Matthew Sturm
Encyclopedia
Matthew Sturm is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in New Zealand and in the English Super League
. In 2010 and 2011 he was part of the Mount Albert Lions.
junior. He played in the inaugural Lion Red Cup
season with the Counties Manukau Heroes, starting for the Heroes in the grand final which they lost to North Harbour.
in the Super League
. After playing in 46 games for the Giants, Sturm joined Workington Town
in the Northern Ford Premiership for the 2000 season.
In 2002 Sturm left Workington for the Warrington Wolves
. He played another 19 Super League games over three seasons before again moving on.
In 2004 Sturm joined Leigh
and helped them win promotion into the Super League. Sturm played in 27 games for Leigh over the 2005 season but they were relegated at the end of the year.
in the 2007 Bartercard Cup grand final.
He then joined the Mt Albert Lions
and currently plays in the Auckland Rugby League
competition.
in 1995 and 1996 and the Lion Red Cup XIII in 1995. In 1995 he was part of the Auckland
side that won the Rugby League Cup
.
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...
. In 2010 and 2011 he was part of the Mount Albert Lions.
Early years
Sturm was a Glenora BearsGlenora Bears
The Glenora Bears are a rugby league football club based in Glen Eden, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1931...
junior. He played in the inaugural Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup
The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...
season with the Counties Manukau Heroes, starting for the Heroes in the grand final which they lost to North Harbour.
English career
After standing out in New Zealand, Sturm moved to England and joined the Huddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in the 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...
. After playing in 46 games for the Giants, Sturm joined Workington Town
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
in the Northern Ford Premiership for the 2000 season.
In 2002 Sturm left Workington for the Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
. He played another 19 Super League games over three seasons before again moving on.
In 2004 Sturm joined Leigh
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
and helped them win promotion into the Super League. Sturm played in 27 games for Leigh over the 2005 season but they were relegated at the end of the year.
Return to New Zealand
Sturm played for the Auckland LionsAuckland Lions
The Auckland Lions were a rugby league club that had teams in both the New Zealand Bartercard Cup and the NSWRL Premier League. They were mostly based around the Mt Albert Lions Rugby League club...
in the 2007 Bartercard Cup grand final.
He then joined the Mt Albert Lions
Mt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
and currently plays in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition.
Representative career
Sturm represented New Zealand MāoriNew Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in 1995 and 1996 and the Lion Red Cup XIII in 1995. In 1995 he was part of the Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
side that won the Rugby League Cup
Rugby League Cup
The Rugby League Cup is a New Zealand rugby league trophy that is currently contested between districts on a challenge basis. The trophy was originally known as the Northern Union Cup...
.