Dale Shearer
Encyclopedia
Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin
and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal
heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England. His playing career included a NSWRL Premiership win with Manly-Warringah
in 1987 and a Rugby League World Cup
final win in 1988. Ten years after his retirement, Shearer was still the all-time top try-scorer in State of Origin
history and he was named on the wing of the Indigenous Australian team of the century.
with some impressive performances. He was a member of Mackay's second successful Foley Shield team in 1984, as well as representing Queensland in the match against New Zealand. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
coach Bob Fulton
was quick to sign him before anyone else in 1985. He made his test debut for the Kangaroos in 1986, and later in that year went on to represent Australia on their undefeated tour of England and France. He scored a record four tries against France in the final match of the tour. Shearer was a member of the Manly
premiership winning side in 1987. Following the grand final victory he travelled with Manly to England for the 1987 World Club Challenge
against their champions, Wigan
. In the following off season he also played 14 games in the championship-winning Widnes team in England for the 1987–88 RFL championship.
Shearer's time at the Manly club went sour when he took them to court in 1989, requesting to be released from his contract after a bitter dispute. He failed to win the court case but an agreement was made to let Shearer join the Brisbane Broncos
in 1990. That year he was the Broncos' top point-scorer and at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
. However, Shearer was not happy with Brisbane either, and at the end of the 1991 NSWRL season he moved to the struggling Gold Coast Seagulls.
Shearer's Australian
test career seemed to be over after a poor match against New South Wales in Melbourne in 1991. However, he fought his way back into the Queensland State of Origin
side and was selected for Australia's
three test series against New Zealand
in 1993. He proved his critics wrong and was one of the stand out players in the three-test series. He was also named man-of-the-match in the third match of the 1993 State of Origin series. Shearer took the record for most tries scored by one player in State of Origin history. He played out the rest of his football career at the North Queensland Cowboys
before a teary final exit from the sport in 1998.
for his "outstanding achievement in rugby league". In August, 2008, Shearer was named at wing in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Shearer was critically injured in a car crash at Peregian Springs on 21 February 2009. The crash came one year after the death from cancer of his wife Delyse.
In 2010 Shearer faced bankruptcy when ordered to repay approximately $1.5m to former State of Origin teammate Adrian Lam
for an outstanding loan which dated back to 2005.
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 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England. His playing career included a NSWRL Premiership win with Manly-Warringah
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...
in 1987 and a Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
final win in 1988. Ten years after his retirement, Shearer was still the all-time top try-scorer in 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...
history and he was named on the wing of the Indigenous Australian team of the century.
Playing career
At the age of 18, Dale Shearer caught the attention of many people during his time at the Queensland club, Sarina Crocodiles in the Winfield State LeagueWinfield State League (rugby league competition)
The Winfield State League was a rugby league football competition in Queensland, Australia. It was administered by the Queensland Rugby League. The competition was formed in 1982 and ran until 1995, after which it was superseded by the Queensland Cup....
with some impressive performances. He was a member of Mackay's second successful Foley Shield team in 1984, as well as representing Queensland in the match against New Zealand. 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...
coach Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
was quick to sign him before anyone else in 1985. He made his test debut for the Kangaroos in 1986, and later in that year went on to represent Australia on their undefeated tour of England and France. He scored a record four tries against France in the final match of the tour. Shearer was a member of the Manly
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...
premiership winning side in 1987. Following the grand final victory he travelled with Manly to England for the 1987 World Club Challenge
1987 World Club Challenge
The 1987 World Club Challenge was only the second game of its kind to be played between Britain's and Australia's respective domestic rugby league champions...
against their champions, Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
. In the following off season he also played 14 games in the championship-winning Widnes team in England for the 1987–88 RFL championship.
Shearer's time at the Manly club went sour when he took them to court in 1989, requesting to be released from his contract after a bitter dispute. He failed to win the court case but an agreement was made to let Shearer join 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...
in 1990. That year he was the Broncos' top point-scorer and at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
. However, Shearer was not happy with Brisbane either, and at the end of the 1991 NSWRL season he moved to the struggling Gold Coast Seagulls.
Shearer's 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...
test career seemed to be over after a poor match against New South Wales in Melbourne in 1991. However, he fought his way back into the Queensland 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 and was selected for Australia's
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...
three test series against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in 1993. He proved his critics wrong and was one of the stand out players in the three-test series. He was also named man-of-the-match in the third match of the 1993 State of Origin series. Shearer took the record for most tries scored by one player in State of Origin history. He played out the rest of his football career at 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...
before a teary final exit from the sport in 1998.
Post-playing
After his retirement Shearer remained in Townsville to do Aboriginal representative work for local organisations in North Queensland. In 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports MedalAustralian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his "outstanding achievement in rugby league". In August, 2008, Shearer was named at wing in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Shearer was critically injured in a car crash at Peregian Springs on 21 February 2009. The crash came one year after the death from cancer of his wife Delyse.
In 2010 Shearer faced bankruptcy when ordered to repay approximately $1.5m to former State of Origin teammate Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam is an Australian rugby league football coach and former international player. He is the head coach of the under 20 St George Dragons squad National Rugby League team he signed with them in 2010 and will combine with coaching legend Wayne Bennett.He is a former Papua New Guinea rugby...
for an outstanding loan which dated back to 2005.
External links
- Dale Shearer at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Dale Shearer at fogs.com.au
- Dale Shearer at Foley Shield fan site