Matthew Spence
Encyclopedia
Matthew Spence is a former rugby league
player and coach. His position of preference was in the Second Row, although he also played as prop occasionally.
, Matthew grew up playing for the Turangi Dambusters in the Bay of Plenty
competition.
Spence also played for the Junior Kiwis
.
and making his first grade debut in 1995. He impressed many in his rookie season and was awarded the Eric Grothe
Rookie of the Year award at Parramatta. However he needed a knee reconstruction in 1997 and this injury plagued his next two seasons at the Eels.
He signed for the Western Suburbs Magpies
in 1999 and looked to rebuild his career. However before the season had started he failed a NRL
drug test, testing positive for ecstasy. He was the first player to be suspended under the NRL's new drug rules and received a seven week suspension.
With the Magpies merging with Balmain
for the 2000 season he was forced to move clubs again and returned home to New Zealand to play for the Auckland Warriors. He was not resigned by the new owners in 2001 and retired. When not required by the Warriors in 2000 Spence was assigned to play for the Newtown Jets
. He played for the Northcote Tigers
in the 2002 Bartercard Cup.
In 2009 and 2010 Spence was the player/coach for the Turangi Dambusters in the Bay of Plenty premier competition, his old junior club.
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 and coach. His position of preference was in the Second Row, although he also played as prop occasionally.
Early years
Born in New ZealandNew 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...
, Matthew grew up playing for the Turangi Dambusters in the Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Bay of Plenty Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand...
competition.
Spence also played for the Junior Kiwis
Junior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
.
Playing career
Spence then moved to Australia, joining the Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and making his first grade debut in 1995. He impressed many in his rookie season and was awarded the Eric Grothe
Eric Grothe, Sr.
Eric "Guru" Grothe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships...
Rookie of the Year award at Parramatta. However he needed a knee reconstruction in 1997 and this injury plagued his next two seasons at the Eels.
He signed for the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
in 1999 and looked to rebuild his career. However before the season had started he failed a 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...
drug test, testing positive for ecstasy. He was the first player to be suspended under the NRL's new drug rules and received a seven week suspension.
With the Magpies merging with Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
for the 2000 season he was forced to move clubs again and returned home to New Zealand to play for the Auckland Warriors. He was not resigned by the new owners in 2001 and retired. When not required by the Warriors in 2000 Spence was assigned to play for the Newtown Jets
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
. He played for the Northcote Tigers
Northcote Tigers
The Northcote Tigers are a rugby league club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors.The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national Bartercard...
in the 2002 Bartercard Cup.
Later years
In 2003 Spence was the player/coach of the new Tihoi club in the Waicoa Bay club competition.In 2009 and 2010 Spence was the player/coach for the Turangi Dambusters in the Bay of Plenty premier competition, his old junior club.