Joel Clinton
Encyclopedia
Joel Clinton is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer with Hull Kingston Rovers
of the European Super League
and most previously the Brisbane Broncos
of the National Rugby League
. An Australian international representative prop forward, he previously played for the Penrith Panthers
, with whom he won the 2003 premiership.
Before joining the Penrith club, Clinton played for the Parramatta Eels
. Rising to prominence in in the Panthers' successful 2003 season, he helped the Panthers come from last place in 2001 to become Minor Premiers
and eventual premiers in 2003. That year Clinton was rewarded for his form with test selection for Australia, describing the experience as "a great personal bonus but it did not compare to winning the premiership with the guys you train and play with all year long."
Clinton's good form continued into 2004 and he was selected in the Australian team that took on the Kiwis
in the annual ANZAC Test
. "His performance on debut was highly rated by rugby league experts, so it came as a shock to many when Joel was overlooked for selection for NSW
in all three games of the 2004 State of Origin
series."
, a close, golden-point
match. During the game, Clinton was hit by a high tackle from Raiders hooker Simon Woolford
. Clinton received a black eye, but got up off the ground smiling, and continued playing. Clinton's ability to brush off the hit left Woolford claiming the high tackle wasn't that serious. These comments left Clinton steaming, saying "[Woolford] should learn to keep his mouth shut."
In May 2006, Clinton was selected to trial for the New South Wales State of Origin team
in the Country v. City game
. Clinton played for City, and before the game commented that he intended to "smash his way into the NSW side." Clinton saved a try in the first 20 minutes, diving on a cross-kick into the in-goal by Country. City eventually lost by 2 points, conceding tries while Clinton was off the field.
Manly five-eighth
Travis Burns
branded Joel Clinton as "childish" and a "bad sport" for allegedly squirting him with a water bottle while lining up a match-winning penalty goal in Round 20 (23 July 2006). Viewing the replay, it appears that Clinton was standing over 10 metres away from Burns, leading Coach John Lang
to comment "it must've been a bloody big squirt".
of the North Queensland Cowboys
. With the Penrith Panthers ahead 12–8; Cowboys winger Ty Williams broke the Panthers line and headed for a runaway try in the corner. However, Clinton had enough pace and tenacity to pull the Queensland Origin
player into touch just centimetres out from the tryline.http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Panthers-heap-on-more-misery-for-Cowboys/2006/07/15/1152637921217.html Considered one of the fastest men in the NRL over one hundred metres, Williams was running for a game-changing four points. Instead, Clinton single-handedly reversed the momentum of the match. This allowed Panthers winger Michael Gordon to score in the final minute, giving the Panthers an unlikely 17–8 win.
and Luke Lewis
have taken on a leadership role this year," Clinton said. "We used to be the younger generation but we've become senior players ourselves."
Clinton's level of fitness is also at an all time high, the off-season training trimming Clinton down from 115 kg to 108 kg. "I've never been this fit," Joel said. "I'm feeling unreal. Elliot commented that "(Joel's) training has been nothing short of phenomenal and I'm expecting his performances to follow."
in Round 1 down to the change of coach. "Me and most of the other guys have only known one way for the past five years," Clinton said. "We've got to start to have belief. You've just got to back yourself, me and the boys. If we do that, we'll shake up the comp. I know it's early days to say that, but I think we should go pretty well."
After the Panthers win over the Bulldogs in Round 2, sports journalists were commenting on how important Joel Clinton was to the effort. "He'd primed himself to match the muscle of Canterbury's Mark O'Meley
and Willie Mason
and produced as good a performance as he's given since 2003, when he made the Australian squad as a young prop."
In Round 4, in response to Scott Prince
complaining about off-the-ball play, Joel Clinton was interviewed for his personal view on dirty tricks in the NRL
: "If stuff happens on the field you leave it on the field. I never take anything off the field. I don't like to go home and whinge about it."
In Round 5, Joel Clinton was criticised for the amount of penalties he conceded in the game, and season generally. However, Clinton continues to top the work rates in the Panthers side. Clinton is still eager to do more, as Peter Sterling
(Channel 9 commentator)
noted, Clinton appears to be under-utilised by the Panthers, often building up a head of steam before being cut out by a skip-pass. Sterling noted that exploiting Clinton's offense is crucial to 2007 success for the Panthers.
In Round 7, the Panthers lost to the Canberra Raiders
. Clinton said he was disgusted with the team's performance. During the week, a virus spread through the team, affecting Clinton, Luke Priddis
, Frank Puletua
, Nathan Smith and Craig Gower
– who was hospitalised. Despite the virus, Clinton thought it wasn't an excuse for the loss. "There were a couple of crook boys but that's something you just have to deal with," Clinton said.
, despite the early loss of halfback
play-maker Craig Gower
. Clinton also broke his season long try scoring drought. Solely chasing a mediocre kick, the bounce of the ball confused Cowboys
winger
Brenton Bowen
, allowing Joel to gather and score in the corner. The try pushed momentum in favour of the second-from-the-bottom Panthers and pushed second-placed Cowboys
"into despair."http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10439444 Clinton's performance in the game earned him the status of a stand out player of Round 9.
"Clinton's effort was one of the few spectacular things to happen in a scrappy game, his athletic pick-up on the fly from a Peter Wallace kick belying the fact he is a front row forward and one of the biggest players in the NRL."
coach Wayne Bennett then met with Clinton in Sydney in May 2007, spiking speculation whether Clinton would join the Broncos
for 2008. Negotiations with the Panthers began,http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21751278-23214,00.html with Clinton being offered a three-year contract with both the Panthers and Broncos.http://www.stuff.co.nz/4079276a10713.html On 1 June 2007, it was confirmed that Clinton had signed to the Brisbane Broncos
for the 2008 NRL season. There, he is expected to fill the big shoes of retired Shane Webcke
.
Clinton injured his ankle late in the season and missed a few rounds as the Broncos headed towards the finals.
club Hull Kingston Rovers
.
invited him out for a round. Ever since, Joel has enjoyed golf, playing two rounds most weeks. Joel describes golf as "very relaxing, and a chance to get away from everything"
Clinton has entered numerous Pro-am
events in Australia, and recalls his favourite golfing moment as "when I won the longest drive by an amateur – I won a TV for that, plus my drive was only just short of the pro who won the overall longest drive."
Clinton also recounts his worse golfing moment as when "there was a competition for the closest to the pin where the winner got a holiday. The Channel Nine Footy Show
team and about two thousand people were there and my shot went just five metres."
Joel's other hobbies include water skiing
, snow boarding, and fishing
.
, Clinton lived with fellow Panther Ben Ross
. The two were well known for cycling to training sessions and most local destinations. "We have a race to training most of the time," Ross stated. "I always win," added Clinton. In one incident, Clinton rolled down a set of stairs, tried to brake "the wrong brakes at the front" – locked up his wheels and sent bicycle and 114 kilograms of first grade footballer through a video store window, to the shock and bemusement of the customers.
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 with Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
of 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 most previously the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
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 representative prop forward, he previously played for 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...
, with whom he won the 2003 premiership.
Playing career
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...
. Rising to prominence in in the Panthers' successful 2003 season, he helped the Panthers come from last place in 2001 to become Minor Premiers
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
and eventual premiers in 2003. That year Clinton was rewarded for his form with test selection for Australia, describing the experience as "a great personal bonus but it did not compare to winning the premiership with the guys you train and play with all year long."
Clinton's good form continued into 2004 and he was selected in the Australian team that took on the Kiwis
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...
in the annual ANZAC Test
ANZAC Test
The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match . The test match is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.-Origins:Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908...
. "His performance on debut was highly rated by rugby league experts, so it came as a shock to many when Joel was overlooked for selection for NSW
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in all three games of the 2004 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...
series."
2006 season
The Panther's first loss of the 2006 season came against the RaidersCanberra 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...
, a close, golden-point
Golden point
The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
match. During the game, Clinton was hit by a high tackle from Raiders hooker Simon Woolford
Simon Woolford
Simon Woolford is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in the National Rugby League competition for the Canberra Raiders, captaining the side before moving to the St. George Illawarra Dragons. His usual position was at hooker...
. Clinton received a black eye, but got up off the ground smiling, and continued playing. Clinton's ability to brush off the hit left Woolford claiming the high tackle wasn't that serious. These comments left Clinton steaming, saying "[Woolford] should learn to keep his mouth shut."
In May 2006, Clinton was selected to trial for the New South Wales State of Origin team
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in the Country v. City game
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...
. Clinton played for City, and before the game commented that he intended to "smash his way into the NSW side." Clinton saved a try in the first 20 minutes, diving on a cross-kick into the in-goal by Country. City eventually lost by 2 points, conceding tries while Clinton was off the field.
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
Travis Burns
Travis Burns
Travis Burns is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League competition. He is a utility player, currently playing 5/8, and was rookie of the year in 2006 for the Manly Sea Eagles.Travis signed a three year deal to play five-eighth for the...
branded Joel Clinton as "childish" and a "bad sport" for allegedly squirting him with a water bottle while lining up a match-winning penalty goal in Round 20 (23 July 2006). Viewing the replay, it appears that Clinton was standing over 10 metres away from Burns, leading 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...
to comment "it must've been a bloody big squirt".
'That Tackle'
In Round 19, 15 July 2006, Joel Clinton made international headlines with a tackle on Ty WilliamsTy Williams
Ty Williams is an Australian professional rugby league player for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League competition.-Cowboys:...
of the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. With the Penrith Panthers ahead 12–8; Cowboys winger Ty Williams broke the Panthers line and headed for a runaway try in the corner. However, Clinton had enough pace and tenacity to pull the Queensland Origin
Queensland State of Origin Team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
player into touch just centimetres out from the tryline.http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Panthers-heap-on-more-misery-for-Cowboys/2006/07/15/1152637921217.html Considered one of the fastest men in the NRL over one hundred metres, Williams was running for a game-changing four points. Instead, Clinton single-handedly reversed the momentum of the match. This allowed Panthers winger Michael Gordon to score in the final minute, giving the Panthers an unlikely 17–8 win.
Pre-season
Fresh from the off-season under new coach Matthew Elliott, Clinton said that confidence within the Panthers team was high for 2007. "Blokes like me, Trent WaterhouseTrent Waterhouse
Trent Waterhouse is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League . He has also represented City Origin, New South Wales and Australia...
and Luke Lewis
Luke Lewis
Luke Lewis is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative utility player, he has spent his entire professional career with the Panthers,...
have taken on a leadership role this year," Clinton said. "We used to be the younger generation but we've become senior players ourselves."
Clinton's level of fitness is also at an all time high, the off-season training trimming Clinton down from 115 kg to 108 kg. "I've never been this fit," Joel said. "I'm feeling unreal. Elliot commented that "(Joel's) training has been nothing short of phenomenal and I'm expecting his performances to follow."
| Round / Opposition | Runs | Metres Gained | Tackles | Tries | Win / Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1, Cronulla Cronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
10 | 81 | 30 | 0 | Loss |
| Round 2, Bulldogs | 10 | 93 | 15 | 0 | Win |
| Round 3, Brisbane Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
12 | 99 | 36 | 0 | Win |
| Round 4, Titans Gold Coast Titans Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its... |
6 | 48 | 45 | 0 | Loss |
| Round 5, Parramatta 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... |
8 | 99 | 40 | 0 | Loss |
| Round 6, 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.... |
12 | 76 | 31 | 0 | Loss |
| Round 7, 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... |
12 | 103 | 35 | 0 | Loss |
| Round 8, Dragons St. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,... |
13 | 108 | 14 | 0 | Loss |
| Round 9, Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
12 | 140 | 26 | 1 | Win |
| Round 10, Bye | – | – | – | – | – |
| Round 11, 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... |
13 | 97 | 25 | 0 | Loss |
Regular season
Clinton put the initial Panthers loss to the Cronulla SharksCronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
in Round 1 down to the change of coach. "Me and most of the other guys have only known one way for the past five years," Clinton said. "We've got to start to have belief. You've just got to back yourself, me and the boys. If we do that, we'll shake up the comp. I know it's early days to say that, but I think we should go pretty well."
After the Panthers win over the Bulldogs in Round 2, sports journalists were commenting on how important Joel Clinton was to the effort. "He'd primed himself to match the muscle of Canterbury's Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the European Super League team, Hull, and previously of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. He also previously played for the North Sydney Bears, the ill fated Northern Eagles and the Bulldogs...
and Willie Mason
Willie Mason
William Marshall "Willie" Mason is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for Toulon in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league footballer for Hull KR in the European Super League.Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful...
and produced as good a performance as he's given since 2003, when he made the Australian squad as a young prop."
In Round 4, in response to Scott Prince
Scott Prince
Scott Prince is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and current captain of the Gold Coast Titans club of the National Rugby League...
complaining about off-the-ball play, Joel Clinton was interviewed for his personal view on dirty tricks in the NRL
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...
: "If stuff happens on the field you leave it on the field. I never take anything off the field. I don't like to go home and whinge about it."
In Round 5, Joel Clinton was criticised for the amount of penalties he conceded in the game, and season generally. However, Clinton continues to top the work rates in the Panthers side. Clinton is still eager to do more, as Peter Sterling
Peter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
(Channel 9 commentator)
Nine's Wide World of Sport
Nine's Wide World of Sports is a long-running sports anthology brand on Australian television, aired on the Nine Network. All major sports, events and series covered by the network are broadcast under this brand, the flagship sports being rugby league , cricket , spring and autumn horse racing,...
noted, Clinton appears to be under-utilised by the Panthers, often building up a head of steam before being cut out by a skip-pass. Sterling noted that exploiting Clinton's offense is crucial to 2007 success for the Panthers.
In Round 7, the Panthers lost 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...
. Clinton said he was disgusted with the team's performance. During the week, a virus spread through the team, affecting Clinton, Luke Priddis
Luke Priddis
Luke Priddis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, Frank Puletua
Frank Puletua
Frank Puletua was a New Zealand professional rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League competition. Puletua previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
, Nathan Smith and Craig Gower
Craig Gower
Craig Gower is an Australian-Italian professional rugby footballer. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia, and rugby union for Italy...
– who was hospitalised. Despite the virus, Clinton thought it wasn't an excuse for the loss. "There were a couple of crook boys but that's something you just have to deal with," Clinton said.
'That Try'
In Round 9 the Panthers broke their five match losing streak against the CowboysNorth Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, despite the early loss of halfback
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
play-maker Craig Gower
Craig Gower
Craig Gower is an Australian-Italian professional rugby footballer. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia, and rugby union for Italy...
. Clinton also broke his season long try scoring drought. Solely chasing a mediocre kick, the bounce of the ball confused Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
winger
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
Brenton Bowen
Brenton Bowen
Brenton Bowen is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently signed with the Gold Coast Titans club of the National Rugby League. Previously he played for the North Queensland Cowboys from 2003 to 2007...
, allowing Joel to gather and score in the corner. The try pushed momentum in favour of the second-from-the-bottom Panthers and pushed second-placed Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
"into despair."http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10439444 Clinton's performance in the game earned him the status of a stand out player of Round 9.
"Clinton's effort was one of the few spectacular things to happen in a scrappy game, his athletic pick-up on the fly from a Peter Wallace kick belying the fact he is a front row forward and one of the biggest players in the NRL."
2008 Move to the Broncos
Joel Clinton came off contract in 2008 – Panthers rhetoric had suggested he would not be renewed at his current salary.http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21463395-5001023,00.html Brisbane BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
coach Wayne Bennett then met with Clinton in Sydney in May 2007, spiking speculation whether Clinton would join the Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
for 2008. Negotiations with the Panthers began,http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21751278-23214,00.html with Clinton being offered a three-year contract with both the Panthers and Broncos.http://www.stuff.co.nz/4079276a10713.html On 1 June 2007, it was confirmed that Clinton had signed to the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
for the 2008 NRL season. There, he is expected to fill the big shoes of retired Shane Webcke
Shane Webcke
Shane Webcke is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, who spent his entire top-grade career playing for the Brisbane Broncos. His position of choice was at prop forward and at his peak he was renowned as the best front rower in the world...
.
Clinton injured his ankle late in the season and missed a few rounds as the Broncos headed towards the finals.
2009
Had a good season in 2009 and is looking at joining European Super LeagueSuper 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...
club Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
.
Hobbies
Joel began golfing when fellow Panther Craig GowerCraig Gower
Craig Gower is an Australian-Italian professional rugby footballer. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia, and rugby union for Italy...
invited him out for a round. Ever since, Joel has enjoyed golf, playing two rounds most weeks. Joel describes golf as "very relaxing, and a chance to get away from everything"
Clinton has entered numerous Pro-am
Professional amateurs
Amateur professionalism or professional amateurism is a socioeconomic concept that describes a blurring of the distinction between professional and amateur within any endeavour or attainable skill that could be labelled professional, whether it is in the field of writing, computer...
events in Australia, and recalls his favourite golfing moment as "when I won the longest drive by an amateur – I won a TV for that, plus my drive was only just short of the pro who won the overall longest drive."
Clinton also recounts his worse golfing moment as when "there was a competition for the closest to the pin where the winner got a holiday. The Channel Nine Footy Show
The NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
team and about two thousand people were there and my shot went just five metres."
Joel's other hobbies include water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, snow boarding, and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
.
BMX Bandit
During their 2003 premiership winning seasonNational Rugby League season 2003
The 2003 NRL premiership was the 96th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the sixth run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen teams competed, with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles returning in place of their failed joint-venture club, the Northern Eagles...
, Clinton lived with fellow Panther Ben Ross
Ben Ross
Ben Ross is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League . A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he has previously played club football for St...
. The two were well known for cycling to training sessions and most local destinations. "We have a race to training most of the time," Ross stated. "I always win," added Clinton. In one incident, Clinton rolled down a set of stairs, tried to brake "the wrong brakes at the front" – locked up his wheels and sent bicycle and 114 kilograms of first grade footballer through a video store window, to the shock and bemusement of the customers.
Tattoos
After winning the 2003 NRL Premiership, Joel Clinton got a tattoo of a giant snarling panther on his right shoulder, "a reminder of the feats of the past". He also has a tattoo of a phoenix on his right forearm.Super League tries
- Scores and results list Joel's try tally first.
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Tournament | Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 June 2010 | Craven Park | Harlequins RL | 42-6 | 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... |
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| 24 July 2010 | Craven Park | Bradford Bulls Bradford 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.... |
49-24 | 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... |
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