Simon Mannering

Simon Mannering
Mannering during 2013 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Simon Alexander Mannering
Born 28 August 1986
Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Playing information
Position Second-row, Lock, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005– NZ Warriors 212 52 0 0 208
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–14 New Zealand 40 6 0 0 24
As of 1 March 2015
Source: [1]

Simon Alexander Mannering (born 28 August 1986) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League (NRL). A New Zealand international representative second row forward, who can also play at centre, he was appointed the New Zealand national team's captain in 2013. Mannering has played his whole NRL career to date with the Warriors and was part of the 2008 World Cup-winning Kiwis team.

Early years

Mannering moved to Motueka at an early age[2] and was educated at Motueka High School and then at Nelson College from 2000 to 2004,[3] where he played rugby union. After being spotted by rugby league development officer Paul Bergman, Mannering switched codes and was an instant success, making the national secondary schools team after just three games of rugby league.[4]

In 2004 Mannering moved to Wellington to play for the Wellington under-18 side, joining the Wellington Rugby League Academy at WelTec.[5] He then was selected for the Paul Bergman-coached Wellington Orcas in the Bartercard Cup.[4][6] In 2004, Mannering made the Junior Kiwi's and the New Zealand A side.[6][7] Mannering received interest from the Bulldogs and Parramatta before deciding to move to Auckland and join the New Zealand Warriors.[4]

Professional playing career

2005

Mannering made his NRL debut for the Warriors against the Brisbane Broncos in 2005. The match was special as it marked the Warriors' 10th-anniversary match and the Warriors had upset the then competition leaders for the second time that year.

2006

In 2006, Mannering was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis squad for the 2006 Tri Nations tournament.[8] He played in every game of the series for the Kiwis and was named Rookie of the year for the Kiwis.

2007

Mannering was selected to play for the New Zealand national team at centre in the 2007 ANZAC Test loss against Australia.[9] Mannering was also one of the nominees for 2007 New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Year.

2008

Mannering played all 26 games for the Warriors in 2008 and was named the clubs player of the year.[10] In August 2008, Mannering was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,[11] and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad.[12] In the Kiwis' second match of the tournament, against Papua New Guinea, he scored two tries. He also played in the side that won the final of the World Cup.

2009

In 2009 Mannering signed a new contract with the club that expires after the 2012 season.[13] He played centre for 20 games during the 2009 season that saw the Warriors have a season to forget.

2010

Mannering was appointed the Warriors club captain for the 2010 season. Mannering has continued in his role as Warriors captain.[14][15]

Mannering missed the Kiwis' ANZAC Test match clash with Australia due to injury. Following the 2010 NRL Season, he was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis' Squad for the 2010 Four Nations tournament and for the Four Nation' warm-up Test game against Samoa. He was selected to play off the bench in the Kiwis' 50-6 win over Samoa in the Four Nations warm-up game at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium.

During the Four Nation, Mannering featured in all of the Kiwis' regular tournament games at Second Row. Following New Zealand's lost to Australia at Eden Park (Round 3 of the tournament), coach Stephen Kearney selected him in the Centres for the Grand Final match against Australia at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. However New Zealand won the game 12-10 and the 2010 Four Nations tournament.

2011

In 2011, Mannering lead the Warriors to their second Grand Final appearance and he captain the side in the 2011 NRL Grand Final, playing at Second Row against Manly at ANZ Stadium. Unfortunately, Manly won the game 24-10 and the NRL Premiership. Following the 2011 NRL Grand Final, he was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis' Squad for the Newcastle Trans-Tasman Test game against Australia and for the 2011 Four Nations Tournament.

2012

In February 2012, Mannering extend his contract once more to see him linked to the club for another three years, with his new contract expiring in 2015. This new contract will see Mannering become one of the New Zealand Warriors longest serving players, only beaten by that of Stacey Jones.[16]

In April 2012, Mannering was selected to play Centre for New Zealand in the 2012 ANZAC Test at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. However, Australia won the game 20-12.

In October 2012, Mannering was selected to play Lock for the Kiwis in the post-season Trans-Tasman Test game against the Australian Kangaroos at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville, Queensland. However Australia won the game 18-10.

2013

In February 2013, Mannering replaced Benji Marshall as New Zealand Kiwis captain.

In April 2013, Mannering was originally selected to play New Zealand in the 2013 Anzac Test against Australia at Canberra Stadium and to captain New Zealand for the first time. However, hours before the test game, he was ruled out of the game with a calf injury and Kieran Foran took over the NZ Captaincy for the game.

Following the 2013 NRL Season, he was named in the New Zealand Kiwis' Rugby League World Cup Squad.

Mannering played in the Kiwis' World Cup Warm-up game against the Cook Islands captaining the Kiwis for the first time, playing at Second Row and the Kiwis went on to win the game 50-0. He played in the Kiwis' first 2013 Rugby League World Cup game against Samoa playing at Lock, scoring 2 tries the Kiwis' 42-24 win. The following week, he played in the Kiwis' 48-0 win over France, playing at Lock.

Coach Stephen Kearney rested him for the Kiwis' clash against Papua New Guinea.

References

  1. ↑ RLP
  2. ↑ Laing, Doug (19 September 2008). "Warrior Mannering Bay boy". Hawke's Bay Today (New Zealand: APN News & Media Ltd). Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  3. ↑ Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chris Rattue and Andy Hay (20 October 2006). "League: Next time, he'll step on the Gas". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Kiwi Sides Train In Petone Petone Herald
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Simon Mannering". Television New Zealand. 24 January 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Team of the Century Week 8 Wellington Rugby League
  8. ↑ "Mannering gets Kiwi nod". TVNZ. 2006-10-10. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  9. ↑ "Anzac Test Match 2007". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Mannering named Player of the Year". One Sport. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  11. ↑ "Kiwis select Sonny Bill". Sky Sports. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  12. ↑ "Kiwis to wait on Webb and Matai". BBC. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  13. ↑ "League: Mannering re-signs with Warriors". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  14. ↑ Simon Mannering to lead Vodafone Warriors in 2010 warriors.co.nz, 4 November 2009
  15. ↑ Steve Price dropped as Warriors captain 3News, 4 November 2009
  16. ↑ "Mannering extends deal with Warriors". abc news. February 23, 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.

External links

Preceded by
Benji Marshall		 New Zealand national rugby league team captain
2013-present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent