Robbie Mears
Encyclopedia
Robert "Robbie" Mears is a former Australian rugby league
player. His position of preference was at hooker.
St. Gregory's College
, Mears played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1992.
in 1994 and made his first grade debut in Round 14, coming off the bench against the Cronulla Sharks
. However over the next three seasons Mears was only used sporadically by the club and he made just nine more appearances for the Roosters.
Looking for more first grade opportunities, Mears joined the Canterbury Bulldogs
in 1997. He started in reserve grade but got an opportunity to play first grade when Jason Hetherington
went down injured. In 1998 he was a regular in the reserve grade team and played in the side that defeated the Parramatta Eels
's in the Grand Final.
Magpies in the Country Rugby League
Central Coast Division. His form was good enough to make the Country Firsts team for the curtain raiser to the ANZAC Test
, where his performance got him noticed by several NRL
clubs.
He was signed by the Auckland Warriors after injuries to both Syd Eru
and Jason Death
and made his debut for the club in Round 11. He went on to play 40 first grade games for the club over the next two seasons and was a fan favourite. However with the purchase of the club, but not the players contracts, by Eric Watson at the end of the 2000 season, Mears was left looking for another club.
as their final signing for the 2001 season. However he had a horror run at the club, fracturing his collar bone in the first game of the season. While recovering from injury his house was burgled four times. He managed to recover and play 23 Super League
games for the club, showing good form and being awarded the Supporters Player of the Year award. However in the final game of the season he severely fractured his cheek bone after a high shot by Sonny Nickle
. Nickle was suspended nine games for the high shot and Mears was awarded damages after a law suit. Mears left the Rhinos at the end of the season, unhappy with his treatment at the club.
on a one year deal for the 2002 season. His return to the NRL
proved to be a success and he played 24 games for the Wests Tigers, earning a new contract in the process. Mears played for the Wests Tigers for two more seasons, playing in 33 more games. He was released from his contract at the end of 2004 due to the emergence of Robbie Farah
as a hooker at the Tigers.
Lions club in the Country Rugby League
Group 6
competition.
In April 2005 Mears returned to England, joining the Leigh Centurions
on a one year contract, with an option for a second year. He replaced an injured Jason Ferris
as the quota player of the Centurions. Mears played in fourteen games for the Centurions however they were relegated at the end of the year and he left the club.
competition. He captained the side and scored their only try in the Grand Final, when they defeated the Picton Magpies 6-0. He also played for the club in 2007 and 2008.
In 2009 Mears joined the Narellan Jets as the head coach. The Jets also play in Group 6.
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. His position of preference was at hooker.
Early years
While attending Campbelltown'sCampbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
St. Gregory's College
St 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....
, Mears played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1992.
Australia
Mears joined the Eastern Suburbs RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in 1994 and made his first grade debut in Round 14, coming off the bench against the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
. However over the next three seasons Mears was only used sporadically by the club and he made just nine more appearances for the Roosters.
Looking for more first grade opportunities, Mears joined the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
in 1997. He started in reserve grade but got an opportunity to play first grade when Jason Hetherington
Jason Hetherington
Jason Hetherington is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He established himself as a hooker, but he started his career off as a five-eighth. Hetherington played club football for the Gold Coast Chargers and the Bulldogs in Australia, winning a premiership with the...
went down injured. In 1998 he was a regular in the reserve grade team and played in the side that defeated 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...
's in the Grand Final.
Warriors
Not wanted by the Bulldogs for 1999, Mears moved into the bush and played for the OurimbahOurimbah, New South Wales
Ourimbah is a small township and a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located about north of the Sydney CBD. The township today consists of small scattered local shops and businesses along the Pacific Highway, as well as the Central Coast campus of the University of...
Magpies in the Country Rugby League
New South Wales Country Rugby League
-2011 Tier 2 Championships:-History:Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908-09 and then starting their own competition in 1910....
Central Coast Division. His form was good enough to make the Country Firsts team for the curtain raiser to the 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...
, where his performance got him noticed by several 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...
clubs.
He was signed by the Auckland Warriors after injuries to both Syd Eru
Syd Eru
Sydney Wiremu "Syd" Eru is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s. A Kiwi representative hooker, he played club football for the Auckland Warriors.-Playing career:...
and Jason Death
Jason Death
Jason Death is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Canberra Raiders, North Queensland Cowboys, New Zealand Warriors and the South Sydney Rabbitohs as a hooker and a lock. In 1990 he was named the Canberra Raiders rookie of the year.-External links:*...
and made his debut for the club in Round 11. He went on to play 40 first grade games for the club over the next two seasons and was a fan favourite. However with the purchase of the club, but not the players contracts, by Eric Watson at the end of the 2000 season, Mears was left looking for another club.
Leeds
Mears joined the Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
as their final signing for the 2001 season. However he had a horror run at the club, fracturing his collar bone in the first game of the season. While recovering from injury his house was burgled four times. He managed to recover and play 23 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...
games for the club, showing good form and being awarded the Supporters Player of the Year award. However in the final game of the season he severely fractured his cheek bone after a high shot by Sonny Nickle
Sonny Nickle
Sonny Nickle is an English former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, '90s and 2000s.He played for Hunslet, St. Helens, Bradford Bulls, Sheffield Eagles, and Leigh Centurions. He played in the and as a . He was part of the package put together by St...
. Nickle was suspended nine games for the high shot and Mears was awarded damages after a law suit. Mears left the Rhinos at the end of the season, unhappy with his treatment at the club.
Tigers
Mears joined the Wests TigersWests 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...
on a one year deal for the 2002 season. His return to 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...
proved to be a success and he played 24 games for the Wests Tigers, earning a new contract in the process. Mears played for the Wests Tigers for two more seasons, playing in 33 more games. He was released from his contract at the end of 2004 due to the emergence of Robbie Farah
Robbie Farah
Robert Peter "Robbie" Farah is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Wests Tigers club in the National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays at hooker and can operate as a half-back...
as a hooker at the Tigers.
Leigh
Not retained by the Tigers after the 2004 season, Mears instead joined the MittagongMittagong, New South Wales
Mittagong is a town located in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. At the 2006 census, Mittagong had a population of 7,460 people. The town can be seen as the gateway to the Southern Highlands when coming from Sydney. The town is close to Bowral, Berrima,...
Lions club in the Country Rugby League
New South Wales Country Rugby League
-2011 Tier 2 Championships:-History:Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908-09 and then starting their own competition in 1910....
Group 6
Group 6 Rugby League
Group 6 is a senior Rugby League competition in New South Wales, Australia, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.The geographical area covered by Group 6 takes in much of the Southern Highlands and southern Macarthur regions of New South Wales, extending from Moss Vale, New South...
competition.
In April 2005 Mears returned to England, joining the Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
on a one year contract, with an option for a second year. He replaced an injured Jason Ferris
Jason Ferris
Jason Ferris is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for six different clubs between 1996 and 2005. He played at either halfback or five-eighth...
as the quota player of the Centurions. Mears played in fourteen games for the Centurions however they were relegated at the end of the year and he left the club.
Country Rugby League
In 2006 Mears joined the Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters in the CRL Group 6Group 6 Rugby League
Group 6 is a senior Rugby League competition in New South Wales, Australia, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.The geographical area covered by Group 6 takes in much of the Southern Highlands and southern Macarthur regions of New South Wales, extending from Moss Vale, New South...
competition. He captained the side and scored their only try in the Grand Final, when they defeated the Picton Magpies 6-0. He also played for the club in 2007 and 2008.
In 2009 Mears joined the Narellan Jets as the head coach. The Jets also play in Group 6.