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Gareth Widdop

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Gareth Widdop
Personal information
Full nameGareth Edward Widdop[1]
Born (1989-03-12) 12 March 1989 (age 35)[1]
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Weight14 st 2 lb (90 kg)[2]
PositionStand-off, Scrum-half, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–13 Melbourne Storm 70 10 25 1 91
2014–19 St George Illawarra 125 33 387 6 912
2020–22 Warrington Wolves 49 20 47 1 175
2023 Castleford Tigers 21 1 37 1 79
2024 Halifax Panthers 24 7 6 0 40
Total 289 71 502 9 1297
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010 NSW Residents 1 1 0 0 4
2010–18 England 29 7 71 1 171
2016 World All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
2019 Great Britain 4 0 6 0 12
Source: [3][1]

Gareth Edward Widdop (born 12 March 1989) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off or fullback for the Halifax Panthers in the RFL Championship.

Widdop played at club level for the Melbourne Storm and the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League, and for the Warrington Wolves and the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He won the 2012 NRL Grand Final with Melbourne and has played for the World All Stars.

He made 29 representative appearances for England, ranking as the side's second-highest points scorer, and made 4 appearances for Great Britain.

Early life

[edit]

Born and brought up in Halifax, Yorkshire, Widdop played his junior rugby for King Cross before moving to Melbourne, Australia with his family at the age of 17 where he was educated at Bayside Secondary College.[citation needed]

As a teenager, Widdop went to the 2006 NRL Grand Final, and continued to play in the Melbourne Rugby League for Altona Roosters under his father Gary.[4] He was introduced to the Storm by Dean Lance, and was taken into the Storms Academy U18 program by Paul Bramley the High Performance Manager at the time, he went on to represent Victoria Under 18s team, and the Australian Affiliated U18 Schoolboys and he eventually signed for Melbourne Storm's Under 20s team.[5]

On 2 September 2009, Widdop was named on the interchange bench in the 2009 NYC Team of the Year.[6] In the 2009 NYC Grand Final against the Wests Tigers NYC Team, Widdop scored the match winning try and goal in the 24–22 win.[7] Widdop was named the Storms' NYC player of the year in 2009.[8]

Club career

[edit]
Widdop playing for the Storm in the 2010 NSW Cup

Melbourne Storm

[edit]

In 2010, Widdop's first season in the first team at the Melbourne Storm, he was named in Melbournes' 23-man touring party in preparation for the 2010 World Club Challenge against Leeds Rhinos[9][10] but was not chosen to play but did pick up the man of the match award in their warm up game against the Harlequins.

Widdop made his NRL debut in Round 7 of the 2010 NRL season against the Warriors where he played centre in the Storms' 40–6 win at Etihad Stadium. This was notably the first match which the Storm played following news of their salary cap scandal, which saw the club stripped of three minor premierships, two premierships and the right to accrue any competition points in 2010.[11] In Round 12 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Widdop made his first appearance at fullback in place of the rested Billy Slater, scoring a try and kicking 3 conversions in the 23–12 win at AAMI Park.[12] Widdop was put back in the centres for his third and final appearance in 2010 for the Storm, the Round 25 clash against the Wests Tigers.

On 9 September 2010, Widdop was named at five-eighth in the 2010 NSW Cup Team of the Year.[13] Widdop finished his début year in the NRL with him playing in 3 matches, scoring 1 try and kicking 3 goals for the Melbourne Storm in the 2010 NRL season.

On 14 May 2011, Widdop re-signed with the Storm until the end of the 2013 season.[14] Widdop appeared in 25 matches, scoring 2 tries, kicking 7 goals and kicking 1 field goal for the Melbourne Storm in the 2011 NRL season.

On 30 September 2012, in the Storm's 2012 NRL Grand Final against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Widdop played at five-eighth in the Storm's 14–4 victory.[15][16] Widdop finished the 2012 NRL season for the Storm playing in 25 matches, scoring 4 tries, and kicking 12 goals.

Widdop started the 2013 season as five-eighth in the Melbourne Storm's 18–14 win over Super League champions Leeds Rhinos in the 2013 World Club Challenge at Headingley Stadium.[17] On 19 April 2013, it was announced that Widdop had signed a four-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2014.[18] In Round 15 against Gold Coast Titans, Widdop suffered a dislocated hip in an awkward tackle in the Storms' 18–12 loss at Cbus Super Stadium.[19] Widdop later returned in the Week 1 finals match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Storms' 20–10 loss at ANZ Stadium.[20] Widdop finished his last year with the Melbourne Storm with him playing in 16 matches, scoring 3 tries and kicking 3 goals in the 2013 NRL season.

St. George Illawarra Dragons

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In Round 1 of the 2014 NRL season, Widdop made his club début for the St George Illawarra Dragons against the Wests Tigers, Widdop proved his worth having a hand in four of the team's seven tries and kicking eight from eight goals in the Dragons 44–24 win at ANZ Stadium.[21] The signing of Benji Marshall to the Dragons part way through the season meant a new halves partner for Widdop. In Round 16, against his former club the Melbourne Storm, Widdop scored his first club try for the Dragons in the 24–12 win at WIN Stadium.[22] Widdop finished off his first year with the St George Illawarra Dragons as the club's highest point scorer with 137 points from 3 tries, 61 goals and 3 field goals, and played in all of the Dragons 24 matches.

Widdop featured in the World Club Series against Warrington Wolves where he kicked 3 goals in the 18–12 win at Halliwell Jones Stadium.[23] In Round 6, against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Widdop played his 100th NRL match in the Dragons 31–6 win at ANZ Stadium.[24] In the Dragons week 1 elimination final match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Widdop became the hero and the villain in the tight match, Widdop was the hero in the 80th minute when he kicked a penalty goal after Bulldogs second-rower Shaun Lane scored a try in the 78th minute but when the ball came off Lane from an offside position from a short kickoff from the Dragons, the Dragons were awarded the penalty and Widdop levelled the match at 10–10 at full-time, sending the match into extra time. Widdop became the villain after his kick out on the full, in an attempt to nail a 40/20, which later saw Bulldogs' Josh Reynolds kick the match-winning field goal four tackles later in the 84th minute ending the Dragons season 11–10 at ANZ Stadium.[25] Widdop finished the 2015 NRL season as the club's highest tryscorer and point scorer with him scoring 182 points in 24 matches, from 9 tries and 73 goals.

On 13 February 2016, Widdop played for the World All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars in the 2016 All Stars match, playing at five-eighth in the 12–8 win at Suncorp Stadium.[26][27]

Widdop playing for England in 2016

The Dragons found form in the early 2017 season with many good performances from Widdop. He received Dally M five-eighth of the year.[28]

Widdop made 22 appearances for St George in 2018 as the club qualified for the finals for the first time since 2015 finishing 7th at the end of the regular season although the saints lead the competition earlier on in the year. In week one of the finals series, Widdop dislocated his shoulder for the second time in the season as St George romped to a shock 48–18 victory against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. Widdop had only just returned to the squad after dislocating the same shoulder a month prior against Parramatta. Widdop was subsequently ruled out of the following weeks elimination final against South Sydney.[1][29][30]

In round 3 against the Brisbane Broncos, Widdop dislocated his right shoulder in the 25–24 victory. Scans later confirmed that Widdop would need a second shoulder reconstruction and the player would miss 4–5 months.[31]

In round 25 against the Gold Coast, Widdop kicked 4 goals as St George won the match 24–16. In the process, Widdop reached 1000 NRL points in his final game for the club. St George ended the season in 15th position on the table which was one of the worst seasons in the club's history.[32]

Warrington Wolves

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Widdop made his début at scrum-half in the 18–8 away defeat against Wakefield Trinity on 16 February 2020.[33]

In round 2 of the 2021 Super League season, Widdop scored two tries in a 44–12 victory over Leigh.[34] In round 7, he scored a hat-trick in Warrington's 38–12 victory over Castleford.[35] The following week, he scored two tries in a 62–18 victory over Salford. Widdop played a total of 20 games for Warrington including their shock 19-0 elimination playoff loss to Hull Kingston Rovers.[36]

Widdop played a total of 15 games for Warrington in the 2022 Super League season as the club endured a difficult campaign finishing 11th.[37]

Castleford Tigers

[edit]

On 6 October 2022, it was confirmed that Widdop had signed for the Castleford Tigers on a two-year deal.[38]

Widdop played 21 games for Castleford in the Super League XXVIII season as the club finished 11th on the table narrowly avoiding relegation.[39]

On 18 October 2023, the Tigers announced that Widdop would depart the club by mutual consent,[40][41] with Widdop later confirming his retirement from professional rugby league.[42][43]

Halifax Panthers

[edit]

On 23 December 2023, it was reported that Widdop would come out of retirement and sign for his hometown club Halifax to play in the RFL Championship in 2024.[44]

International career

[edit]

On 1 June 2010, Widdop received a surprise call-up into new England coach Steve McNamara's 19-man squad for the match against France on 12 June 2010. Widdop featured at fullback and scored a try with his first touch of the ball, he also kicked 2 goals when Kevin Sinfield was substituted in England's 60–6 win.[45]

In mid-September, Widdop was once again called up to the England squad for the Four Nations, he started at fullback in an 18-all draw in the warm up match against New Zealand Māori in which he kicked 3 goals at Mt Smart Stadium.[46] Widdop was once again on the scoresheet as England lost their opening game 24–10 against reigning world champions New Zealand, scoring a try and kicking a goal in the 24–10 loss at Westpac Stadium.[47] Widdop was not selected for the game against Australia but was on the interchange bench in the final game against Papua New Guinea where he came on at centre to kick a goal in the 36–10 victory at Eden Park.[48]

In the opening match of the 2011 Four Nations, Widdop was named on the interchange bench for England against Wales where he scored a try with the final play of the game in the 42–4 win at Leigh Sports Village.[49] Widdop featured in England's final match against Australia on the interchange bench in a 30–8 loss at Elland Road.[50] Widdop played in all 4 matches and scored a try in the tournament.

Widdop was selected to represent England from the interchange bench against Italy where he came on and kicked a goal in the 15–14 loss.[51] Widdop featured in 3 matches and kicked a goal for England in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Widdop was selected in England's 2014 Four Nations squad.[52] Widdop featured against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand in the group stages. Widdop scored in all three matches with six, two and one goals respectively.

Widdop played in all 3 Test matches against New Zealand at stand off and kicked 10 goals in England's 2-1 Baskerville Shield series win.[53]

At the conclusion of the club season, Gareth was selected for England for their test match against France and test series against New Zealand. In the test match against France, Widdop kicked 12 goals in a record 84–4 rout win of the 'Les Tricolores'.[54]

In October, Widdop was selected in the England squad for the 2016 Four Nations. Before the tournament, England played a test match against France which saw Widdop tally his 100th test point in England's 40–6 win.[55]

In October 2017 he was selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[56]

He was selected in England 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[57]

He was selected in squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere.[58] He made his Great Britain test debut in the defeat by Tonga.[59]

Statistics

[edit]
Year Team Games Tries Goals FGs Pts
2010 Melbourne Storm 3 1 4 10
2011 25 2 7 1 23
2012 26 4 12 40
2013 16 3 3 18
2014 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 3 61 3 137
2015 24 9 73 182
2016 24 6 54 1 133
2017 21 10 75 1 191
2018 22 4 94 1 204
2019 10 1 30 64
2020 Warrington Wolves 14 5 10 1 41
2021 20 10 31 102
2022 15 5 6 32
2023 Castleford Tigers 21 1 37 1 79
2024 Halifax
Totals 265 64 496 9 1257

source[60]

Honours

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Melbourne

[edit]
  • NRLPremiership:
  • NRL Minor Premiers:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Gareth Widdop – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Gareth Widdop". Rugby League World Cup 2013. Rugby League International Federation. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Player Summary: Gareth Widdop". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  4. ^ Jenkinson, Lance (19 April 2015). "Altona Roosters plan to make it a year to remember". Maribyrnong Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Australian Affiliated States Team Announced". Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018.
  6. ^ "2009 Toyota Cup Team of the Year". National Rugby League. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Melbourne Storm Defeat Wests Tigers 24-22 to Win 2009 Toyota Cup". Australia: Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Matt Russell Previews Toyota Cup Final". Australia: Fox Sports. Retrieved 3 October 2015.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Storm name World Club Challenge party". superleague.co.uk. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  10. ^ "World Club Challenge squad chosen". Herald Sun. 15 February 2010. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  11. ^ Gould, Russell (26 April 2010). "Melbourne Storm smash the Warriors 40-6 and begins on-field fight". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Melbourne Beat Canterbury". Perthnow.com.au. Retrieved 3 October 2015.[dead link‍]
  13. ^ Auburn Warriors Media (9 September 2010). "Pita Godinet named in NSW Cup Team of the Year". League Unlimited. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Gareth Widdop Re-Signs With Storm for Two More Seasons". Fox Sports. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  15. ^ Badel, Peter (30 September 2012). "Melbourne Storm beat Canterbury Bulldogs in 2012 NRL grand final". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  16. ^ Toohey, Barry (30 September 2012). "Our player ratings for the NRL grand final between Canterbury and the Melbourne Storm". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Storm Reclaim Another Stripped Trophy with 18-14 Victory Over Leeds Rhinos". Australia: Fox Sports. Retrieved 3 October 2015.[dead link‍]
  18. ^ Hooper, James (19 April 2013). "St George Illawarra Dragons sign Melbourne Storm's Gareth Widdop in $2M deal". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  19. ^ Greenwood, Emma (25 June 2013). "Gold Coast Titans beat Melbourne Storm 18-12 in NRL round 15". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  20. ^ Massoud, Josh (14 September 2013). "South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Melbourne Storm 20-10 in qualifying final". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  21. ^ Walter, Brad (9 March 2014). "Gareth Widdop stars as Dragons outlast Tigers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018.
  22. ^ Nicolussi, Christian (30 June 2014). "St George Illawarra Dragons fire and down Melbourne Storm at WIN Stadium". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  23. ^ Coleman, Mike (21 February 2015). "World Club Series: The St George Illawarra Dragons have beaten the Warrington Wolves 18-12 at Halliwell Jones Stadium". Fox Sports. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  24. ^ Brady, Jack (13 April 2015). "Widdop quashes speculation over Dragons departure". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018.
  25. ^ Brady, Jack (13 September 2015). "Dragons grateful for devastated Widdop". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015.
  26. ^ Garry, Chris (13 February 2016). "World All Stars defeat Indigenous All Stars 12-8 at Suncorp Stadium". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  27. ^ "All Stars, trial games team lists". National Rugby League. 13 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Re-live the 2017 Dally M Medal: Cameron Smith wins top gong, team of the year revealed". Fox Sports. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Triple treat! Widdop one of three Red V big guns on track". News.com.au. Australian Associated Press. 2 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  30. ^ Naghten, Tom (9 September 2018). "Gareth Widdop injury: St George Illawarra star dislocates shoulder again". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  31. ^ "St George Illawarra captain Gareth Widdop undergoes successful surgery". illawarramercury.com.au. 2 April 2019.
  32. ^ "Dragons overpower Titans in Widdop's final NRL game". National Rugby League. 7 September 2019.
  33. ^ "Wakefield Trinity 18-8 Warrington". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  34. ^ "Warrington v Leigh". Sky Sports.
  35. ^ "Warrington Wolves 38 Castleford Tigers 14 – Depleted Tigers undone by Gareth Widdop hat-trick". yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  36. ^ "Salford Red Devils 18-62 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport.
  37. ^ "Super League: What's gone wrong for Warrington Wolves in 2022?". Sky Sports.
  38. ^ "Gareth Widdop: Castleford Tigers sign Warrington Wolves half-back on two-year deal". BBC. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Castleford Tigers ace Alex Mellor delivers brutally honest assessment of 'awful' season; 'We've massively underperformed'". loverugbyleague.com. 22 September 2023.
  40. ^ "Widdop leaves the Tigers". Castleford Tigers. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Gareth Widdop: Castleford announce departure of Great Britain half-back". BBC Sport. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  42. ^ Olawumi, Ben (18 October 2023). "Gareth Widdop: Former NRL champion announces retirement – 'I have given every bit of my heart and soul into the game'". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  43. ^ Walker, Callum (18 October 2023). "Gareth Widdop officially retires from rugby league following Castleford Tigers exit". TotalRL. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  44. ^ "Ex-NRL champion comes out of retirement to join hometown Championship club ahead of 2024". Love Rugby League. 23 December 2023.
  45. ^ Wilson, Andy (12 June 2010). "Record-equalling Sam Tomkins scores four tries for England as France flop". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018.
  46. ^ Wilson, Andy (16 October 2010). "England unable to beat New Zealand Maori but injuries are main concern". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015.
  47. ^ "New Zealand Outmuscle England 24-10". Australia: Fox Sports. Retrieved 3 October 2015.[dead link‍]
  48. ^ Wilson, Andy (6 November 2010). "England end Four Nations with 36-10 win over Papua New Guinea". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014.
  49. ^ "Sam Tomkins four-try haul helps England thrash Wales 42-4 in opening round of Four Nations". Fox Sports. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  50. ^ Hooper, James (20 November 2011). "Darren Lockyer leads Australia to 30-8 win in Four Nations final". The Courier-Mail. Leeds. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  51. ^ Crawley, Paul (13 October 2013). "Italy pull-off shock victory over England in Rugby League World Cup warm-up match". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  52. ^ "England Four Nations squad announced". National Rugby League. Australian Associated Press. 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  53. ^ "England v New Zealand 3rd Test: hosts take series with nervy 20-14 win over Kiwis in Wigan". The Daily Telegraph. PA, AAP. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  54. ^ "MatchCentre – England v France". Sporting Life. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  55. ^ "MatchCentre". sportinglife. Hestview Ltd. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  56. ^ "England rugby league World Cup squad revealed – and James Roby is back in the fold". Mirror. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  57. ^ "Sam Tomkins eager to lift inaugural World 9s title with England Down Under". Mirror. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  58. ^ "Zak Hardaker shock inclusion in 24-man Great Britain squad for tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea". The Telegraph. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  59. ^ "Great Britain left bruised at Tonga party". Times. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  60. ^ "Gareth Widdop – Playing Career – RLP". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
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