Jesse Royal
Encyclopedia
Jesse Te Ahukaramu Royal (born 22 March 1980) is a former professional rugby league
player from New Zealand
who played for the Newcastle Knights
and New Zealand Warriors
in the National Rugby League
. Jesse Royal's position of choice was as a prop.
. He was a chef in the New Zealand Army
and has played in the Bartercard Cup
for the Central Falcons
and represented Waikato. He captained the 2003 New Zealand A tour of England.
and moved to Australia to play for their NSWRL Premier League
side in 2004. In 2005 he joined the Newcastle Knights
on a two year deal, however he was not able to break out of Premier League. His form was good enough however to earn a new two year deal and he made his first grade
debut in 2007. He went on to play 29 games for the Knights.
in 2009, as injury cover for Evarn Tuimavave
. He made his Warriors debut in Round Two 2009 against the Manly Sea Eagles, scoring a try with his first touch of the ball.
and return to Newcastle to work in the mines and play for local club Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.
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 from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
who played for the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
and New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in 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...
. Jesse Royal's position of choice was as a prop.
Early years
Royal was born in Hamilton, New ZealandHamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
. He was a chef in the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
and has played in the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
for the Central Falcons
Central Falcons
The Manawatu rugby league team are a rugby league team that represents the Manawatu Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They have previously been nicknamed the Mustangs and between 2002 and 2007 competed in the Bartercard Cup as the Central Falcons.Manawatu has a strong domestic...
and represented Waikato. He captained the 2003 New Zealand A tour of England.
Australia
Royal was signed by the Penrith PanthersPenrith 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...
and moved to Australia to play for their NSWRL Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
side in 2004. In 2005 he joined the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
on a two year deal, however he was not able to break out of Premier League. His form was good enough however to earn a new two year deal and he made his first grade
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...
debut in 2007. He went on to play 29 games for the Knights.
Warriors
Royal initially decided to work in the coalmines and play for the Kurri Kurri club from the 2009 season in order to spend more time with his family. However he later signed a two year deal with the New Zealand WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in 2009, as injury cover for Evarn Tuimavave
Evarn Tuimavave
Evarn Tuimavave is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. He has also represented the New Zealand Kiwis and was part of the 2008 World Cup-winning squad...
. He made his Warriors debut in Round Two 2009 against the Manly Sea Eagles, scoring a try with his first touch of the ball.
Later years
Royal decided to retire after the 2010 NRL season2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
and return to Newcastle to work in the mines and play for local club Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.