Mark McLinden
Encyclopedia
Mark McLinden is an Australian professional rugby union
and rugby league
player.
Mark McLinden plays for the Queensland Reds
, in the Super 14
. He previously played Rugby League
for the Canberra Raiders
in the National Rugby League
and Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League
.
McLinden's usual position is full-back. Mark has played much of his career at half-back, and with the arrival of Great Britain
international Test full-back Chris Melling at the London club he has played several games of the 2007 season
in the halves.
While attending Hawker College, McLinden played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1996 and 1997.
In 1998, McLinden signed to play in the NRL
for his local team Canberra Raiders
. Following an impressive debut season, Mark was named NRL
Rookie of the Year and won the Raiders' player of the year award.
He also received representative honours with selection for the Australian Junior Kangaroos squad to play tests against New Zealand.
During his 7 seasons at the Canberra Raiders
, McLinden made 165 appearances, featuring in 5 play-off series.
Mark McLinden signed for the London Broncos in November 2004 and was appointed team captain following on from Jim Dymock
. During the 2005 season
, his first in Super League
, Mark showed his versatility by appearing at , half back and full back.
In the 2006 season
, with his club now operating as Harlequins Rugby League, Mark was the club's leading Super League try scorer with 14 tries from 17 appearances. His season was, however, disrupted by a persistent back injury which required an operation in late 2006.
The 2007 season
saw McLinden return from injury. However, he was replaced as captain by England
international Rob Purdham
.
McLinden signed a three-year extension to his contract to keep him at Harlequins until the end of the 2009 season. However, in 2008 he suffered from a long debilitating illness which caused him to lose a lot of weight. As a result he barely featured in Super League and he was released at the end of the year.
Before his switch to rugby union he was offered to play for the Ireland national rugby league team
at the 2008 World Cup
but declined in favour of Super 14 pre-season training.
for the Queensland Reds
. He scored his first Super 14
try in his side's 22-3 win over South Africa's Cheetahs
at Suncorp Stadium.
Just before the 2009/2010 Super 14 season he retired from the game due to medical advice.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and 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.
Mark McLinden plays for the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
, in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
. He previously played 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...
for 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...
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...
and Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
.
McLinden's usual position is full-back. Mark has played much of his career at half-back, and with the arrival of Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
international Test full-back Chris Melling at the London club he has played several games of the 2007 season
Super League XII
Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007's Super League season in the sport of rugby league.The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of 2 February 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St...
in the halves.
Rugby league career
Mark McLinden played his early rugby at West Belconnen Warriors in the Canberra District Junior Rugby League.While attending Hawker College, McLinden played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1996 and 1997.
In 1998, McLinden signed to play in the NRL
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...
for his local team 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...
. Following an impressive debut season, Mark was named NRL
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...
Rookie of the Year and won the Raiders' player of the year award.
He also received representative honours with selection for the Australian Junior Kangaroos squad to play tests against New Zealand.
During his 7 seasons at 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...
, McLinden made 165 appearances, featuring in 5 play-off series.
Super League Career
Jim Dymock
Jim Dymock is an Australian former professional rugby league international of Tongan heritage who played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels and London Broncos...
. During the 2005 season
Super League X
engage Super League X is the official name of 2005's Super League season. It was the 10th season of Super League and saw twelve teams from across England compete for the premiership. The season kicked off in early February, culminating in a six team play-off seriesThe Grand Final, held at Old...
, his first in Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
, Mark showed his versatility by appearing at , half back and full back.
In the 2006 season
Super League XI
Engage Super League XI was the official name for the year 2006's Super League season in the sport of rugby league in Europe. Bradford Bulls were looking to retain the title they won in Super League X....
, with his club now operating as Harlequins Rugby League, Mark was the club's leading Super League try scorer with 14 tries from 17 appearances. His season was, however, disrupted by a persistent back injury which required an operation in late 2006.
The 2007 season
Super League XII
Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007's Super League season in the sport of rugby league.The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of 2 February 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St...
saw McLinden return from injury. However, he was replaced as captain by England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
international Rob Purdham
Rob Purdham
Rob Purdham is a retired English professional rugby league footballer. An England international representative loose forward, he previously played for Whitehaven and Harlequins. Purdham can also operate as a stand-off, as a centre or in the second row. He has even played international football at...
.
McLinden signed a three-year extension to his contract to keep him at Harlequins until the end of the 2009 season. However, in 2008 he suffered from a long debilitating illness which caused him to lose a lot of weight. As a result he barely featured in Super League and he was released at the end of the year.
Before his switch to rugby union he was offered to play for the Ireland national rugby league team
Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represent the island of Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organized by Rugby League Ireland and are accredited as an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation...
at the 2008 World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
but declined in favour of Super 14 pre-season training.
Rugby union career
He played rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
. He scored his first Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
try in his side's 22-3 win over South Africa's Cheetahs
Central Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
at Suncorp Stadium.
Just before the 2009/2010 Super 14 season he retired from the game due to medical advice.