Ben Creagh
Encyclopedia
Ben Creagh is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the St George Illawarra Dragons
of the National Rugby League
. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he has played his whole NRL career to date with the Dragons, with whom he won the 2010 NRL Premiership.
in 2005.
In August, 2008, Creagh was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. He was selected for Country in the City vs Country
match on 8 May 2009.
In May 2009, Creagh was named in the 17 man squad to represent New South Wales in the opening State of Origin
match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne. He scored a try on this debut for NSW.
On 14 May 2009, Creagh officially signed to stay with the Dragons until the end of 2013.
In Game III of the 2009 State of Origin series Creagh was sin binned for a brief altercation with an opposing player. Creagh was later criticised for hastily retreating rather than standing his ground in the altercation.
Creagh capped a memorable 2010 by winning the 2010 NRL Grand Final
, making more metres than any forward on the park - 149 metres.
In the annual club awards night Creagh was named Dragons Player of the Year - the third time he had received the prestigious award.
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...
of 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...
. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he has played his whole NRL career to date with the Dragons, with whom he won the 2010 NRL Premiership.
Playing career
Creagh was selected to play for the Australian team for the Test against FranceFrance national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
in 2005.
In August, 2008, Creagh was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. He was selected for Country in the City vs Country
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...
match on 8 May 2009.
In May 2009, Creagh was named in the 17 man squad to represent New South Wales in the opening State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne. He scored a try on this debut for NSW.
On 14 May 2009, Creagh officially signed to stay with the Dragons until the end of 2013.
In Game III of the 2009 State of Origin series Creagh was sin binned for a brief altercation with an opposing player. Creagh was later criticised for hastily retreating rather than standing his ground in the altercation.
Creagh capped a memorable 2010 by winning the 2010 NRL Grand Final
2010 NRL Grand Final
The 2010 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2010 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 3 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, the match was contested by the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. It was the first time the two sides met in a grand final. They...
, making more metres than any forward on the park - 149 metres.
In the annual club awards night Creagh was named Dragons Player of the Year - the third time he had received the prestigious award.
Highlights
- First Grade Debut: Round 22, St George Illawarra v Warriors at Oki Jubilee, 10 August 2003
- Test debut: Played one test for Australia against France in 2005.
- Selected in the NSW origin squad 2009: in the 2nd row.
- In high school, Edmund Rice College Wollongong, Ben excelled at basketball and rugby league. He later had the choice of joining the Wollongong Hawks NBL side or the St George Illawarra Dragons.
- 2010 NRL Premiership winner