Jarrod McCracken
Encyclopedia
Jarrod McCracken is a New Zealand former rugby league
footballer of the 1990s. He is a former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team
and is the son of New Zealand rugby league international, Ken McCracken. McCracken played club football in Australia, captaining both the Parramatta Eels
and Wests Tigers
during his career which ended with a spear tackle which he successfully sued for. During his time in the game, McCracken was regarded as one of the hardest running and most damaging Centres in the world.
and first went to Australia in 1989 when he was sent to the North Sydney Bears
as part of the New Zealand Rugby League
Rookie Scheme.
mid-north coast when he was spotted by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Chief Executive Peter Moore
who persuaded the young Centre to join The Bulldogs in 1991 and stayed with the club until 1995, although he also spent the 1992/93 English season with St. Helens. During the Super League war
he joined the Parramatta Eels
being appointed co-captain, before moving to the Wests Tigers
in 2000 where he became the franchise's first captain.
McCracken played in Canterbury's 1994 Grand Final loss to the Canberra Raiders
and unfortunately threw the pass intercepted by Canberra captain Mal Meninga
for the last try of the game and the last of Meninga's club career. McCracken's luck with Grand Finals was against him again in 1995. As a result of the Super League war and leaving the Bulldogs mid-season to join the ARL
loyal club Parramatta, Jarrod McCracken missed out on the Dogs historic 1995 Grand Final win over Manly-Warringah
when they became the first team to win the premiership from outside the top four (they finished the regular season in 6th with a 14-8 record compared to Manly finishing 1st with a 20-2 record which included a 26-0 mauling of the re-named Sydney Bulldogs in Round 9 at Parramatta Stadium
).
It was during his first season at Canterbury in the NSWRL premiership
that McCracken emulated his father and represented his country. He starred in the 1991 International Test Series against Australia, scoring a try in the first test triumph in Melbourne
but was unfortunately sent-off in the second test in Sydney
after a fight with Australia's Peter Jackson
(who was also marched) and he scored again in the third and deciding test in Brisbane
. Despite McCrackens good form during the series, the Kiwi's only won the 1st test 24-8 at Olympic Park
but were outclassed at the Sydney Football Stadium 0-44 and again at Lang Park
12-40.
Jarrod McCracken represented New Zealand 22 times between 1991 and 1999, including helping The Kiwis to reach the Semi-Finals of the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
where again the Aussies were the nemesis, winning 30-20 in extra time after a spirited fightback by the Black and Whites had leveled the scores at 20 all close to full time.
in a game against the Melbourne Storm
, when Storm players Stephen Kearney
and Marcus Bai
performed a dangerous spear tackle
on him, inflicting a career-ending neck injury. McCracken later successfully sued the Melbourne Storm and the two players involved for general damages, totalling $90,000 plus interest.
and heritage sites, with an estimated 8516 tonnes of soil sediment
leaving the site and entering the ocean. Rehabilitation of the affected sites was undertaken as a result of this action by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
and the Whitsunday Shire Council
.
McCracken currently lives in Airlie Beach, Queensland
. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/11/21/23795_hpnews.html
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 of the 1990s. He is a former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
and is the son of New Zealand rugby league international, Ken McCracken. McCracken played club football in Australia, captaining both 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...
and Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
during his career which ended with a spear tackle which he successfully sued for. During his time in the game, McCracken was regarded as one of the hardest running and most damaging Centres in the world.
Early years
McCracken played for the Glenora BearsGlenora Bears
The Glenora Bears are a rugby league football club based in Glen Eden, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1931...
and first went to Australia in 1989 when he was sent to the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
as part of the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
Rookie Scheme.
Professional career
McCracken was playing his football in Port Macquarie on the NSWNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
mid-north coast when he was spotted by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Chief Executive Peter Moore
Peter Bullfrog Moore
Peter "Bullfrog" Moore OAM was an Australian rugby league administrator, particularly associated with the Canterbury Bulldogs, where he was Chief Executive from 1969-1995, serving a record 26 years at the helm...
who persuaded the young Centre to join The Bulldogs in 1991 and stayed with the club until 1995, although he also spent the 1992/93 English season with St. Helens. During the Super League war
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
he joined 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...
being appointed co-captain, before moving to the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in 2000 where he became the franchise's first captain.
McCracken played in Canterbury's 1994 Grand Final loss to the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
and unfortunately threw the pass intercepted by Canberra captain Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
for the last try of the game and the last of Meninga's club career. McCracken's luck with Grand Finals was against him again in 1995. As a result of the Super League war and leaving the Bulldogs mid-season to join the ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
loyal club Parramatta, Jarrod McCracken missed out on the Dogs historic 1995 Grand Final win over Manly-Warringah
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...
when they became the first team to win the premiership from outside the top four (they finished the regular season in 6th with a 14-8 record compared to Manly finishing 1st with a 20-2 record which included a 26-0 mauling of the re-named Sydney Bulldogs in Round 9 at Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels...
).
It was during his first season at Canterbury in the NSWRL premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
that McCracken emulated his father and represented his country. He starred in the 1991 International Test Series against Australia, scoring a try in the first test triumph in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
but was unfortunately sent-off in the second test in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
after a fight with Australia's Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson (rugby league)
Peter Jackson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative back, he played club football in both Queensland and New South Wales as well as a season in England...
(who was also marched) and he scored again in the third and deciding test in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. Despite McCrackens good form during the series, the Kiwi's only won the 1st test 24-8 at Olympic Park
Olympic Park Stadium
Olympic Park Stadium was a multi-purpose outdoor stadium located on Olympic Boulevard in inner Melbourne. The stadium was built as an athletics training venue for the 1956 Olympics, a short distance from the MCG, which served as the Olympic Stadium...
but were outclassed at the Sydney Football Stadium 0-44 and again at Lang Park
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
12-40.
Jarrod McCracken represented New Zealand 22 times between 1991 and 1999, including helping The Kiwis to reach the Semi-Finals of the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
where again the Aussies were the nemesis, winning 30-20 in extra time after a spirited fightback by the Black and Whites had leveled the scores at 20 all close to full time.
Retirement
Jarrod McCracken's football career came to a premature end in round 15 of the 2000 NRL competitionNational Rugby League season 2000
The 2000 NRL season was the 93rd season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the third to be run by the National Rugby League...
in a game against the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
, when Storm players Stephen Kearney
Stephen Kearney
Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team...
and Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a winger, he played his final season in 2006 for English Super League team Bradford Bulls. He is the only man to win the World Club Challenge with three different clubs...
performed a dangerous spear tackle
Spear tackle
A spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in rugby union, rugby league and Australian rules football whereby a player lifts another player into the air and dumps or drops them upside down...
on him, inflicting a career-ending neck injury. McCracken later successfully sued the Melbourne Storm and the two players involved for general damages, totalling $90,000 plus interest.
Later years
He has since become a prominent real estate developer in Australia, where his company conducted a major redevelopment of Townsville's CBD. In 2010 McCracken was fined $182,500 for clearing bushland on a property he owned near Airlie Beach in 2007. McCracken pleaded guilty to nine charges related to clearing and carrying out unauthorised earthworks on more than 18ha of sensitive bushland at his wife's 387ha property, as well as felling trees in a strip of state-owned land adjoining his property. These 2007 earthworks also destroyed indigenous shell middensMidden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
and heritage sites, with an estimated 8516 tonnes of soil sediment
Siltation
Siltation is the pollution of water by fine particulate terrestrial clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments, and to the increased accumulation of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable...
leaving the site and entering the ocean. Rehabilitation of the affected sites was undertaken as a result of this action by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland)
Queensland's Environmental Protection Agency was for some time a separate department of the Queensland Government, and, following 2009 State elections, became a part of the Government's larger Department of Environment and Resource Management.This part of the Department of Environment and...
and the Whitsunday Shire Council
Shire of Whitsunday
The Shire of Whitsunday was a Local Government Area located in the North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Proserpine, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Bowen...
.
McCracken currently lives in Airlie Beach, Queensland
Airlie Beach, Queensland
Airlie Beach is a town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, the suburb of Airlie Beach itself had a population of 2,751. The greater Whitsunday region had a population of approximately 31,000...
. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/11/21/23795_hpnews.html