Matthew Wright (rugby league)

Matthew Wright (born 30 January 1991) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, wing and fullback for the Newcastle Thunder in Betfred Championship.

For other people with the same name, see Matthew Wright.

Matthew Wright
Personal information
Born (1991-01-30) 30 January 1991
Auckland, New Zealand
Height6 ft 4 in (1.92 m)
Weight14 st 13 lb (95 kg)
Playing information
PositionWing, Fullback, Centre, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–13 Cronulla Sharks 62 12 6 0 60
2014–15 North Queensland 34 18 0 0 72
2016–18 Manly Sea Eagles 47 12 43 0 134
2019– Newcastle Thunder 39 20 0 0 0
Total 182 62 49 0 266
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–17 Samoa 5 2 4 0 16
2016–2018 World All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]
As of 29 December 2020

He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL and the Central Queensland Capras in the Intrust Super Cup.

Early career

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Wright grew up in Blacktown, New South Wales, playing his junior rugby league for St Patrick's and attending Patrician Brothers' College. While attending Patrician Brothers', Wright was a member of their rugby league team that was defeated by Matraville High in the final of 2007 GIO Schoolboy Cup.[3] In 2008, Wright was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys.

A Penrith Panthers junior, Wright played for the Panther's Harold Matthews Cup and S.G. Ball Cup sides, winning the Harold Matthews Player of the Year award in 2007.[4] In 2008, Wright debuted for Penrith's NYC team. In 10 games, he scored six tries and kicked 28 goals.[5] That year he signed a three-year deal with the Cronulla Sharks.[6]

Playing career
Wright playing for the Sharks in 2009

2009

After starting the 2009 season in the NYC, Wright made his first grade debut for the Sharks at just 18 years old.[2] In his rookie season, Wright played 17 games and scored 6 tries.

2010

Wright spent the 2010 season playing for Cronulla's NYC and NSW Cup sides. At the end of the season, Wright played two games for the Junior Kangaroos, and was selected in Samoa's train-on squad.

2011

In 2011, Wright returned to first grade for the Sharks, playing 19 games all on the wing and scoring 4 tries.

Wright playing for the Sharks-Storm team in the NSW Cup in 2012

2012

Wright spent the majority of 2012 playing fullback for Cronulla, scoring 1 try.

2013

In 2013, he made his test debut for Samoa in the Pacific Rugby League International against Tonga.[7]

Later that season, Wright was a member of the Sharks victorious New South Wales Cup side.[8]

2014

In January 2014, Wright signed a one-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.[9] Wright made his debut for the Cowboys in their Round 5 win over the Newcastle Knights, in which he scored a try. On 22 August, Wright became one of the current NRL players and former Sharks players to accept reduced bans from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for his role in the club's 2011 supplements program.[10]

Wright finished his first season for the Cowboys with 9 tries in 17 games, including a first half hat-trick in the side's 64–6 win over the Wests Tigers.

2015

In Round 5 of the 2015 NRL season, Wright scored his second hat-trick for the Cowboys in their 30–10 win over the Penrith Panthers.

2016

On 22 April, Wright was granted a release from the Cowboys to join the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on a three-year contract.[11] On 7 May 2016, Wright played for Samoa in the 2016 Polynesian Cup against Tonga, where he played on the wing and scored a try in the 18–6 win at Parramatta Stadium.[12] Later in the year he represented Samoa in their historical test match against Fiji in Apia. He kicked 3 goals in Samoa's two point defeat.

2019

On 9 Jun 2019, Newcastle Thunder announced the signing of Wright[13][14]

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to Round 26 of the 2016 season[2]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2009 Cronulla-Sutherland 1760—024
2011 Cronulla-Sutherland 1946/785.7028
2012 Cronulla-Sutherland 2110—04
2013 Cronulla-Sutherland 510—04
2014 North Queensland 1790/10.0036
2015 North Queensland 1790—036
2016 Manly-Warringah 1527/1070.00022
Career totals 110 32 13/18 72.22 0 154

International
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2013 Samoa 100—00
2016 Samoa 213100.00010
Career totals 3 1 3 100.00 0 10

Personal life

Wright is the nephew of former New Zealand international Tony Tatupu and Wests Tigers back Tim Simona (despite actually being almost 10 months older than Simona). He is also a cousin of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks forward Jesse Sene-Lefao and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs forward Lamar Liolevave.

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. "Matthew Wright – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 30 January 1991. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  3. "Arrive Alive Cup, AAC, aac, Arrive Alive Cup, National Schoolboys knockout competition, Arrive Alive". Ourfootyteam.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  4. "2009 Harold Matthew's Cup Results". Ourfootyteam.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  5. "Players". NYC DATABASE. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  6. "Wright time for a baby Shark". Our Footy Team. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  7. Wright happy to be Sharks' centre of attention Stuff.co.nz, 22 March 2013
  8. Michael Carayannis. "Cronulla Sharks overpower Windsor Wolves to claim NSW Cup title". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  9. "Cowboys sign Matthew Wright for 2014". Zero Tackle.
  10. "Cronulla Sharks players accept doping bans". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  11. "Matthew Wright to join Manly". Sea Eagles. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  12. "Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test". nrl.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  13. "Wright rumbles in to Thunder". www.thunderrugby.co.uk. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  14. "Samoa star Matthew Wright returns to Newcastle". www.loverugbyleague.com. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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