David Barnhill
Encyclopedia
David Barnhill is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. His club career was with the Canberra Raiders
, St. George Dragons
, Sydney City
and Leeds Rhinos
. He played much of his career at Second row forward.
. He became a more regular first grader the following year, primarily used off the interchange bench and was a member of the Raiders' victorious 1990 Grand Final
side. By 1991 he was first grade regular and appeared in all 26 Canberra season and finals matches that year.
Barnhill joined the St. George Dragons
in 1992 and was in the run-on side in 25 of the club's 26 appearances that season. He was a member of Saints' Grand Final sides which lost to Brisbane
in 1992 and 1993 and was still with the club for the ARL Grand Final of 1996 when he came on as an early replacement for Kevin Campion.
In 1997 Barnhill joined the Sydney Roosters
and spent three years with the club where he mainly played in the Front row. The Roosters were serious Finals contenders in each of those years.
All up Barnhill took part in five first grade Grand final
s (four of them in consecutive years) but with only one victory – his first appearance with Canberra in 1990
. In ten of his twelve years of Australian first grade appearances Barnhill played in the Finals – exceptions being 1989 and 1994.
In 2000 Barnhill finished his playing career in a season with the Leeds Rhinos
. He cut short his two-year contract with Leeds at the end of 2000 and returned to Australia.
in State of Origin
off the interchange bench in game I of 1994 and he appeared in all three games of that series. The following year he appeared in games II and III and he entered Origin folklore when footage of the all-in brawl of game II showed him standing and slugging it out blow for blow with Queensland's Billy Moore
long after the rest of the melee had calmed down.
Following a two year representative absence Barnhill returned to the Origin arena in 1998 and played in all three games. The final match of his nine match Origin career was game I of 1999.
Barnhill represented Ireland in the 2000 World Cup.
In 2005 he relocated to his home town of Wagga where he manages a hotel. He is the son of the former general manager of the Country Rugby League
, David Barnhill, snr.
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, 90s and 2000s. His club career was with the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
, Sydney City
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
and 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...
. He played much of his career at Second row forward.
Club career
A Canberra junior, Barnhill made his first grade debut with the Raiders late in the 1989 season as a replacement in a match against the South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. He became a more regular first grader the following year, primarily used off the interchange bench and was a member of the Raiders' victorious 1990 Grand Final
New South Wales Rugby League season 1990
The 1990 New South Wales Rugby League season was the eighty-third season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the premiership season, which culminated in a grand final between the previous season's premiers,...
side. By 1991 he was first grade regular and appeared in all 26 Canberra season and finals matches that year.
Barnhill joined the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
in 1992 and was in the run-on side in 25 of the club's 26 appearances that season. He was a member of Saints' Grand Final sides which lost to Brisbane
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 1992 and 1993 and was still with the club for the ARL Grand Final of 1996 when he came on as an early replacement for Kevin Campion.
In 1997 Barnhill joined the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
and spent three years with the club where he mainly played in the Front row. The Roosters were serious Finals contenders in each of those years.
All up Barnhill took part in five first grade Grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
s (four of them in consecutive years) but with only one victory – his first appearance with Canberra in 1990
New South Wales Rugby League season 1990
The 1990 New South Wales Rugby League season was the eighty-third season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the premiership season, which culminated in a grand final between the previous season's premiers,...
. In ten of his twelve years of Australian first grade appearances Barnhill played in the Finals – exceptions being 1989 and 1994.
In 2000 Barnhill finished his playing career in a season 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...
. He cut short his two-year contract with Leeds at the end of 2000 and returned to Australia.
Representative career
Barnhill first represented for the New South Wales BluesNew 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...
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...
off the interchange bench in game I of 1994 and he appeared in all three games of that series. The following year he appeared in games II and III and he entered Origin folklore when footage of the all-in brawl of game II showed him standing and slugging it out blow for blow with Queensland's Billy Moore
Billy Moore (rugby league)
Billy Moore is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. Usually playing at lock, he represented Queensland and Australia....
long after the rest of the melee had calmed down.
Following a two year representative absence Barnhill returned to the Origin arena in 1998 and played in all three games. The final match of his nine match Origin career was game I of 1999.
Barnhill represented Ireland in the 2000 World Cup.
Post playing
After retiring as a player Barnhill returned to Australia to take-up a position as defensive coach with the ACT Brumbies rugby union club in 2001. In 2002 he was appointed as Assistant Coach to Nathan Brown at St. George Illawarra Dragons.In 2005 he relocated to his home town of Wagga where he manages a hotel. He is the son of the former general manager of the Country Rugby League
New South Wales Country Rugby League
-2011 Tier 2 Championships:-History:Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908-09 and then starting their own competition in 1910....
, David Barnhill, snr.