Matthew Petersen
Encyclopedia
Matthew Andrew Petersen (born 27 March 1980 in Subiaco, Western Australia
) is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
in the Super League
competition. His position of choice is on the wing.
, Petersen was called up to the NRL in 2002. Petersen moved from the Cowboys to the Parramatta Eels
half way through 2002 and played for the Eels with some success until 2006. Early in his career at the Eels, Petersen was at the centre of a spiteful match against the Brisbane Broncos
at Parramatta Stadium
after Allan Langer
appeared to drop his knees into Petersen, some members of the crowd later throwing bottles at Broncos players.
Petersen equalled the club try-scoring record for one match during the 2003 round 12 clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs
. Scoring four tries in the one game, he was the first Eel to have done so since 1988.
Eels care-taker coach, Jason Taylor, dropped Petersen from the first-grade roster when he took over coaching duties in May, 2006, and demoted the under-performing winger to the Premier League, where he spent the rest of the season.
"Side-Show Bob" joined the Titans in 2007 for their first year in the NRL. He performed well and was well known as "Sideshow Bob" due to his thick, curly hair. He ended the season with the most tries scored, shared with Mat Rogers. At the end of 2007 he played for America. In May, 2008, he was given an immediate release to join Super league
side Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
.
against Australia in an exhibition match in Philadelphia, qualifying for the American side under the parent rule.
In 2007, Petersen was named as captain of the USA team for their 2008 Rugby League World Cup
qualifying match against Samoa. He was awarded Man of the Match for the game, but could not stop the USA falling to defeat.
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
) is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
in the 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...
competition. His position of choice is on the wing.
Playing career
After playing for the Belmont Steelers, a Western Australian feeder club for the North Queensland 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...
, Petersen was called up to the NRL in 2002. Petersen moved from the Cowboys to 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...
half way through 2002 and played for the Eels with some success until 2006. Early in his career at the Eels, Petersen was at the centre of a spiteful match against 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...
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...
after Allan Langer
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
appeared to drop his knees into Petersen, some members of the crowd later throwing bottles at Broncos players.
Petersen equalled the club try-scoring record for one match during the 2003 round 12 clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. Scoring four tries in the one game, he was the first Eel to have done so since 1988.
Eels care-taker coach, Jason Taylor, dropped Petersen from the first-grade roster when he took over coaching duties in May, 2006, and demoted the under-performing winger to the Premier League, where he spent the rest of the season.
"Side-Show Bob" joined the Titans in 2007 for their first year in the NRL. He performed well and was well known as "Sideshow Bob" due to his thick, curly hair. He ended the season with the most tries scored, shared with Mat Rogers. At the end of 2007 he played for America. In May, 2008, he was given an immediate release to join 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...
side Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
.
Representative career
In 2004, Petersen played a game for the United StatesUnited States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
against Australia in an exhibition match in Philadelphia, qualifying for the American side under the parent rule.
In 2007, Petersen was named as captain of the USA team for their 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...
qualifying match against Samoa. He was awarded Man of the Match for the game, but could not stop the USA falling to defeat.
Career highlights
- First Grade Début: 2002 - Round 1, North Queensland v Brisbane at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 16 March
- International: 2004 - United States vs Australia, scoring one try