Rhys Wesser
Encyclopedia
Rhys Joseph "Sugar" Wesser (born 31 March 1979) is an Australia
n professional rugby league
footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
of the NRL
. A Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he previously played for the Penrith Panthers
, with whom he won the 2003 NRL Premiership.
clubs but none more than the Penrith Panthers
.
Before making the move south Wesser finished his schooling at Emmaus College
, Rockhampton
, Queensland
and also helped his School side take out the Mal Meninga Under 19s Cup being the fourth fastest 19-year-old in the state, running times around 11 seconds in 100 metres.
, to play for the Penrith Panthers
but he found trouble in pushing for a first-grade spot with Peter Jorgensen
holding that title. Three years later Rhys was given the opportunity to play first grade with the departure of Jorgensen. Wesser scored ten tries in his debut season despite Penrith finishing last on the premiership table.
In 2002, he scored a Penrith club record of nineteen tries, including three hat-tricks, and was dubbed "Rhys-Lightning" and soon became a crowd favourite with his acceleration and line-breaking ability. The following season Wesser bettered his own record by scoring on 25 occasions, earning the title of the most prolific try-scoring fullback for a season in the history of Australian rugby league. The Panthers won their second premiership title, narrowly edging out the Sydney Roosters
in the 2003 NRL grand final
in which Wesser played at fullback.
Wesser's try-scoring declined in 2004 with the addition of Amos Roberts
to the squad but he still scored thirteen tries. In 2004, Wesser was selected to play of the Queensland State of Origin
team.
Wesser's 113 tries is the most scored by any Penrith player.
in 2009 for a two-year deal. In only the second round of the 2009 season, Wesser injured his knee. He made his return to the field in the 2010 NRL season
.
On 12th August 2011, Wesser announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season.,wesser finished his season for the Rabbitohs with his knee injured and could not play the last games of the 2011 NRL season.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional 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...
footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
of 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...
. A Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he previously played for the Penrith Panthers
Penrith 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...
, with whom he won the 2003 NRL Premiership.
Early career
Wesser began his rugby league career in Rockhampton having moved there, with his junior club, the Rockhampton Brothers. At age 16, Wesser was selected for the Queensland Under 17s representative side which helped him catch the eye of several NRLNational 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...
clubs but none more than the Penrith Panthers
Penrith 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...
.
Before making the move south Wesser finished his schooling at Emmaus College
Emmaus College (Rockhampton, Queensland)
Emmaus College is a Co-educational Roman Catholic Secondary day school, located in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.The school was established in 1993, through the amalgamation of the St Stanislaus' College, a school for boys , Marion College , a school for girls, and Emmaus Senior College, a...
, Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and also helped his School side take out the Mal Meninga Under 19s Cup being the fourth fastest 19-year-old in the state, running times around 11 seconds in 100 metres.
Penrith Panthers
Debuting in 1998 Wesser moved from his hometown of Rockhampton to the foot of the Blue Mountains, New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, to play for the Penrith Panthers
Penrith 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...
but he found trouble in pushing for a first-grade spot with Peter Jorgensen
Peter Jorgensen
Peter Jorgensen is an Australian-born rugby union and rugby league footballer.Jorgensen was educated at Newington College and St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill...
holding that title. Three years later Rhys was given the opportunity to play first grade with the departure of Jorgensen. Wesser scored ten tries in his debut season despite Penrith finishing last on the premiership table.
In 2002, he scored a Penrith club record of nineteen tries, including three hat-tricks, and was dubbed "Rhys-Lightning" and soon became a crowd favourite with his acceleration and line-breaking ability. The following season Wesser bettered his own record by scoring on 25 occasions, earning the title of the most prolific try-scoring fullback for a season in the history of Australian rugby league. The Panthers won their second premiership title, narrowly edging out the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in the 2003 NRL grand final
2003 NRL grand final
The 2003 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers and match favourites, the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers and underdogs, the Penrith Panthers...
in which Wesser played at fullback.
Wesser's try-scoring declined in 2004 with the addition of Amos Roberts
Amos Roberts
Amos Roberts is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for English club Wigan Warriors of Super League. A country New South Wales representative prolific try-scoring back, he previously played in Australasia's National Rugby League for the St...
to the squad but he still scored thirteen tries. In 2004, Wesser was selected to play of the Queensland State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
team.
Wesser's 113 tries is the most scored by any Penrith player.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
In 2008, Wesser announced that he would be joining the South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in 2009 for a two-year deal. In only the second round of the 2009 season, Wesser injured his knee. He made his return to the field in the 2010 NRL season
2010 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...
.
On 12th August 2011, Wesser announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season.,wesser finished his season for the Rabbitohs with his knee injured and could not play the last games of the 2011 NRL season.
External links
- Rhys Wesser at Rugby League Tables
- Official Penrith Panthers Webpage
- Penrith Panthers vs Melbourne Storm Round 5 2005