Simon Dwyer
Encyclopedia
Simon Dwyer is an Australian professional Rugby league
footballer for the Wests Tigers
in the National Rugby League
(NRL). He primarily plays at second row or centre. He has been described as, " one of the brightest prospects in the game."
Hailing from Macquarie Fields
, Dwyer played junior football with the Ingleburn Bulldogs and Wests Magpies
.
Before his debut Royce Simmons
described him as, "a big, strong backrower, who plays on the right edge and hits a good line, has a good offload..."
Impressing coach Tim Sheens
with his two appearances in 2009, Dwyer was named in the first-grade squad for 2010. He was a regular in the first grade team in the second half of 2010, mostly starting on the bench. He was named the club's rookie of the year at the end of the season, and noted as "one of the most improved players in the NRL in 2010." Before the end of the year, he signed a contract extension to remain with the Wests Tigers until the end of 2012.
Dwyer received some recognition in the press for a tackle he made on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
in the 2010 qualifying final against the Sydney Roosters
. It was described as "the best hit in a century", and received praise from noted defender David Gillespie
.
In 2011, Dwyer made his representative debut, playing for City Origin and scoring a try. He was also chosen to participate in a NSW
developmental squad. Unfortunately, halfway through the season, Dwyer suffered an brachial plexus
injury in a match against Canterbury Bulldogs
, which saw him unable to play for the rest of the season. Some months later, full feeling had not returned to his right hand, and there was still serious doubt as to whether he would be able to play again.
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 Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in 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...
(NRL). He primarily plays at second row or centre. He has been described as, " one of the brightest prospects in the game."
Hailing from Macquarie Fields
Macquarie Fields, New South Wales
Macquarie Fields is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Macquarie Fields is located 42 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region.Macquarie Fields has a mix...
, Dwyer played junior football with the Ingleburn Bulldogs and Wests 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...
.
Before his debut Royce Simmons
Royce Simmons
Royce Simmons is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player, currently the head coach of St Helens RLFC in the European Super League...
described him as, "a big, strong backrower, who plays on the right edge and hits a good line, has a good offload..."
Impressing coach Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
with his two appearances in 2009, Dwyer was named in the first-grade squad for 2010. He was a regular in the first grade team in the second half of 2010, mostly starting on the bench. He was named the club's rookie of the year at the end of the season, and noted as "one of the most improved players in the NRL in 2010." Before the end of the year, he signed a contract extension to remain with the Wests Tigers until the end of 2012.
Dwyer received some recognition in the press for a tackle he made on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a rugby league player currently with the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He plays in the second-row.-Early years:Waerea-Hargreaves first made a name for himself playing schoolboy rugby union at Iona College in Queensland, through some impressive performances in the AIC...
in the 2010 qualifying final against 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...
. It was described as "the best hit in a century", and received praise from noted defender David Gillespie
David Gillespie
David "Cement" Gillespie is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A sturdy forward, he played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, New South Wales and for the Australian national side...
.
In 2011, Dwyer made his representative debut, playing for City Origin and scoring a try. He was also chosen to participate in a NSW
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
developmental squad. Unfortunately, halfway through the season, Dwyer suffered an brachial plexus
Brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots...
injury in a match against Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
, which saw him unable to play for the rest of the season. Some months later, full feeling had not returned to his right hand, and there was still serious doubt as to whether he would be able to play again.
Career highlights
- First Grade Debut: 2009 - Round 19, Wests Tigers vs North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, 19 July.