Matt Prior (rugby league)
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Prior | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
27 May 1987 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop, Lock, Second-row | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As of 4 March 2018 Source: [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew Prior (born 27 May 1987) is an Australian professional Rugby League footballer who plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. He was a member of the St George Illawarra Dragons' 2010 and Sharks' 2016 NRL Premership winning teams. He is a versatile forward who plays primarily prop, but also has played at second-row and lock.
Playing career
Prior started at St George Illawarra in 2006, making his NRL debut in round 5 of the 2008 season. In 2010 he was a member of the Dragons' premiership winning side and he played in their 2010 NRL Grand Final victory. That year he signed for a further three years with the club and he played with them till the end of 2013.[2]
On 13 January 2011, Prior was named in the "Blues in waiting" squad. He attended a three-day camp at Homebush January 2013 co-ordinated by coach Ricky Stuart for players deemed to have potential to feature in future New South Wales Origin teams.[3]
In Round 9, 2012 he was sent off for striking Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston with his elbow, with his charge referred directly to the NRL Judiciary.[4] He was suspended for five weeks over the incident.[5] After the incident Prior was moved to the interchange bench for the St. George Illawara Dragons.
For the 2014 season Prior moved to the Cronulla Sharks. He was a regular member of their first grade team and in 2016 played a pivotal role in their push as premiership contenders. He gave a man of the match performance in their qualifying semi-final match against the Canberra Raiders and played in their semi-final victory over the North Queensland Cowboys to earn a place in the 2016 NRL Grand Final.
On 3 September 2017, Prior made his 200th appearance in The NRL.[6]
A surprise selection, Prior was named in the 2018 NSW Blues team for Origin 2 to replace the injured Reagan Campbell-Gillard. New South Wales went on to win the game 18-14 and win their first series since 2014. In game 3, Prior was left out of The Blues side and was replaced by Tariq Sims.[7]
Personal life
Prior was born in Wollongong in New South Wales and went to school at Bulli High School. Priza is a life Member of The Thrirroul Trashers.
Notes
- ↑ Rugby League Project
- ↑ MATT PRIOR RE-SIGNS WITH DRAGONS. dragons.com.au. 22 March 2010
- ↑ "Stuart names Blues in waiting". SMH. 2011-01-13.
- ↑ Prior to face judiciary for Thurston hit – ABC Grandstand Sport (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ↑ Prior gets five weeks for Thurston hit – ABC Grandstand Sport (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ↑ http://www.sharks.com.au/news/2017/09/02/prior_200_.html
- ↑ http://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/state-of-origin-nsw-team-matt-prior-tariq-sims-suncorp-stadium/1smvagauj0nk31n9khe6wvcsvx