919 Gordon Wright 1920 Gordon Wright 1921 Gordon Wright 1922 Cec Blinkhorn 1923 Herman Peters 1924 Tommy Kennedy 1925 Benny Wearing 1926 Benny Wearing 1927 Benny Wearing 1928 Tony Redmond 1929 Alan Brady 1930 Morrie Boyle 1931 Jack Lynch 1932 Alan Ridley 1933 Jack Gray-Spence 1934 Dave Brown, Fred Gardner & Vic Hey 1935 Dave Brown 1936 Fred Tottey 1937 Fred Tottey 1938 Don Manson 1939 Sid Goodwin 1940 Jack Lindwall 1941 Percy Dermond & Sel Lisle 1942 Jack Lindwall 1943 C "Kelly" McMahon 1944 Sid Goodwin 1945 Chicka Cahill & Jack Snare 1946 Jack Lindwall 1947 Bob Lulham 1948 Norm Jacobson 1949 Ron Roberts 1950 Jack Troy 1951 John Graves 1952 Peter O'Brien 1953 Ian Moir 1954 Ray Preston 1955 Brian Allsop & Ian Moir 1956 Tommy Ryan 1957 Tommy Ryan 1958 Eddie Lumsden 1959 Ken Irvine 1960 Reg Gasnier 1961 Johnny King 1962 Eddie Lumsden 1963 Reg Gasnier 1964 Reg Gasnier 1965 Johnny King 1966 Ken Irvine 1967 Les Hanigan 1968 Stan Gorton 1969 Ken Irvine 1970 Ken Irvine 1971 Paul Cross 1972 Bob Fulton 1973 Bob Fulton 1974 Kevin Junee & Bill Mullins 1975 Johnny Mayes 1976 Bob Fulton 1977 Russel Gartner 1978 Larry Corowa 1979 Mitch Brennan & Tom Mooney 1980 John Ribot & Wayne Wigham 1981 Terry Fahey 1982 Steve Ella 1983 Phil Blake 1984 Terry Lamb & Steve Morris 1985 Steve Linnane 1986 Phil Blake & Garry Schofield 1987 Terry Lamb 1988 John Ferguson 1989 Gary Belcher 1990 Mal Meninga 1991 Alan McIndoe 1992 Mark Bell & Tim Brasher 1993 Noa Nadruku 1994 Steve Renouf 1995 Steven Menzies 1996 Noa Nadruku 1997 Terry Hill (ARL) Matthew Ryan (SL) 1998 Darren Smith 1999 Nathan Blacklock 2000 Nathan Blacklock 2001 Nathan Blacklock 2002 Nigel Vagana 2003 Rhys Wesser 2004 Amos Roberts 2005 Matt Bowen 2006 Nathan Merritt 2007 Matt Bowen 2008 Brett Stewart 2009 Brett Morris 2010 Shaun Kenny-Dowall & Akuila Uate 2011 Ben Barba & Nathan Merritt 2012 Ben Barba 2013 Michael Jennings, Jorge Taufua & David Williams 2014 Alex Johnston

Sydney Roosters squad – 2014 World Club Challenge winners (3rd Title) 1 Anthony Minichiello (c) 2 Daniel Tupou 3 Michael Jennings 4 Mitchell Aubusson 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6 James Maloney 7 Mitchell Pearce 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9 Jake Friend 10 Sam Moa 11 Boyd Cordner 12 Sonny Bill Williams 13 Frank-Paul Nu'uausala 14 Daniel Mortimer 15 Aidan Guerra 16 Dylan Napa 17 Remi Casty Coach: Trent Robinson

Australia squad – 2013 Rugby League World Cup Champions (10th Title)  Billy Slater  Darius Boyd  Jarryd Hayne  Brett Morris  Greg Inglis  Michael Jennings  Josh Morris  Brent Tate  Johnathan Thurston  Daly Cherry-Evans  Cooper Cronk  Andrew Fifita  Nate Myles  Josh Papalii  Matt Scott  James Tamou  Cameron Smith (c)  Robbie Farah  Greg Bird  Boyd Cordner  Luke Lewis  Corey Parker  Sam Thaiday  Paul Gallen Coach: Tim Sheens

Australia squad – 2009 Four Nations champions Darren Lockyer (c) Justin Hodges Sam Thaiday David Shillington Ben Hannant Josh Morris Paul Gallen Anthony Watmough Cooper Cronk Ryan Hoffman Greg Inglis Billy Slater Cameron Smith (vc) Brett White Kurt Gidley Johnathan Thurston Jarryd Hayne Nathan Hindmarsh Petero Civoniceva Michael Jennings Luke Lewis Trent Waterhouse Brett Morris Robbie Farah Coach: Tim Sheens

Tonga squad – 2008 Rugby League World Cup 17 L. Paea (capt) 3 Emelio 4 Fa'aoso 5 Guttenbeil 6 Jennings 7 Kaufusi 8 Laiseni 9 Lasalo 10 Lauaki 11 Leo-Latu 12 Manu 13 Manuokafoa 14 Mateo 15 Moa 16 E. Paea 18 M. Paea 19 Talanoa 20 Taufa’ao 21 Tonga 22 Uaisele 22 Uasi 23 Vuna 24 Williams Coach: Dymock

Sydney Roosters Squad – 2013 NRL Premiers (13th Title) 1. Anthony Minichiello (c) 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. James Maloney 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Sam Moa 11. Aidan Guerra 12. Sonny Bill Williams 18. Boyd Cordner 13. Frank-Paul Nu'uausala 14. Daniel Mortimer 15. Mitchell Aubusson 23. Luke O'Donnell Coach: Trent Robinson