Damian Gibson (born 14 May 1975) is a former Wales international rugby league footballer. Primarily a fullback, Gibson was the North Queensland Cowboys first ever try scorer.[3]

Damian Gibson
Personal information
Born (1975-05-14) 14 May 1975 (age 49)
Emerald, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight83 kg (13 st 1 lb)
PositionFullback, Centre, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–96 North Qld Cowboys 31 7 1 0 30
1997 Leeds Rhinos 28 6 0 0 24
1998–01 Halifax 114 40 0 0 160
2002 Salford City Reds 29 3 0 0 12
2003–04 Castleford Tigers 46 6 0 0 24
2005–08 Halifax 86 47 0 0 188
2009 Sheffield Eagles 20 13 0 0 52
Total 354 122 1 0 490
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–08 Wales 16 6 0 0 24
Source: [1][2]

Early life

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Gibson was born and raised in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

He attended Emmaus College before being signed by the Newcastle Knights.[4]

Playing career

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After spending 1994 with the Newcastle Knights, where he represented the NSW City under-19 side, Gibson signed with the newly established North Queensland Cowboys. In Round 1 of the 1995 ARL season, Gibson made his first grade début as a 19-year-old in the North Queensland Cowboys first ever game. He scored the club's first ever try in the 16–32 loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and was named in the Norwich Rising Star Team of 95.[5] He spent two seasons with the Cowboys, scoring 7 tries in 31 games and was the North Queensland Cowboys Top Tryscorer in 1996.

In 1997, Gibson joined the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, scoring three tries and being named their Player of the Year.[3] He transferred to the Halifax Blue Sox in 1998, where he spent the majority of his career. During his first stint with Halifax, he scored 40 tries in 113 games. In June 1998, he made his international début for Wales, in a 15–12 loss to England.

In 2002, he joined the Salford City Reds, spending one season at the Willows before moving to the Castleford Tigers in 2003, following the Reds' relegation.[6] He re-joined Halifax in November 2004 after being released by the Castleford Tigers following their relegation from Super League and went on to score 15 tries in 30 appearances in 2005. After four more seasons at Halifax, Gibson joined the Sheffield Eagles in 2009, retiring at the end of the season.

Statistics

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Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1995   North Queensland 20 3 1 100.0 0 14
1996   North Queensland 11 3 0 0 16
Career totals 31 7 1 100.0 0 30

Super League

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Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1997   Leeds - 3 0 0 12
1998   Halifax 25 6 0 0 24
1999   Halifax 31 11 0 0 44
2000   Halifax 28 10 0 0 40
2001   Halifax 29 13 0 0 52
2002   Salford 29 3 0 0 12
2003   Castleford 23 3 0 0 12
2004   Castleford 23 3 0 0 12
Career totals 188 52 0 0 208

Post-playing career

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Following his retirement, Gibson served as an assistant coach for the Exiles rugby league team, Leeds Rhinos,[7] Welsh national team, and the Dewsbury Rams. While at the Rhinos, he coached the club's under-18 and under-20 sides and was on the coaching staff for their 2011 Super League Grand Final winning season.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Player Summary: Damian Gibson". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Leeds Rhinos | News". Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Damian Gibson - Warwick & District Junior Rugby League - SportsTG". websites.sportstg.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018.
  5. ^ "ARL 1995 - Round 1 - Rugby League Project".
  6. ^ "Castleford sign Gibson". BBC Sport. 5 November 2002. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Leeds Rhinos appoint Damian Gibson to coaching staff". BBC Sport. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
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