Kurt Gidley
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Full name | Kurt Geoffrey Gidley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | 7 June 1982||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Fullback, Five-eighth, Halfback, Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kurt Geoffrey Gidley (born 7 June 1982) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.[1][2] An Australia international and New South Wales State of Origin representative and captain, he previously played in the National Rugby League for the Newcastle Knights, captaining them for 123 games. He played as a fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker, although due to his versatility, he was able to slip into the positions of centre and lock when needed throughout his career.
In 2011, Gidley competed in the third season of the
Early and personal life
Gidley was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
He is the younger brother of Matthew Gidley, and is the youngest of three brothers. He was an apprentice butcher when he left high school. Gidley's current partner is Brooke McNamara.[3] He was a Hunter Mariners junior.[4]
Playing career
2000s
Having won the
In 2006, Gidley travelled to
He was then selected in the 2008 State of Origin series shortly after a fractured cheekbone Gidley was the stand-out player at the club in the 2008 season as they finished ninth on the NRL ladder with 12 wins and 12 losses. Gidley led the scoring at the club with 150 points and also took the try-scoring award with nine tries. Regarded as one of the best utility players in the game, Gidley was also appointed captain of the Knights for the next season, replacing England-bound hooker and club legend Danny Buderus. At the end of the 2008 NRL season, Gidley was named the Newcastle club's player of the year.[citation needed] In August 2008, Gidley was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,[6][7] and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.[8] He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand on 8 May 2009.[9]
In May 2009, he was named as captain and fullback to represent New South Wales in the opening State of Origin match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne.[10] In the 2009 season Kurt Gidley again led the club's season in points as the Knights finished 7th after a good year. Kurt also achieved the second best percentage of kicking goals, with 82.1%, only being beaten by Michael Gordon with 93.4%. In November 2009, he was named in the Australian national team to take part in the 2009 Four Nations. In Australia's opening game of the tournament against New Zealand he played as the 17th man utility, making an impact in the last quarter of the game. In game three against France, he was chosen to replace regular fullback Billy Slater who was rested along with others. He successfully converted two goals which played part in the final 42–4 Australian win. On 7 November, Gidley was chosen on the interchange bench for the Four Nations final played in Leeds in which the Kangaroos thrashed England 46–16. He was brought on into the centres to replace an injured Justin Hodges early in the game.
2010s
In January 2010, Gidley was named in the
2011 saw Gidley selected in the NRL All Stars team for a second year in a row after Wayne Bennett used one of his two personal picks for Gidley.
Gidley was selected for
On 5 May 2015, Gidley signed a 1-year contract with Super League team Warrington Wolves, with an option for a second year, starting in 2016, ending a 15-year stint in the National Rugby League.[15]
On his Super League début for the Wolves, Gidley converted 2 goals in a man of the match performance against 2015 champions the Leeds Rhinos. In April, he picked up the Super League Player of the Month award.[16]
He played in the
He played in the 2016 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.[19]
In June 2017 it was announced that Gidley would retire at the end of the 2017 season.[20]
Personal life
Gidley is founder and co-owner of Steel City Beer Company with Andrew Johns, Matthew Johns, Danny Buderus, and Matt Hoy.[21][22]
References
- ^ a b "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Ideal cure for Kurt's blu". dailytelegraph.com.au. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "Hunter Mariners at rl1908.com". rl1908.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "ARL announce Kangaroos squad for Tri-Nations". Sports Australia. 2 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
- ^ Liam FitzGibbon (1 August 2008). "Surprises in Kangaroos squad". "Fox Sports News (Australia)". Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
- ^ "Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad". International Herald Tribune. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
- ^ "Manly six win Australia call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ Wald, Tom (3 May 2009). "Kangaroos selectors stick by losing World Cup team for New Zealand Test". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
- ^ Fitzgibbon, Liam (25 May 2009). "NSW selectors go with form and not reputation for Origin opener". Fox Sports News (Australia). Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
- ^ Dillon, Robert (28 January 2010). "Gidley backs All Stars in passion play: Kurt confident intensity high in both camps | Newcastle Herald". Theherald.com.au. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Kurt Gidley and Darren Lockyer undergo scans after All Stars clash". dailytelegraph.com.au. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "NSW skipper Kurt Gidley says Johns not a racist". heraldsun.com.au. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Bellamy Takes Positives". bunbury.igwn.com.au. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.[dead link]
- ^ NRL. "Gidley decides on future - Knights". Newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Gidley named First Utility Super League Player of the Month". rugby-league.com. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ "Hull FC's Jamie Shaul's late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington". Guardian. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves". BBC. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Kurt Gidley: Warrington Wolves half-back to retire at end of 2017 season". bbc.co.uk. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ https://pubtic.com.au/newcastle-legends-behind-launch-of-steel-city-beer-co/#:~:text=Steel%20City's%20founders%20include%20proud,and%20Sophie%20and%20Ryan%20Ginns.
- ^ https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7663201/knights-say-cheers-to-stadium-beers/