Daniel Heckenberg
Encyclopedia
Daniel Heckenberg is an Australia
n rugby league
player. He currently plays as a for Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League
and is also a Scottish
international.
, a school renowned for producing young rugby league
players. He first played internationally as part of the Australian Schoolboys
team in a match against the BARLA Young Lions
. After his graduation he played for a short while as an amateur for the Eagle Vale
-St Andrews
junior side.
side St. George Illawarra Dragons, progressing through the youth team and earning his first grade debut in 2000. In the same year, Heckenberg made his first appearance as a Scottish international, participating in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
. He moved club in 2002, joining the Parramatta Eels
, before changing team again in 2004, this time playing with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
. He provided much defensive support for the Sea Eagles and was held in high esteem by his peers at the club.
in May, bringing his 2007 rugby league campaign
to an end. Harlequins coach Brian McDermott
described Heckenberg as a hard worker and an integral part of the team. Heckenberg underwent surgery in June to correct the problem but when he returned from injury for the 2008 season
he again suffered a setback. He dislocated his shoulder in training in March 2008, resulting in a six week absence from the team.
but was forced to withdraw from the competition due to injury.
and U2
and also helps to train youth rugby league players at Elmbridge Rugby League Club.
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 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...
player. He currently plays as a for Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
and is also a Scottish
Scotland national rugby league team
The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments. The team is run under the auspices of the Scotland Rugby League, and are nicknamed The Bravehearts. Scotland are not regarded as a test nation...
international.
Early career
Heckenberg began his rugby career at St Gregory's College, CampbelltownSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
St Gregory's College is a Catholic, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in Campbelltown, a south-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, a school renowned for producing young 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...
players. He first played internationally as part of the Australian Schoolboys
Australian schoolboys
The Australian Schoolboys refer to junior teams that represent Australia in various sports. The name is mainly used in rugby league, rugby union and baseball...
team in a match against the BARLA Young Lions
British Amateur Rugby League Association
The British Amateur Rugby League Association is the governing body for social and recreational rugby league in the United Kingdom...
. After his graduation he played for a short while as an amateur for the Eagle Vale
Eagle Vale, New South Wales
Eagle Vale is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Eagle Vale is located 56 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region....
-St Andrews
St Andrews, New South Wales
St Andrews is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. St Andrews is located 55 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region....
junior side.
NRL
He began his professional career at 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 St. George Illawarra Dragons, progressing through the youth team and earning his first grade debut in 2000. In the same year, Heckenberg made his first appearance as a Scottish international, participating in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
. He moved club in 2002, joining 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...
, before changing team again in 2004, this time playing with the 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...
. He provided much defensive support for the Sea Eagles and was held in high esteem by his peers at the club.
Harlequins
His performances led to a transfer to Super League side Harlequins and he soon became an important part of the team's defensive game. Heckenberg confirmed his first grade place in the beginning of his second year at the club but suffered a severe shoulder injury in a match against Bradford BullsBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in May, bringing his 2007 rugby league campaign
Super League XII
Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007's Super League season in the sport of rugby league.The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of 2 February 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St...
to an end. Harlequins coach Brian McDermott
Brian McDermott
Brian G. McDermott is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He started as Head Coach of Harlequins RL of Super League on 8 July 2006 and departs on 4 September 2010.-Biography:...
described Heckenberg as a hard worker and an integral part of the team. Heckenberg underwent surgery in June to correct the problem but when he returned from injury for the 2008 season
Super League XIII
Engage Super League XIII was the official name, due to sponsorship, for the 2008 Super League season by Engage Mutual. Twelve teams competed for the Minor Premiership over 27 rounds after which, the top 6 finishing teams entered the play-offs where they competed for a place in the Grand Final and...
he again suffered a setback. He dislocated his shoulder in training in March 2008, resulting in a six week absence from the team.
Representative
Heckenberg was named in the Scotland training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup2008 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...
but was forced to withdraw from the competition due to injury.
Personal
In his spare time, Heckenberg enjoys listening to the music of the Foo FightersFoo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and also helps to train youth rugby league players at Elmbridge Rugby League Club.
Statistics
| League | Team | Season | Appearances | Tries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2000–01 | 4 | 0 |
| 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... |
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... |
2002–03 | 40 | 1 |
| 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... |
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... |
2004–05 | 34 | 2 |
| Super League Super League Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from... |
Harlequins RL | 2006 | 25 | 1 |
| Super League Super League Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from... |
Harlequins RL | 2007 | 14 | 2 |
- All information taken from Harlequins RL 2008 Club Guide.