Chris Melling (rugby league)

Christopher "Mello" Melling (born 21 September 1984) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for England (Under-16s, and Under-18s), and as a fullback for Great Britain, and at club level for Ashton Bears ARLFC (Under-15), Hindley ARLFC (16+), and in the Super League for the Wigan Warriors and Harlequins RL (renamed as the London Broncos in 2012), as a fullback, wing, second-row or loose forward, consequently he was considered a utility player.[3][4]

For the pool player, see Chris Melling (pool player).

Chris Melling
Personal information
Full nameChristopher Melling
Born (1984-09-21) 21 September 1984
Ashton-in-Makerfield, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight14 st 7 lb (92 kg) [1]
PositionWing, Fullback, Second-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004–06 Wigan Warriors 13 3 17 0 46
2007–13 Harlequins RL 162 41 9 0 180
Total 175 44 26 0 226
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3][4]

Early career

Melling was born in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England. He was a pupil at Byrchall High School.

played junior rugby league for the Ashton and Hindley junior clubs.[5] Melling is a youth level international for England, touring Australia and New Zealand with England Under 16s in 2001 and also representing England's U18 Academy.[5][6]

Wigan Warriors

Melling is a former Wigan Senior Academy captain who made several appearance for the Wigan first team.

In 2004's Super League IX it had seemed that Melling's career was in doubt following a serious knee injury suffered playing for Wigan against Leeds at Headingley.[7] Melling had been seen as a future star before having his season ended by a cruciate ligament injury.[8]

Upon his return to first team action in 2005's Super League X Chris made a further 10 first-grade appearances for the Wigan Warriors before picking up another knee injury requiring further surgery.[9]

Melling returned to full fitness in 2006, but found first team opportunities limited, due to the emergence of Chris Ashton at the club.[10] Chris Melling moved to hooker in Wigan's academy, impressing enough to be voted as the Under-21s Academy 'Player of the Year' for 2006.[11]

He left Wigan to pursue regular first team rugby league.

Melling in action for Harlequins RL

Harlequins RL

Melling was initially signed as a back-up hooker to Chad Randall,[12] however the Great Britain international made the fullback position his own. He has been compared to Wade McKinnon with the youngster being defensively solid and dependable, with an eye for a gap bringing the ball out in attack.[13] His move to Harlequins was to have seen the youngster undergo a positional change with a move to hooker.[14] He had been previously employed throughout the backline, with most of his first team appearances coming as an outside back.

Melling impressed in 2007,[15] starting games at fullback and throughout the backline and scoring four tries. In May 2007 Melling agreed to a new two-year deal with Harlequins Rugby League, midway through his first season at the Twickenham Stoop.[16] This will keep Melling in the capital until 2009.[17] He is seen as the emerging star at the Harlequins, with Harlequins RL investing in young British talent.[18]

Representative football

In June 2007 Melling was called up to the Great Britain squad,[4][19][20][21] and was fullback in the Test match against France.[22] He was joined in the Great Britain Test side by Harlequins teammate Paul Sykes.[23] Melling made his Great Britain début in the 42-14 victory over the French on 22 June 2007, despite carrying an injury.[24][25][26]

Away from football

Melling is a qualified Physiotherapist after studying at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston,[27] graduating in June 2006.[28] Melling hopes to set up his own physiotherapy practise in the future.[28]

References
  1. "Harlequins Rugby League". web page. Harlequins Rugby League. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  2. "Chris Melling at twitter.com". twitter.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Chris Melling". Quins. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  6. "Langley Leads GB to Victory". Bradford. 9 December 2002. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  7. "Leeds 36-24 Wigan". BBC. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2007.
  8. "Wigan duo agree fresh deals". BBC. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  9. "Chris Melling". Quins. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
  10. Hadfield, Dave (8 June 2007). "Melling ready to make Wigan pay again for mistake". London: Independent. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  11. "League Playing squad 2006/2007". Quins. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  12. "Harlequins swoop for British trio". BBC. 21 September 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  13. "Sykes and Melling make the GB squad". Quins. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
  14. "Quins land young British trio". Quins RL. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  15. Gordos, Phil (15 June 2007). "Melling call-up a sign of the times". BBC. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  16. "New deal for Melling". Quins.co.uk. 29 May 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2007.
  17. Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to two stars who are particularly familiar with today's opposition…", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wigan Warriors, p41, 2 June 2007
  18. "Club-by-club guide: Harlequins". Sportinglife. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  19. "Eight new faces in Lions squad". BBC. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  20. "Melling and Sykes named in GB squad". Quins RL. 13 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  21. "What our GB player has to say". Quins RL. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  22. "New-look GB select five new caps". BBC. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  23. "Melling and Sykes to play at Headingley". Quins. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  24. "Great Britain 42-14 France". BBC. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  25. "Hungry Lions Please Smith". SportingLife. 22 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  26. Wilson, Andy (23 June 2007). "Morley finally gets on scoresheet as Smith's new-look turn up trumps". London: Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  27. "Wigan Player Profile". Wigan. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
  28. Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to full back and budding physiotherapist Chris Melling", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wakefield, p41, 14 April 2007
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