Sam Isemonger
Encyclopedia
Sam Isemonger is an Australia
n former rugby league
footballer for the St George Illawarra Dragons
in the Australian National Rugby League
competition. He has also previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. His position of choice was the second row
.
Isemonger is also the son of former professional rugby league player for Cronulla David Isemonger.
and began playing rugby league at the age of three for his local club side Como Jannali. He was eventually signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks while still a teenager.
side Isemonger eventually made his first grade debut on 10 July 1998 at the age of twenty against the Parramatta Eels
.
, Tawera Nikau
, Les Davidson
and Danny Lee
meant a first team position was more often than not hard to come by. With several senior players moving on as the years passed Isemonger was able to get more game time but again hit a stumbling block with two knee reconstructions over a short period of time cutting back his playing time once again.
After eight seasons with the Sharks in which he made a total of seventy-four appearances he was subsequently released from his contract by new coach Stuart Raper
.
for the beginning of the 2006 NRL season.
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 former 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...
footballer for the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
in the Australian 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. He has also previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. His position of choice was the second row
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
.
Isemonger is also the son of former professional rugby league player for Cronulla David Isemonger.
Childhood and early career
Isemonger grew up in the Sutherland ShireSutherland Shire
The Sutherland Shire is a Local Government Area in the Southern Sydney region of Sydney, Australia. Geographically, it is the area to the south of Botany Bay and the Georges River...
and began playing rugby league at the age of three for his local club side Como Jannali. He was eventually signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks while still a teenager.
1998
After signing with his local National Rugby LeagueNational 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...
side Isemonger eventually made his first grade debut on 10 July 1998 at the age of twenty against the 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...
.
1999-2005
Over the next several years Isemonger was both in and out of the first grade team with the Sharks for a variety of reasons; originally having to compete with representative players such as Chris McKennaChris McKenna
Chris McKenna is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for Queensland and Australia as well as club sides the Brisbane Broncos, South Queensland Crushers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. His usual position was second row, though while he played...
, Tawera Nikau
Tawera Nikau
Tawera Nuieia Nikau is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm's victory...
, Les Davidson
Les Davidson
Les Davidson is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and represented at both the State and national levels. His position of choice on the field was in the second row or as prop forward.Davidson...
and Danny Lee
Danny Lee
Danny Lee Sau-Yin is a Hong Kong actor, film producer, screenwriter, director, action director and presenter. He is best known for frequently portraying Hong Kong police officers in films such as Law With Two Phases, The Killer and The Untold Story.-Background:Lee did not do so well in school and...
meant a first team position was more often than not hard to come by. With several senior players moving on as the years passed Isemonger was able to get more game time but again hit a stumbling block with two knee reconstructions over a short period of time cutting back his playing time once again.
After eight seasons with the Sharks in which he made a total of seventy-four appearances he was subsequently released from his contract by new coach Stuart Raper
Stuart Raper
Stuart Raper is an Australian former professional rugby league player and coach. He has since become a sideline commentator for the NRL with Foxsports...
.
2006-present
After being released by the Sharks Isemonger signed on to local rivals the St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
for the beginning of the 2006 NRL season.