Michael Withers
Encyclopedia
Michael Withers is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented at international level for Ireland
. He played club football in Australia for the Balmain Tigers
of the National Rugby League
, and in England with Wigan Warriors
and Bradford Bulls
of Super League
. His usual position was at fullback.
Withers is also a keen cricketer, having played for Northowram Hedge Top Cricket Club (Towergate Halifax Cricket League), whilst playing rugby in the UK.
While attending John Paul II Senior High School in Marayong, New South Wales
, Withers was selected for the Australian Schoolboys team
in 1994. In the same year Withers won the Australian Dally M Junior Player of the Year.
Withers scored 108 tries in 170 games for the Bulls. He is also the only player to have recorded a hat-trick in a Grand Final, doing so against Wigan Warriors for Bradford Bulls in 2003. He has won three Grand Finals and two Challenge Cups with the Bulls.
Withers made his Wigan debut in a 16-10 defeat by Warrington Wolves
at the JJB Stadium
on 9 February 2007.
In June 2007 a knee injury forced Withers to retire.
in the 2001 Ashes Series, but did not play due to injury concerns. Withers later withdrew himself from the Great Britain squad without playing a game. His initial selection in the Great Britain training squad by Australian coach David Waite
created some controversy. Withers qualified for Great Britain through his Irish grandparents and he played for Ireland in the 2000 World Cup
.
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 1990s and 2000s who represented at international level for Ireland
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...
. He played club football in Australia for the Balmain Tigers
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...
of 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 in England with Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
of 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...
. His usual position was at fullback.
Withers is also a keen cricketer, having played for Northowram Hedge Top Cricket Club (Towergate Halifax Cricket League), whilst playing rugby in the UK.
While attending John Paul II Senior High School in Marayong, New South Wales
Marayong, New South Wales
Marayong is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Marayong is located 38 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
, Withers was selected for the Australian Schoolboys team
Australia national schoolboy rugby league team
The Australian Schoolboys rugby league team is the national rugby league football team for secondary school students in Australia.The Australian Schoolboys or Australia Schoolboys represent Australia on a national level at rugby league at youth level...
in 1994. In the same year Withers won the Australian Dally M Junior Player of the Year.
Withers scored 108 tries in 170 games for the Bulls. He is also the only player to have recorded a hat-trick in a Grand Final, doing so against Wigan Warriors for Bradford Bulls in 2003. He has won three Grand Finals and two Challenge Cups with the Bulls.
Withers made his Wigan debut in a 16-10 defeat by 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....
at the JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
on 9 February 2007.
In June 2007 a knee injury forced Withers to retire.
International
Withers was selected for Great BritainGreat 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"....
in the 2001 Ashes Series, but did not play due to injury concerns. Withers later withdrew himself from the Great Britain squad without playing a game. His initial selection in the Great Britain training squad by Australian coach David Waite
David Waite
David Waite is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He has also coached Great Britain in the Rugby League Tri-Nations.Waite holds a British passport, courtesy of his father being born in Leicester....
created some controversy. Withers qualified for Great Britain through his Irish grandparents and he played for Ireland in the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
.