Trent Merrin (born 7 October 1989) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a lock, prop and second-row forward for most of his playing career in the NRL.
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| Born | 7 October 1989 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Lock, Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He played for the Dragons, with whom he won the 2010 NRL Grand Final, and the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He also spent a season with the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. Merrin has also played at representative level for NSW Country, New South Wales Australia, NRL All Stars and the Prime Minister's XIII sides.
Background
editMerrin was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Merrin originally played junior rugby league with Marrickville RSL while living in Sydenham.[3] Merrin then moved with his family in his early teens from Sydney to the Illawarra. He then played rugby league with the Port Kembla Blacks and the Shellharbour Sharks. Merrin claims another Shellharbour legend, Australian representative Luke Bailey, was "one of [his] idols growing up".[4]
Playing career
editIn 2008, Merrin played for St. George Illawarra under-20s team in the Toyota Cup, scoring two tries for the season. He was selected as St. George Illawarra's Toyota Cup Player of the Year in 2008.
In 2009, he was selected to play first grade for St. George Illawarra, being chosen on the interchange bench. He made his first grade debut for the club in round 12 of the 2009 NRL season against Penrith at WIN Stadium.[5] He made three appearances in his debut season for St. George Illawarra as the club won the Minor Premiership but lost both matches in the finals series.
He was a prominent squad member of the 2010 premiership-winning St. George Illawarra team, and came from the bench to play in the 2010 NRL Grand Final. In May 2011, he was selected on the bench for New South Wales for game 1 of the 2011 State of Origin series. He was selected for the second match but was then dropped for the third. On 2 March 2015, Merrin signed a five-year contract with the Penrith Panthers, starting in 2016.[6]
On 15 September 2015, it was announced that Merrin would captain a representative team for the first time. On 26 September 2015, he led the Prime Minister's XIII in their 2015 clash with Papua New Guinea.[7][8]
Merrin was a part of the Penrith sides which made the finals series in 2016, 2017 and 2018 bowing out at the second week on each occasion.[9][10][11]
After departing Penrith, Merrin signed a contract to join English Super League team Leeds. After just one season with Leeds, it was announced that Merrin was returning to Australia on compassionate grounds. On 29 November 2019 it was revealed that Merrin had signed a two-year deal with St. George Illawarra.[12][13]
On 21 April 2021, Merrin announced his retirement from rugby league effective immediately.[14]
Personal life
editMerrin was engaged to world-class surfer Sally Fitzgibbons.[15]
Merrin is in a long-term relationship with Jessica Watson and the couple had their first son in March 2020 and their second son in November 2021.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Trent Merrin - Player Stats". Love Rugby League.
- ^ "Trent Merrin - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project.
- ^ Massoud, Josh (17 July 2012). "South Sydney Snub Fites Up Young Dragon Trent Merrin". The Advertiser. Retrieved 30 April 2017 – via The Daily Telegraph.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Chammas, Michael (10 March 2011). "Luke Bailey is Trent Merrin's target". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Merrin named for NRL debut". St. George Illawarra Dragons. 31 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Trent Merrin signs with Panthers". Zero Tackle. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Merrin to lead Prime Minister's XIII". National Rugby League. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Trent Merrin named as Prime Minister's XIII captain for Papua New Guinea clash". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ Chammas, Michael (18 September 2016). "NRL finals 2016: Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers | PHOTOS, REPORT". Illawarra Mercury.
- ^ Lutton, Phil (15 September 2017). "NRL Finals 2017: Penrith Panthers end season on a frustrating night as Brisbane Broncos prepare to meet Melbourne Storm". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Newton, Alicia (25 October 2018). "Penrith Panthers 2018 season review". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018.
- ^ "Matt Prior: Leeds Rhinos sign forward as captain Trent Merrin leaves on compassionate grounds". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Rugby League news: Toronto Wolfpack tie down ten, Jarrod Sammut on the move, Trent Merrin 'completes St George switch'". Hull Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019.
- ^ Walter, Brad (21 April 2021). "'Selfless' Merrin calls time to make way for new breed of Dragons". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Walshaw, Nick (16 April 2015). "Dragons star Trent Merrin on his NRL career, Sally Fitzgibbons, the big rep – nothing has come easy". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Coates, Sally (19 May 2020). "NRL's shutdown babies and engagements as players keep busy". The Queensland Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
External links
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