Todd Payten
Encyclopedia
Todd Payten is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the Wests Tigers
in the National Rugby League
competition. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters
and the Canberra Raiders
, and played junior football with the Temora Dragons. He primarily plays at prop-forward.
, Payten signed a scholarship with the Canberra Raiders
when he was 16.
A student at Erindale College
, Payten had played just 2 reserve grade games when made his first grade debut with Canberra in the 1996 ARL season. Over the next few years he gradually made more appearances for the Raiders, initially playing from the bench, until he cemented a position as starting prop in 2000. He was a member of the Raiders team that played semi final football in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002.
Released from the final two years of his contract with the Raiders, Payten signed with the Roosters, but did not play in the semis with their successful 2003 side. Released again due to salary-cap pressure, he was being paid by three clubs when he joined Wests Tigers in 2004. Coach Tim Sheens said of the signing, "We had players like Johnny Skandalis
who could take the ball up but what we were looking for was someone with a little bit of nous around his game."
Payten was a member of the Wests Tigers
side which won the 2005 NRL Grand Final
, scoring a try in the final minute of the game.
In the latter part of his career, Payten was often called a "half-back in a front-rowers body," a compliment to his ball-handling ability.
In 2010, Payten was named in the Australian train-on squad for the Four Nations
.
During the 2010 semi-finals, Payten suffered an injury to his ankle when he stepped on a tennis ball. He took no further part in the season, and missed games at the start of 2011 with knee and ankle problems. In an effort to return to full fitness, Payten underwent experimental stem-cell therapy, saying, "At the moment I'm retiring unless this works dramatically.".
In early June, 2011, prior to the week 13 clash against the Newcastle Knights, Payten announced that it would be his last season, after being one of an elite few players to have amassed over 250 games in the NRL. Payten said, "This isn't the way I wanted it to finish. If I'm really honest with myself, I'd be hard-pressed to continue on the way it's going at the moment. I can't." Already a certificate-2 level coach, Payten said he intended to pursue coaching in the future. Payten made a few more appearances off the bench towards the end of the season, but was unable to participate in the semis due to another injury.
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...
competition. He previously played for 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...
and 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...
, and played junior football with the Temora Dragons. He primarily plays at prop-forward.
Playing career
Growing up in Temora, New South WalesTemora, New South Wales
Temora is a town located in north east part of the Riverina area of New South Wales, south-west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census the population of Temora was 4,086.-History:...
, Payten signed a scholarship with 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...
when he was 16.
A student at Erindale College
Erindale College
Erindale College may refer to:* Erindale College, a secondary college located in Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory* Erindale College, an alternate name for the University of Toronto Mississauga...
, Payten had played just 2 reserve grade games when made his first grade debut with Canberra in the 1996 ARL season. Over the next few years he gradually made more appearances for the Raiders, initially playing from the bench, until he cemented a position as starting prop in 2000. He was a member of the Raiders team that played semi final football in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002.
Released from the final two years of his contract with the Raiders, Payten signed with the Roosters, but did not play in the semis with their successful 2003 side. Released again due to salary-cap pressure, he was being paid by three clubs when he joined Wests Tigers in 2004. Coach Tim Sheens said of the signing, "We had players like Johnny Skandalis
John Skandalis
John Skandalis is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers of the NRL. He played previously for the Western Suburbs Magpies and Huddersfield Giants...
who could take the ball up but what we were looking for was someone with a little bit of nous around his game."
Payten was a member of 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...
side which won the 2005 NRL Grand Final
2005 NRL Grand Final
The 2005 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2005 National Rugby League season. It was played on the night of Sunday, 2 October at Sydney's Telstra Stadium between 4th-placed Wests Tigers and 5th-placed North Queensland Cowboys, the only two clubs in the...
, scoring a try in the final minute of the game.
In the latter part of his career, Payten was often called a "half-back in a front-rowers body," a compliment to his ball-handling ability.
In 2010, Payten was named in the Australian train-on squad for the Four Nations
2010 Rugby League Four Nations
The 2010 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was played in Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2010. The tournament was the second time the Four Nations had been held, following on from the 2009 edition held in England and France....
.
During the 2010 semi-finals, Payten suffered an injury to his ankle when he stepped on a tennis ball. He took no further part in the season, and missed games at the start of 2011 with knee and ankle problems. In an effort to return to full fitness, Payten underwent experimental stem-cell therapy, saying, "At the moment I'm retiring unless this works dramatically.".
In early June, 2011, prior to the week 13 clash against the Newcastle Knights, Payten announced that it would be his last season, after being one of an elite few players to have amassed over 250 games in the NRL. Payten said, "This isn't the way I wanted it to finish. If I'm really honest with myself, I'd be hard-pressed to continue on the way it's going at the moment. I can't." Already a certificate-2 level coach, Payten said he intended to pursue coaching in the future. Payten made a few more appearances off the bench towards the end of the season, but was unable to participate in the semis due to another injury.
Career highlights
- First Grade Debut: Round 18, Canberra v Wests at Campbelltown Stadium, August 3, 1996
- Premierships: 2005 - a member of the premiership winning Wests Tigers team which defeated 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...
, 30–16, and scoring one try in the final minutes.