Ryan Girdler
Encyclopedia
Ryan Girdler is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played centre and was a successful goal-kicker. Thanks to his on-field skills and good looks he became a popular figure in rugby league
.
in 1991. During his time at Illawarra, he struggled with injuries and with the likes of Paul McGregor and Brett Rodwell cemented as the Steelers centre pairing, received few chances to reach his full potential.
This prompted a move to the Penrith Panthers
in 1993 where he stayed for the rest of his career.
In 1997 he three games for New South Wales
. In the 1997 post season, Girdler was selected to play for Australia as a centre and goal kicker in two matches of the Super League Test series
against Great Britain
.
Following Super League, Girdler was then selected for New South Wales in State of Origin
.
In 2000 Ryan set one of his many records at Penrith, kicking 78 goals in the season. In the 2000 State of Origin series he set records for most points in a game (32 in game 3) and most points in a series (52). Later that year Ryan was selected to play for the Kangaroos
in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
. Ryan scored three tries and kicked 17 goals for a 46 points in total when the Kangaroos defeated Russia
110 to 4 at The Boulevard, Hull
.
In 2002, Ryan was once again injured, a knee injury ruling him out for half the season, despite the injury, Ryan was able to set another record at the Penrith club, scoring 28 points in a match against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
at Penrith Stadium in July.
In 2003 he was injured in the opening round and did not make a return until round 14. 2003 was the last year that Ryan would represent Australia, scoring the first try in a game against Wales
, 76 to 4. That season the Panthers finished minor premiers and went on to the grand final. In the 2003 NRL grand final
Ryan played in the centres and had to come from the field with a calf injury in the Panthers' victory over the [Sydney Roosters]].
His last game was the Preliminary Final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs who went on to win the 2004 NRL premiership.
premiership season. During the 2000 State of Origin
he scored 32 points in one game, equalling Dally Messenger
's for most points in an interstate game. His tally of
1690 first grade points is the 8th highest in history and he was the first player to score 100 tries
and kick 500 goals (a feat subsequently emulated by Hazem El Masri
and Luke Burt
).
television show The NRL Footy Show
. Girdler eventually gained his own segment on the show, firstly in 2001 with his fishing segment, Gone Fishin and then an occasional recurring segment from 2002 which is titled Their House, the name parodying Australian lifestyle program Our House.
Girdler is currently a member of the Penrith Panthers coaching team.
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 and 2000s. He played centre and was a successful goal-kicker. Thanks to his on-field skills and good looks he became a popular figure in rugby league
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...
.
Rugby league career
Girdler first played in the NSWRL for the Illawarra SteelersIllawarra 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 1991. During his time at Illawarra, he struggled with injuries and with the likes of Paul McGregor and Brett Rodwell cemented as the Steelers centre pairing, received few chances to reach his full potential.
This prompted a move to 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...
in 1993 where he stayed for the rest of his career.
In 1997 he three games for New South Wales
New 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...
. In the 1997 post season, Girdler was selected to play for Australia as a centre and goal kicker in two matches of the Super League Test series
Super League Test series
The Super League Test series was a three-Test match series between the Great Britain national rugby league team and Super League's Australian national team held during November 1997 in England...
against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
.
Following Super League, Girdler was then selected for New South Wales in State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
.
In 2000 Ryan set one of his many records at Penrith, kicking 78 goals in the season. In the 2000 State of Origin series he set records for most points in a game (32 in game 3) and most points in a series (52). Later that year Ryan was selected to play for the Kangaroos
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
. Ryan scored three tries and kicked 17 goals for a 46 points in total when the Kangaroos defeated Russia
Russia national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:In 2006 Russia were involved in Europe Round One, defeating Netherlands national rugby league team and Serbia national rugby league team to finish second and keep their World Cup dream alive. They then went through to Europe Round Two in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and...
110 to 4 at The Boulevard, Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
.
In 2002, Ryan was once again injured, a knee injury ruling him out for half the season, despite the injury, Ryan was able to set another record at the Penrith club, scoring 28 points in a match against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
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...
at Penrith Stadium in July.
In 2003 he was injured in the opening round and did not make a return until round 14. 2003 was the last year that Ryan would represent Australia, scoring the first try in a game against Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, 76 to 4. That season the Panthers finished minor premiers and went on to the grand final. In the 2003 NRL grand final
2003 NRL grand final
The 2003 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers and match favourites, the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers and underdogs, the Penrith Panthers...
Ryan played in the centres and had to come from the field with a calf injury in the Panthers' victory over the [Sydney Roosters]].
His last game was the Preliminary Final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs who went on to win the 2004 NRL premiership.
Records
Girdler was the top point-scorer in 1997's Super LeagueSuper League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
premiership season. During the 2000 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...
he scored 32 points in one game, equalling Dally Messenger
Dally Messenger
Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, recognised as one of the greatest ever players in either code. Messenger, or 'The Master' as he was dubbed, represented his country in both rugby football codes, playing two rugby union tests and seven...
's for most points in an interstate game. His tally of
1690 first grade points is the 8th highest in history and he was the first player to score 100 tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
and kick 500 goals (a feat subsequently emulated by Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a Lebanese-Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australia and Lebanon international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his entire club football career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with...
and Luke Burt
Luke Burt
Luke Kevin Burt is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League competition...
).
State-NSW
- Most Goals (Match): 10 (2000)
- Most Points (Match): 32 (2000)
- Most Points (Series): 52 (2000)
- Most Tries (Series): 5 (2000) record held with Lote Tuqiri (2002 for QLDQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
) - Most Goals (Series): 16 (2000)
Off the field
Girdler was a regular on the rugby leagueRugby 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...
television show The NRL 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...
. Girdler eventually gained his own segment on the show, firstly in 2001 with his fishing segment, Gone Fishin and then an occasional recurring segment from 2002 which is titled Their House, the name parodying Australian lifestyle program Our House.
Girdler is currently a member of the Penrith Panthers coaching team.