Trent Merrin
Encyclopedia
Trent Merrin is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League
. Primarily a prop forward, he has played his whole career to date at the Dragons, winning the 2010 NRL Grand Final
with them.
like fellow front-row forward at the Dragons, Dan Hunt
. Merrin claims another Shellharbour legend, Australian
representative Luke Bailey, was "one of [his] idols growing up".
In 2008, Merrin played for the Dragons Under 20s team in the Toyota Cup
, scoring 2 tries for the season. He was selected as the Dragons' Toyota Cup Player of the Year in 2008, and in 2009 was selected to play First Grade for the Dragons, being chosen on the interchange bench. He didn't manage a single minute in the match which the Dragons won 25-12.
He was a prominent squad member of the 2010 premiership-winning Dragons team, and came from the bench to play in 2010 NRL Grand Final
's final minutes.
In May 2011, he was selected on the bench for New South Wales
for Game 1 of the 2011 State of Origin series
. He has since played one more game, however, has been dropped for the third match.
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 for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League
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...
. Primarily a prop forward, he has played his whole career to date at the Dragons, winning the 2010 NRL Grand Final
2010 NRL Grand Final
The 2010 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2010 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 3 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, the match was contested by the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. It was the first time the two sides met in a grand final. They...
with them.
Playing career
Merrin grew up playing rugby league with the Shellharbour SharksShellharbour Sharks
The Shellharbour City Sharks are an Australian rugby league football team based in Shellharbour, a coastal town of the Illawarra region...
like fellow front-row forward at the Dragons, Dan Hunt
Dan Hunt
Dan Hunt is a Australian rugby league player for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League competition.His position of choice is at Prop...
. Merrin claims another Shellharbour legend, Australian
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...
representative Luke Bailey, was "one of [his] idols growing up".
In 2008, Merrin played for the Dragons Under 20s team in the Toyota Cup
Toyota Cup
Toyota Cup may refer to:* Copa Toyota Libertadores was the name of Copa Libertadores from 1997-2007 for sponsorship reasons.* Intercontinental Cup , known as Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL....
, scoring 2 tries for the season. He was selected as the Dragons' Toyota Cup Player of the Year in 2008, and in 2009 was selected to play First Grade for the Dragons, being chosen on the interchange bench. He didn't manage a single minute in the match which the Dragons won 25-12.
He was a prominent squad member of the 2010 premiership-winning Dragons team, and came from the bench to play in 2010 NRL Grand Final
2010 NRL Grand Final
The 2010 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2010 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 3 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, the match was contested by the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. It was the first time the two sides met in a grand final. They...
's final minutes.
In May 2011, he was selected on the bench for New South Wales
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...
for Game 1 of the 2011 State of Origin series
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and...
. He has since played one more game, however, has been dropped for the third match.
Career highlights
- 2008 - St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra DragonsThe 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...
Toyota Cup Player of the Year in 2008. - First Grade Debut: 2009 - Round 4, St George Illawarra v Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe 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 Suncorp StadiumSuncorp StadiumLang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
, BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 3 April. - 2010 NRL Premiership winner