Rod Wishart
Encyclopedia
Rod Wishart is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australia international representative goal-kicking winger, he played club football with the Illawarra Steelers
and the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
, where he was coached by Mick Cronin
. He first came to attention in 1988 when he played for Country Firsts. Later in the year he played against Papua New Guinea for both Southern Division and NSW Country, kicking goals in both victories.
Wishart played his first match for the Illawarra Steelers
in 1989, and was already a state representative in 1990. In 1991, Wishart became the first Steelers player to be selected to play for Australia. Wishart was a competent winger, and also proved to be an asset as a goal kicker.
Rod was a strong ball runner and kicker, due to his powerful quadriceps muscles. They were so impressive, he often had trouble finding suitable team attire. Testament to this was that he was once sighted on a flight returning from playing the Brisbane Broncos in 1990, in a team shirt, tie, and team football shorts.
Wishart had an exceptional State of Origin
career, making 22 appearances for the New South Wales team
between 1990 and 1998, scoring 5 tries and 23 goals. He was a mainstay of Blues sides throughout the 1990s and won several games for the Blues with his radar-like kicking.
During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes.
At the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, he went on the 1994 Kangaroo tour
.
In 2005 he was named one of the 25 greatest ever NSW players.
in 1999 with St George, Wishart was a part of the new 25-man squad, however he mostly played from the Interchange bench, with former St George wingers Jamie Ainscough
and Nathan Blacklock
being selected ahead of him. At the end of the 1999 season, Wishart retired from first-grade Rugby League.
Throughout his career, Wishart's success as a player made him a marketable commodity. Most noticeably he had a long association with the Wollongong car dealership Tory Toyota, culminating in a model being named after him – The Wishy Workhorse, a run-out model Hilux with free extras and a Rod Wishart signature decal on the truck body.
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. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australia international representative goal-kicking winger, he played club football with the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
and the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Steelers
Wishart grew up in Gerringong, New South WalesGerringong, New South Wales
Gerringong is a town located about 10 minutes south of Kiama in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. At the 2006 census, Gerringong had a population of 3,588 people.One theory says that the name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "fearful...
, where he was coached by Mick Cronin
Mick Cronin (rugby league)
Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...
. He first came to attention in 1988 when he played for Country Firsts. Later in the year he played against Papua New Guinea for both Southern Division and NSW Country, kicking goals in both victories.
Wishart played his first match for the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
in 1989, and was already a state representative in 1990. In 1991, Wishart became the first Steelers player to be selected to play for Australia. Wishart was a competent winger, and also proved to be an asset as a goal kicker.
Rod was a strong ball runner and kicker, due to his powerful quadriceps muscles. They were so impressive, he often had trouble finding suitable team attire. Testament to this was that he was once sighted on a flight returning from playing the Brisbane Broncos in 1990, in a team shirt, tie, and team football shorts.
Wishart had an exceptional 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...
career, making 22 appearances for the New South Wales 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...
between 1990 and 1998, scoring 5 tries and 23 goals. He was a mainstay of Blues sides throughout the 1990s and won several games for the Blues with his radar-like kicking.
During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes.
At the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, he went on the 1994 Kangaroo tour
1994 Kangaroo Tour
The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the last played in the conventional format, where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches...
.
In 2005 he was named one of the 25 greatest ever NSW players.
Dragons
When the Steelers formed the St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
in 1999 with St George, Wishart was a part of the new 25-man squad, however he mostly played from the Interchange bench, with former St George wingers Jamie Ainscough
Jamie Ainscough
Jamie Ainscough , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Newcastle Knights, St George Illawarra Dragons, New South Wales and for the Australian national rugby league team.-Club career:Before 1989 Ainscough...
and Nathan Blacklock
Nathan Blacklock
Nathan Blacklock is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union player who primarily played as a winger.-Playing career:...
being selected ahead of him. At the end of the 1999 season, Wishart retired from first-grade Rugby League.
Throughout his career, Wishart's success as a player made him a marketable commodity. Most noticeably he had a long association with the Wollongong car dealership Tory Toyota, culminating in a model being named after him – The Wishy Workhorse, a run-out model Hilux with free extras and a Rod Wishart signature decal on the truck body.