Ross Gigg
Encyclopedia
Ross Gigg is an Australian former professional rugby league
player who played with the Penrith Panthers
in the New South Wales Rugby League
(NSWRL) competition. Gigg's playing career spanned 1974-1979 and 1982-84. He made 110 first grade appearances, scoring 31 tries and six goals for a career total of 113 points. Gigg spent most of his career playing in the Centre position.
In 1973 as a 17 year old he was appointed captain of a combined Penrith under 18's team that toured New Zealand, and was subsequently graded for the 1974 season. See Penrith Panthers
.
final, and by the end of the year was making regular appearances in first grade. By the start of the 1975 season Gigg was firmly established in the top grade as a Centre, and his form that year saw him take out Penrith's player of the year award, quite an achievement for a 19 year old.
The years 1975-79 were frustrating ones as a regular first grader in a Penrith team that struggled to make an impact on the competition. 1979 saw a serious knee injury that sidelined him for a lengthy period in the latter part of the season.
In 1980-81 he spent some time away from Penrith, playing in the Group 10 competition with Lithgow Shamrocks, before returning to Penrith in 1982. He played every first grade game in his last year in 1984 where the team missed the play-offs by one game. See History of the Penrith Panthers
.
and Peter Kelly (rugby league)
to the club, still regarded by some as the best ever signings for Penrith. He then subsequently worked as CEO of the WARL
(Western Australian Rugby League) and is currently the CEO of the Newcastle Harness Racing Club.
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 who played with 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...
in the New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
(NSWRL) competition. Gigg's playing career spanned 1974-1979 and 1982-84. He made 110 first grade appearances, scoring 31 tries and six goals for a career total of 113 points. Gigg spent most of his career playing in the Centre position.
Junior Football
Gigg played all of his junior football with the Blacktown Leagues club (now Blacktown City Junior Rugby League Club) in the Penrith district. He captained the Penrith SG Ball team in 1971 and the Jersey Flegg team in 1973. His favoured position at this stage was five-eighth. Gigg was also a competitive athlete, competing in the 400 metres and Javelin at the state level.In 1973 as a 17 year old he was appointed captain of a combined Penrith under 18's team that toured New Zealand, and was subsequently graded for the 1974 season. See 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...
.
Playing career
As an 18 year old still attending school, Gigg started 1974 in the lower grades but started to make appearances in the top squad by mid year. He played on the wing in the inaugural Amco CupAmco Cup
The Amco Cup was a mid-week rugby league competition held in Australia between 1974 and 1989. The format was usually a straight knock-out, but various group formats were used between 1979 and 1982...
final, and by the end of the year was making regular appearances in first grade. By the start of the 1975 season Gigg was firmly established in the top grade as a Centre, and his form that year saw him take out Penrith's player of the year award, quite an achievement for a 19 year old.
The years 1975-79 were frustrating ones as a regular first grader in a Penrith team that struggled to make an impact on the competition. 1979 saw a serious knee injury that sidelined him for a lengthy period in the latter part of the season.
In 1980-81 he spent some time away from Penrith, playing in the Group 10 competition with Lithgow Shamrocks, before returning to Penrith in 1982. He played every first grade game in his last year in 1984 where the team missed the play-offs by one game. See History of the Penrith Panthers
History of the Penrith Panthers
The history of the Penrith Panthers stretches back to the 1960s when a team from Penrith entering Sydney's elite competition was first mooted. After admission to the NSWRFL premiership in 1967, the club struggled on-field until reaching the finals for the first time in the 1980s, and reaching the...
.
After Football
After retiring at the end of the 1984 season Gigg has worked in sports administration. His first role was as Assistant Club Secretary at Penrith where he secured somewhat of a coup in signing established stars Chris MortimerChris Mortimer
Chris Mortimer is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
and Peter Kelly (rugby league)
Peter Kelly (rugby league)
Peter Kelly is an Australian former professional rugby league player of the 1980s. A New South Wales State of Origin representative front-row forward, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership for Canterbury-Bankstown, with whom he won the 1984 and '85 premierships...
to the club, still regarded by some as the best ever signings for Penrith. He then subsequently worked as CEO of the WARL
WARL
WARL is a radio station in Attleboro, Massachusetts. While its transmitters are located in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, its studio is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Its received signal is good in the town its transmitter is in but it cannot be received well in parts of...
(Western Australian Rugby League) and is currently the CEO of the Newcastle Harness Racing Club.