Brad Izzard
Encyclopedia
Brad Izzard was an Australia
n rugby league
player for the Penrith Panthers
in the New South Wales Rugby League
competition in Australia as well as playing four games for the New South Wales
State of Origin
side. His position of choice was at centre
and he is the brother of both Craig
and Grant Izzard
.
Izzard was a local junior for the Panthers making his first grade debut for the club in the 1982 season. Was called up to the New South Wales side in game one of State of Origin in his debut year playing on the wing though injury ruled him out of the remaining matches for his state and country played that year. Fitness problems went on to hamper his relationship with several of his coaches such as Tim Sheens
and Ron Willey but playing under Phil Gould
in 1991 his efforts on the field became instrumental in his teams success helping them to a grand final premiership victory. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
which was lost to Wigan. The following season several neck injuries reduced the amount of time he was able to play eventually having to retire when it was revealed it was a chronic
problem.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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...
player for 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 the New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
competition in Australia as well as playing four games for the 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...
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...
side. His position of choice was at centre
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
and he is the brother of both Craig
Craig Izzard
Craig Izzard was an Australian rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, Balmain Tigers and the Illawarra Steelers in the New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia, his position of choice was at second row...
and Grant Izzard
Grant Izzard
Grant Izzard is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s. He played for the Penrith Panthers and the Illawarra Steelers of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership...
.
Izzard was a local junior for the Panthers making his first grade debut for the club in the 1982 season. Was called up to the New South Wales side in game one of State of Origin in his debut year playing on the wing though injury ruled him out of the remaining matches for his state and country played that year. Fitness problems went on to hamper his relationship with several of his coaches such as Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
and Ron Willey but playing under Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
in 1991 his efforts on the field became instrumental in his teams success helping them to a grand final premiership victory. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
1991 World Club Challenge
The 1991 World Club Challenge was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday the 2nd of October, 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool...
which was lost to Wigan. The following season several neck injuries reduced the amount of time he was able to play eventually having to retire when it was revealed it was a chronic
Chronic (medicine)
A chronic disease is a disease or other human health condition that is persistent or long-lasting in nature. The term chronic is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. Common chronic diseases include asthma, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.In medicine, the...
problem.