Matthew Gidley
Encyclopedia
Matthew "Matt" Gidley is an Australian rugby league
administrator and retired professional footballer. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales
, Gidley represented New South Wales and Australia. He is the currently CEO of Football Operations at the Newcastle Knights
. He played the majority of his career at Newcastle, winning a premiership in 2001, before playing four seasons for St. Helens in the European Super League
competition. Matt is the older brother of Newcastle Knights
fullback and captain Kurt Gidley
.
for the Wests club, Gidley had played all his junior football in the five-eighth position, however with Matthew Johns
taking up the position in the Knights line up, he slotted in to right centre.
Gidley has won one NRL Premiership with Knights, in 2001 (defeating Parramatta Eels
30–24). At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour
.
Gidley became famous for his wing/centre combination with former Knight Timana Tahu
. A common play was for the ball to be sent out to the right side of the field where Gidley would run, draw one or two players in before doing the famous Gidley flick pass to Tahu or placing a grubber kick down the line. This play was used at both club and representative level.
2006 saw a rejuvenation of sorts for Gidley seeing him recapture some of his old magic flick pass play with Knights winger Brian Carney. In 2006 Gidley retired from representative football, aiming to focus on playing well at club level. This move was questionable as it was right before the annual City vs Country Origin
clash, where many thought Gidley was going to make the Country side in the centre position.
He became only the 4th Newcastle Knight to play more than 200 career games.
as a replacement for Jamie Lyon
in 2007 when Lyon returned to Australia with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
. His first match for the English club was their victory in the 2007 World Club Challenge
over the Brisbane Broncos
.
Gidley was named in the Super League Dream Team
for the 2008
season.
He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final defeat to the Leeds Rhinos
.
He then put pen to paper on a one-year contract to keep him at Knowsley Road
for 2010.
as the Business Development Manager before being appointed the CEO of Football Operations in June 2011 by the new owners, Hunter Sports Group.
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...
administrator and retired professional footballer. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Gidley represented New South Wales and Australia. He is the currently CEO of Football Operations at the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. He played the majority of his career at Newcastle, winning a premiership in 2001, before playing four seasons for St. Helens in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition. Matt is the older brother of Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
fullback and captain Kurt Gidley
Kurt Gidley
Kurt Gidley is a professional Australian rugby league player and captain of the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback he has played his entire NRL career to date with the Knights. He is the younger brother of Matthew...
.
Playing career
While attending Glendale High School, Gidley played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1995.Newcastle
Plaaying as a youngster in the Newcastle Rugby LeagueNewcastle Rugby League
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910...
for the Wests club, Gidley had played all his junior football in the five-eighth position, however with Matthew Johns
Matthew Johns
Matthew Johns is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former professional player...
taking up the position in the Knights line up, he slotted in to right centre.
Gidley has won one NRL Premiership with Knights, in 2001 (defeating Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
30–24). At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour
2001 Kangaroo Tour
The 2001 Kangaroo Tour was almost abandoned due to the events of September 11, 2001. The tour was initially cancelled by the ARL but after strong public opinion in both Great Britain and Australia, it went ahead, though the only games played were the three tests, marking the first Kangaroo Tour to...
.
Gidley became famous for his wing/centre combination with former Knight Timana Tahu
Timana Tahu
Timana James Aporo Tahu is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and former rugby union player, a dual-code international, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He formerly played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 competition...
. A common play was for the ball to be sent out to the right side of the field where Gidley would run, draw one or two players in before doing the famous Gidley flick pass to Tahu or placing a grubber kick down the line. This play was used at both club and representative level.
2006 saw a rejuvenation of sorts for Gidley seeing him recapture some of his old magic flick pass play with Knights winger Brian Carney. In 2006 Gidley retired from representative football, aiming to focus on playing well at club level. This move was questionable as it was right before the annual City vs Country Origin
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
clash, where many thought Gidley was going to make the Country side in the centre position.
He became only the 4th Newcastle Knight to play more than 200 career games.
St Helens
Gidley joined English club St. Helens in Europe's Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
as a replacement for Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
in 2007 when Lyon returned to Australia with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
. His first match for the English club was their victory in the 2007 World Club Challenge
2007 World Club Challenge
The 2007 Carnegie World Club Challenge was played between Super League XI champions, St Helens and 2006 National Rugby League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. It was a replay of the 2001 World Club Challenge, and both clubs' fifth WCC appearance...
over the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
Gidley was named in the Super League Dream Team
Super League Dream Team
The Super League Dream Team is an award given each season to the players deemed to have been the best in their position in the Super League by a panel of journalists and broadcasters....
for the 2008
Super League XIII
Engage Super League XIII was the official name, due to sponsorship, for the 2008 Super League season by Engage Mutual. Twelve teams competed for the Minor Premiership over 27 rounds after which, the top 6 finishing teams entered the play-offs where they competed for a place in the Grand Final and...
season.
He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final defeat to the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
.
He then put pen to paper on a one-year contract to keep him at Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
for 2010.
Statistics
- State Of Origin: Played 11 games in total for New South Wales
- International: Played 11 tests for Australia
Administration career
In 2011 Gidley returned to the Newcastle KnightsNewcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
as the Business Development Manager before being appointed the CEO of Football Operations in June 2011 by the new owners, Hunter Sports Group.