Russell Packer
Encyclopedia
Russell Packer is a New Zealand
professional rugby league
footballer for the New Zealand Warriors
of the National Rugby League
competition. His usual position is at prop forward.
, Packer originally played rugby union from a young age for the junior Foxton rugby club and also for a junior Marist club in Nelson.
Russell also played in the Foxton Rugby League Under 14s side at the age of nine years old in a curtain raiser between the Manawatu Mustangs and Auckland Warriors reserve grade side in 1998.
Packer then played for the Levin Lions. When he was only 16 he debuted for the Central Falcons
in the Bartercard Cup
.
in the NSWRL Premier League
. He also played for the Central Falcons
in the final season of the Bartercard Cup
. At the end of 2007 he received an offer from the Sydney Roosters
but turned them down, preferring to stay in New Zealand.
He made his National Rugby League debut in Round 10 on 4 May 2008 against the Canberra Raiders
. He played in four other NRL games in 2008 and also played twenty games for the Junior Warriors in the new Toyota Cup competition. At the end of the season Packer was named in the National Youth Competition's Team of the Year alongside teammate Ben Matulino
. He finished his Toyota Cup career at the end of 2009 with twenty three appearances and five tries.
and as a part of the New Zealand 'A' squad. In 2007 he was named in the New Zealand under-18 side.
Packer played for the New Zealand Māori in 2010 against England
.
New 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...
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 New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
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...
competition. His usual position is at prop forward.
Early years
Educated at Foxton Beach School and Manawatu CollegeManawatu College
Manawatu College is a high school in Foxton, New Zealand. It is a co-educational school.-House system:Each student belongs to a 'house group'...
, Packer originally played rugby union from a young age for the junior Foxton rugby club and also for a junior Marist club in Nelson.
Russell also played in the Foxton Rugby League Under 14s side at the age of nine years old in a curtain raiser between the Manawatu Mustangs and Auckland Warriors reserve grade side in 1998.
Packer then played for the Levin Lions. When he was only 16 he debuted for the Central Falcons
Central Falcons
The Manawatu rugby league team are a rugby league team that represents the Manawatu Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They have previously been nicknamed the Mustangs and between 2002 and 2007 competed in the Bartercard Cup as the Central Falcons.Manawatu has a strong domestic...
in the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
.
Warriors
In 2007 he signed with the New Zealand Warriors but spent most of the season playing 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 NSWRL Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
. He also played for the Central Falcons
Central Falcons
The Manawatu rugby league team are a rugby league team that represents the Manawatu Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They have previously been nicknamed the Mustangs and between 2002 and 2007 competed in the Bartercard Cup as the Central Falcons.Manawatu has a strong domestic...
in the final season of the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
. At the end of 2007 he received an offer from 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...
but turned them down, preferring to stay in New Zealand.
He made his National Rugby League debut in Round 10 on 4 May 2008 against 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...
. He played in four other NRL games in 2008 and also played twenty games for the Junior Warriors in the new Toyota Cup competition. At the end of the season Packer was named in the National Youth Competition's Team of the Year alongside teammate Ben Matulino
Ben Matulino
Benedict Andrew Matulino is a rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League...
. He finished his Toyota Cup career at the end of 2009 with twenty three appearances and five tries.
Representative career
In 2005 Packer was named in the New Zealand under-16 side. He again achieved national selection in 2006 when he was named both the captain of the Junior KiwisJunior 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...
and as a part of the New Zealand 'A' squad. In 2007 he was named in the New Zealand under-18 side.
Packer played for the New Zealand Māori in 2010 against 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...
.