Tonie Carroll
Encyclopedia
Tonie Carroll is retired professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and New Zealand international representative utility, he played for the Brisbane Broncos
of the NRL. Carroll retired from playing in 2009 and was working in real estate on the Gold Coast
, he has since returned after seeing the Broncos recent injuries and poor performances over the past month he decided to play another season. He was something of a utility player, having played at lock, second row and also at centre and five-eighth. Carroll represented Queensland in State of Origin and played his club football for the Brisbane Broncos
of the NRL, winning premierships with them in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2006. He also spend two seasons with the Leeds Rhinos
of Super League
and was named at centre in the 2001 Dream Team
. He currently resides in Bridgeman Downs, and was in real estate until his comeback in mid 2009.
High, Carroll played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1993. Nicknamed 'Tunza', he started his Australian club career with Brisbane's Easts Tigers
team before being picked up by the Broncos.
Carroll made his first grade debut for Brisbane against the North Queensland Cowboys
at ANZ Stadium
on 21 April 1996 and went on to win the Broncos' rookie of the year award for the season
. He became best known for his devastating defensive hits and scored a try in Brisbane's 1998 NRL Grand Final
victory to claim his second premiership ring.
Carroll created controversy when, after first representing Queensland then representing New Zealand in the 2000 World Cup
(scoring a try in the final against Australia), he played for the Australian side, due to his having played State of Origin
. When selected for the Kangaroos in 2004s Tri-Nations
competition, Carroll became the first player in 90 years (since Bill Kelly in 1914) to play for both New Zealand and Australia. After winning a 3rd premiership with the Broncos at the end of the 2000 season, Carroll left Australia to play with the Leeds Rhinos
.
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Carroll finished his first season in the European Super League
as top try-scorer for Leeds with 23 tries in 28 games, including hat-tricks in consecutive games. This earned him a place in the centres in 2001's Super League Dream Team
.
The following year was a frustrating one for Carroll as he struggled with injury, however he still managed 22 appearances, scoring eight tries. After two seasons at the Rhinos he returned to the Broncos.
The following season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Carroll.
In 2007, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett pulled a surprise selection by naming Carroll at five-eighth left vacant due to the season ending knee injury to captain Darren Lockyer
, a position he had only played for 50 minutes in his entire career, opting for Carroll ahead of other options such as, Joel Moon
, Karmichael Hunt
, Shane Perry
and Greg Eastwood
.
Carroll retired at the end of 2008 NRL season
. However he returned in July 2009 after the Broncos suffered a series of injuries.
Tonie Carrol was detained by police on Sunday 28 November 2009, following an alleged altercation with a woman, believed to be his partner. No charges were laid.
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. An Australian and New Zealand international representative utility, he played for 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 NRL. Carroll retired from playing in 2009 and was working in real estate on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, he has since returned after seeing the Broncos recent injuries and poor performances over the past month he decided to play another season. He was something of a utility player, having played at lock, second row and also at centre and five-eighth. Carroll represented Queensland in State of Origin and played his club football for 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 NRL, winning premierships with them in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2006. He also spend two seasons with the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds 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...
of 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 was named at centre in the 2001 Dream Team
Super League Dream Team
The Super League Dream Team is an award given each season to the players deemed to have been the best in their position in the Super League by a panel of journalists and broadcasters....
. He currently resides in Bridgeman Downs, and was in real estate until his comeback in mid 2009.
Early career
While attending BeenleighBeenleigh, Queensland
Beenleigh is a suburb in the Logan City area of Queensland, Australia. Beenleigh and adjoining suburbs are located near the confluence of the Logan and Albert rivers...
High, Carroll played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1993. Nicknamed 'Tunza', he started his Australian club career with Brisbane's Easts Tigers
Easts Tigers
The Eastern Suburbs Tigers are a rugby league club based at Langlands Park, which is in the suburb of Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1934 to 1996. From 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is traditionally an all gold jersey...
team before being picked up by the Broncos.
Carroll made his first grade debut for Brisbane against 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...
at ANZ Stadium
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre
The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre , more commonly known by its former names ANZ Stadium or QE II, is a major sporting facility on the south side of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
on 21 April 1996 and went on to win the Broncos' rookie of the year award for the season
Brisbane Broncos 1996
The 1996 Brisbane Broncos season was the ninth in the club's history. They competed in the Australian Rugby League's 1996 Optus Cup premiership and finished the regular season in second place on the ladder, progressing as far as the semi-finals....
. He became best known for his devastating defensive hits and scored a try in Brisbane's 1998 NRL Grand Final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
victory to claim his second premiership ring.
Carroll created controversy when, after first representing Queensland then representing New Zealand in the 2000 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...
(scoring a try in the final against Australia), he played for the Australian side, due to his having played 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...
. When selected for the Kangaroos in 2004s Tri-Nations
2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations
-Tournament standings:-Final:-Non-series Tests:During the series, Australia and New Zealand played additional Tests against France.-----Additional Matches:...
competition, Carroll became the first player in 90 years (since Bill Kelly in 1914) to play for both New Zealand and Australia. After winning a 3rd premiership with the Broncos at the end of the 2000 season, Carroll left Australia to play with the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds 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...
.
United Kingdom
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...
as top try-scorer for Leeds with 23 tries in 28 games, including hat-tricks in consecutive games. This earned him a place in the centres in 2001's Super League Dream Team
Super League Dream Team
The Super League Dream Team is an award given each season to the players deemed to have been the best in their position in the Super League by a panel of journalists and broadcasters....
.
The following year was a frustrating one for Carroll as he struggled with injury, however he still managed 22 appearances, scoring eight tries. After two seasons at the Rhinos he returned to the Broncos.
Later career
Carroll returned to the Broncos in 2003. His leg was injured when playing at lock forward in the 2006 NRL Grand Final against Melbourne. Despite limping, he refused to leave the field and helped Brisbane to victory and another premiership.The following season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Carroll.
In 2007, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett pulled a surprise selection by naming Carroll at five-eighth left vacant due to the season ending knee injury to captain Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
, a position he had only played for 50 minutes in his entire career, opting for Carroll ahead of other options such as, Joel Moon
Joel Moon
Joel Moon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Salford City Reds of Super League...
, Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League ....
, Shane Perry
Shane Perry
Shane Perry is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Norths Devils of the Queensland Cup His position of choice is in the halves...
and Greg Eastwood
Greg Eastwood
Greg Eastwood is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL. A New Zealand international representative lock or second row forward, he previously for the Brisbane Broncos, Bulldogs in the NRL and Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League...
.
Carroll retired at the end of 2008 NRL season
National Rugby League season 2008
The 2008 NRL season was the 101st season of professional rugby league club competition in Australia, and the eleventh run by the National Rugby League. For the second year, sixteen teams competed for the 2008 Telstra Premiership title. The season commenced with the first matches played on 14 March...
. However he returned in July 2009 after the Broncos suffered a series of injuries.
Tonie Carrol was detained by police on Sunday 28 November 2009, following an alleged altercation with a woman, believed to be his partner. No charges were laid.
External links
- http://www.tunzafit.com TUF | Tunza Ultimate Fitness
- Profile at leedsrugby