Simon Mannering
Encyclopedia
Simon Alexander Mannering (born 28 August 1986) is a New Zealand professional rugby league
player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors
in the National Rugby League
competition. A New Zealand international representative second row forward, who can also play at centre, he has played his whole first grade career to date with the Warriors.
at an early age and was educated at Motueka High School and then later at Nelson College
where he played rugby union
. After being spotted by rugby league development officer Paul Bergman, Mannering switched codes and was an instant success, making the national secondary schools team after just three games of league.
Mannering then moved to Wellington to play for the Wellington
under-18 side, joining the Wellington Rugby League Academy at WelTec. He then was selected for the Paul Bergman-coached Wellington Orcas
in the Bartercard Cup
. In 2004, Mannering made the Junior Kiwi's. Mannering received interest from the Bulldogs
and Parramatta
before deciding to move to Auckland and join the New Zealand Warriors
.
in 2005. The match was special as it marked the Warriors' 10th-anniversary match and the Warriors had upset the then competition leaders for the second time that year.
Since then he has played 114 career games for the club, scoring 28 tries. Former New Zealand Warriors captain Kevin Campion
has written that Mannering may become one of New Zealands' greatest ever players.
Mannering was also one of the nominees for 2007 New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Year.
Mannering played all 26 games for the Warriors in 2008 and was named the clubs player of the year.
In 2009 Mannering signed a new contract with the club that expires after the 2012 season. He played centre for 20 games during the 2009 season that saw the Warriors have a season to forget.
Mannering was appointed the Warriors club captain for the 2010 season.
tournament. He played in every game of the series for the Kiwis and was named Rookie of the year for the Kiwis.
In August 2008, Mannering was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad. In the Kiwis' second match of the tournament, against Papua New Guinea, he scored two tries. He also played in the side that won the final of the 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...
player who currently plays 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...
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...
competition. A New Zealand international representative second row forward, who can also play at centre, he has played his whole first grade career to date with the Warriors.
Early years
Mannering moved to MotuekaMotueka
The town of Motueka in the South Island of New Zealand lies close to the mouth of the Motueka River, on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is, after Nelson and Richmond, the third largest centre in the Tasman Region, with a population of 7125...
at an early age and was educated at Motueka High School and then later at Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
where he played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. After being spotted by rugby league development officer Paul Bergman, Mannering switched codes and was an instant success, making the national secondary schools team after just three games of league.
Mannering then moved to Wellington to play for the Wellington
Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.- Local Senior Competition :The...
under-18 side, joining the Wellington Rugby League Academy at WelTec. He then was selected for the Paul Bergman-coached Wellington Orcas
Wellington Orcas
The Wellington rugby league team are a rugby league team that represents the Wellington Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They currently compete in the National Zonal Competition as the Wellington Orcas.-Early years:...
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...
. In 2004, Mannering made the Junior Kiwi's. Mannering received interest from the 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...
and Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
before deciding to move to Auckland and join 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...
.
Warriors
Mannering made his debut for the Warriors against the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
in 2005. The match was special as it marked the Warriors' 10th-anniversary match and the Warriors had upset the then competition leaders for the second time that year.
Since then he has played 114 career games for the club, scoring 28 tries. Former New Zealand Warriors captain Kevin Campion
Kevin Campion
Kevin Campion is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. His positions of choice were in the second row and at lock. Kevin is the younger brother of Australian radio personality Paul Campion...
has written that Mannering may become one of New Zealands' greatest ever players.
Mannering was also one of the nominees for 2007 New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Year.
Mannering played all 26 games for the Warriors in 2008 and was named the clubs player of the year.
In 2009 Mannering signed a new contract with the club that expires after the 2012 season. He played centre for 20 games during the 2009 season that saw the Warriors have a season to forget.
Mannering was appointed the Warriors club captain for the 2010 season.
Representative career
In 2006, Mannering was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis squad for the 2006 Tri Nations2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...
tournament. He played in every game of the series for the Kiwis and was named Rookie of the year for the Kiwis.
In August 2008, Mannering was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad. In the Kiwis' second match of the tournament, against Papua New Guinea, he scored two tries. He also played in the side that won the final of the World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.