Brendon Reeves
Encyclopedia
Brendon Reeves is a former professional rugby league
player who played for the Illawarra Steelers
, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
and the Northern Eagles
in the National Rugby League
(NRL). He played at fullback. Ballin made his ARL debut in round 7 of the 1996 season for the Illawarra Steelers
against the South Queensland Crushers
.
In 1992 Reeves accepted a scholarship offer from the Illawarra Steelers
which involved him moving to Wollongong when his time at Yanco had come to a conclusion. Brendon forced his way into first grade with the Steelers in 1996, but after three years in and out of first grade was forced to look elsewhere when the St George Illawarra joint venture was formed.
Reeves joined Manly in 1999 and is only one of four players from the 1999 team to also play for the 2002 Manly run Eagles. He showed his loyalty to the club by being one of the first to sign with Manly after the demise of the Northern Eagles
joint venture and was instrumental in convincing other players to sign.
An injury riddled season and increasing problems with a chronic knee and back injury forced Reeves into premature retirement at the end of 2003. On his retirement Peter Peters
said. "Brendon's loyalty to Manly has been great and won't be forgotten. He has been a wonderful player and an inspiration to the young players coming through. "As well as being an inspirational player he was an excellent clubman."
Reeves commented that he was saddened to leave Manly. "I love the club and it has been good to me since I came to the area from Wollongong in 1999.I have no regrets other than I have to give up my career prematurely. "The manner in which the club helped me through the last few months without putting me under any pressure was both professional and caring. "I wish them all the best as the rebuilding process takes shape.I'll always consider myself a Manly player."
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 Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
, 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...
and the Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
in 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...
(NRL). He played at fullback. Ballin made his ARL debut in round 7 of the 1996 season for the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
against the South Queensland Crushers
South Queensland Crushers
The South Queensland Crushers were an Australian rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. In 1992 it was decided that the team would be admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League competition, along with three other teams, as part of the League's expansion plans for professional...
.
Playing career
Brendon Reeves, who came from the isolated Riverina town of Quandialla in country NSW, was a standout in the sporting arena from an early age. At 15 he was a member of Yanco's all-conquering University Shield open age rugby league side, travelled to Darwin for the Australian rugby league championships and represented NSW Combined High Schools in rugby union.In 1992 Reeves accepted a scholarship offer from the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
which involved him moving to Wollongong when his time at Yanco had come to a conclusion. Brendon forced his way into first grade with the Steelers in 1996, but after three years in and out of first grade was forced to look elsewhere when the St George Illawarra joint venture was formed.
Reeves joined Manly in 1999 and is only one of four players from the 1999 team to also play for the 2002 Manly run Eagles. He showed his loyalty to the club by being one of the first to sign with Manly after the demise of the Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
joint venture and was instrumental in convincing other players to sign.
An injury riddled season and increasing problems with a chronic knee and back injury forced Reeves into premature retirement at the end of 2003. On his retirement Peter Peters
Peter Peters
Peter Peters is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, commentator and journalist.He was a first grade player for Parramatta Eels and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles from 1969 to 1974, playing in the 1972 and 1973 premiership winning teams, Later he became a football commentator on...
said. "Brendon's loyalty to Manly has been great and won't be forgotten. He has been a wonderful player and an inspiration to the young players coming through. "As well as being an inspirational player he was an excellent clubman."
Reeves commented that he was saddened to leave Manly. "I love the club and it has been good to me since I came to the area from Wollongong in 1999.I have no regrets other than I have to give up my career prematurely. "The manner in which the club helped me through the last few months without putting me under any pressure was both professional and caring. "I wish them all the best as the rebuilding process takes shape.I'll always consider myself a Manly player."