Shannon Donato
Encyclopedia
Shannon Donato is a former rugby league
player who played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Penrith Panthers
. He also played for the Italian
national side. His position of choice was at hooker.
junior and made his first grade debut in Round One, 1995. He went on to play in 19 games for the Rabbitohs over the next several seasons, but failed to establish himself as the number one hooker.
, seeking to become established as a starting hooker. However he only made one appearance for the club in 1998, starting in Round 21. His 1999 season was more successfully as he played in 14 games, however most were off the bench.
At the end of the 1999 season Donato represented Italy
in the first Mediterranean Cup
.
Over the next two seasons Donato played in only 19 games, mostly off the bench.
in 2002, one of several players who followed coach John Lang
from Cronulla. He played in only 25 games for the club over four seasons, his career being marred by injury. In particular his 2003 season was only 80 minutes long after breaking his hand ten minutes into his only appearance. This injury ruined his 2004 season and he did not play a game.
He retired at the end of the 2005 season.
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 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...
, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and 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...
. He also played for the Italian
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
national side. His position of choice was at hooker.
Rabbitohs
Donato was a RabbitohsSouth 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...
junior and made his first grade debut in Round One, 1995. He went on to play in 19 games for the Rabbitohs over the next several seasons, but failed to establish himself as the number one hooker.
Sharks
In 1998 Donato moved to the SharksCronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
, seeking to become established as a starting hooker. However he only made one appearance for the club in 1998, starting in Round 21. His 1999 season was more successfully as he played in 14 games, however most were off the bench.
At the end of the 1999 season Donato represented Italy
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
in the first Mediterranean Cup
Mediterranean Cup
The Mediterranean Cup was an annual rugby league football tournament that was held in Lebanon although it also has been held in France. It was contested by Lebanon, France, Serbia and Morocco with the competition first conceived as a qualifying tournament for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, and in...
.
Over the next two seasons Donato played in only 19 games, mostly off the bench.
Panthers
Donato moved to the PanthersPenrith 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 2002, one of several players who followed coach John Lang
John Lang (rugby league)
John Lang is an Australian former rugby league football coach and player. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played his club football in Brisbane with the Eastern Suburbs Tigers and in Sydney with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters...
from Cronulla. He played in only 25 games for the club over four seasons, his career being marred by injury. In particular his 2003 season was only 80 minutes long after breaking his hand ten minutes into his only appearance. This injury ruined his 2004 season and he did not play a game.
He retired at the end of the 2005 season.