Daniel Fitzhenry
Encyclopedia
Daniel Fitzhenry is a former Australia
n professional rugby league
player in Australia's NRL. He played for Wests Tigers
in the National Rugby League
competition before his switch to Hull KR
before his release in October 2009. He returned to Wests Tigers in 2010. Fitzhenry primarily played on the wing, but could cover a number of positions.
for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
and had spent a period playing with Limoux Rugby League in France before being injured in a car accident.
After coming through the joint venture Wests Tigers
' ranks with the Western Suburbs Magpies
, Fitzhenry made his debut in the National Rugby League
playing at centre in Round 14 of the 2002 NRL season against the Penrith Panthers
at Leichhardt Oval. Fitzhenry played at fullback for several games in 2002. His versatility has seen him play off the bench, as hooker and once as halfback (2004 against The Bulldogs
). Injuries to the club's first choice player Benji Marshall
saw Daniel used as a make-shift 5/8th at times.
Fitzhenry's most successful position has been on the wing. Initially Fitzhenry was placed under much pressure in the position with many opposition clubs targeting his defensive weaknesses, including his shifting defence and a perceived inability to catch bombs
. However Fitzhenry improved over several seasons with his defence becoming solid.
Fitzhenry was a member of Wests Tigers
team that won the 2005 NRL Grand Final
, defeating the North Queensland Cowboys
30-16. He scored a try in the 63rd minute to give Wests a 12 point lead. He also scored a try in the 2006 World Club Challenge
which the Tigers lost to Bradford.
Fitzhenry held the record for the most tries scored by a player at the Wests Tigers, with 43, before being surpassed by Benji Marshall in 2010. Despite his try-scoring feats, he has been described as receiving "constant hate mail" and being "targeted more than almost any other player in the NRL."
In 2010, Fitzhenry returned to the Wests Tigers after two seasons playing with Hull KR. He played in 18 games during the season, but was often named as a reserve back, getting little time on the field. At the end of the season, Fitzhenry retired from the NRL, signing a two year contract to captain-coach Southcity in the group 9 competition.
In 2006, Daniel took part in an Australian runway fashion show alongside other team mates Shannon McDonnell and Robbie Farah
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player in Australia's NRL. He played for Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition before his switch to Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
before his release in October 2009. He returned to Wests Tigers in 2010. Fitzhenry primarily played on the wing, but could cover a number of positions.
Playing career
Daniel Fitzhenry played Jersey FleggJersey Flegg
Henry Harry "Jersey" Flegg was an English-Australian rugby league identity. Both a player and administrator, he was a leading figure in the birth of the sport in Australia....
for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
and had spent a period playing with Limoux Rugby League in France before being injured in a car accident.
After coming through the joint venture Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
' ranks with the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, Fitzhenry made his debut in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
playing at centre in Round 14 of the 2002 NRL season against the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
at Leichhardt Oval. Fitzhenry played at fullback for several games in 2002. His versatility has seen him play off the bench, as hooker and once as halfback (2004 against The Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
). Injuries to the club's first choice player Benji Marshall
Benji Marshall
Benji Marshall is a professional rugby league footballer with the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League . A goal-kicking five-eighth, he is the current captain of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations tournaments...
saw Daniel used as a make-shift 5/8th at times.
Fitzhenry's most successful position has been on the wing. Initially Fitzhenry was placed under much pressure in the position with many opposition clubs targeting his defensive weaknesses, including his shifting defence and a perceived inability to catch bombs
Bomb kick
An up and under is a type of kick in various codes of football. It is a high short punt onto or behind the defending team is a useful tactic both for attacking and defending...
. However Fitzhenry improved over several seasons with his defence becoming solid.
Fitzhenry was a member of Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
team that won the 2005 NRL Grand Final
2005 NRL Grand Final
The 2005 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2005 National Rugby League season. It was played on the night of Sunday, 2 October at Sydney's Telstra Stadium between 4th-placed Wests Tigers and 5th-placed North Queensland Cowboys, the only two clubs in the...
, defeating the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
30-16. He scored a try in the 63rd minute to give Wests a 12 point lead. He also scored a try in the 2006 World Club Challenge
2006 World Club Challenge
The 2006 World Club Challenge was a Rugby League match held on Friday, 3 February, 2006, at Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, UK. The game was contested by Bradford Bulls and Wests Tigers.-Bradford Bulls:...
which the Tigers lost to Bradford.
Fitzhenry held the record for the most tries scored by a player at the Wests Tigers, with 43, before being surpassed by Benji Marshall in 2010. Despite his try-scoring feats, he has been described as receiving "constant hate mail" and being "targeted more than almost any other player in the NRL."
In 2010, Fitzhenry returned to the Wests Tigers after two seasons playing with Hull KR. He played in 18 games during the season, but was often named as a reserve back, getting little time on the field. At the end of the season, Fitzhenry retired from the NRL, signing a two year contract to captain-coach Southcity in the group 9 competition.
In 2006, Daniel took part in an Australian runway fashion show alongside other team mates Shannon McDonnell and Robbie Farah
Robbie Farah
Robert Peter "Robbie" Farah is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Wests Tigers club in the National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays at hooker and can operate as a half-back...
.
Career highlights
- Junior Club: Dorrigo & Nambucca Heads
- First Grade Debut: Round 14, Wests Tigers v Penrith at Leichhardt Oval, 15 June 2002
- Career Highlight: Wests Tigers Leading Tryscorer; try in the 2005 NRL Grand Final
- Premierships: 2005 (West Tigers v North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
)
External links
- Daniel Fitzhenry NRL Profile(no longer a valid link)
- Official Daniel Fitzhenry Playing Statistics