Andrew Willis (rugby league)
Personal information | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Australia | |||||
Playing information | ||||||
Position | five-eighth/stand-off, halfback/scrum-half, centre | |||||
Club | ||||||
Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
1993–1997 | Wests Magpies | 60 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 85 |
As of 19 July 2010 | ||||||
Source: RLP |
Andrew Willis is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the Western Suburbs Magpies. He played in a number of backline positions
Club career
A Cootamundra junior,[1] Willis made his debut for Wests in 1993, originally playing either second-row or starting from the bench.[2] Throughout 1994 & 1995, Willis played five-eighth, but was unable to play more than a dozen games a season.
Willis is perhaps best remembered for kicking a 48-metre field goal to win a game against North Sydney Bears in 1996,[3] one of the longest of the modern era. Willis played every game of the 1996 season, and played in the semifinals,[2] which was to be the Magpies last ever semis appearance.
Willis only played a further 10 games. He later stated his retirement was due to, "a couple of injuries," and not, "training as hard as I could."[4] He was only 24 when he returned to playing local football with Camden.[4] He captain-coached them to a premiership in 2000, scoring a try in what was described as a star performance.[5] He represented Country Seconds that year.[6]
Later, Willis coached for Greater Southern[7] & the Western Suburbs Magpies SG Ball side.[8]
References
- ↑ "Bidgee Region". LeagueNet. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
- 1 2 "Matches played for the Western Suburbs Magpies". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
- ↑ Stuart Honeysett (10 July 2010). "Benji Marshall magic shines on spite night". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
- 1 2 "look who we bumped into". Footy Confidential (Sydney, NSW: News Limited) (16 July 2010): pg 47.
- ↑ Paul Suttor (8 February 2014). "Picton pushed aside as Rams raid G6 crown". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ↑ Ben Drzyzga (21 April 2000). "O'Doherty racks up another milestone". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ↑ Tim Keeble (9 May 2009). "Limited preparation no discomfort for Willis". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ↑ "MAGPIES OUT OF HAROLD MATTHEWS & SG BALL FINALS". rleague.com. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
Sources
- Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson (2007). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Wetherill Park, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-1-877082-93-1.