- Daniel Fitzhenry
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Daniel Fitzhenry Fitzhenry in 2005 Personal information Full name Daniel Thomas Fitzhenry Born 8 December 1979
Macksville, New South Wales, AustraliaHeight 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) Weight 87 kg (13 st 10 lb) Playing information Position Centre, Wing, Fullback, Five-eighth, Hooker Club Years Team Pld T G FG P Limoux Grizzlies 2002–07 Wests Tigers 119 43 0 0 172 2008–09 Hull KR 43 12 0 0 48 2010 Wests Tigers 18 1 0 0 4 Total 180 56 0 0 224 As of 4 October 2010 Source: League Central Rugby League Project Daniel Fitzhenry (born 8 December 1979 in Macksville, New South Wales) is a former Australian professional rugby league player in Australia's NRL. He played for Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League competition before his switch to Hull KR before his release in October 2009. He returned to Wests Tigers in 2010. Fitzhenry primarily played on the wing, but could cover a number of positions.
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Playing career
Daniel Fitzhenry played Jersey Flegg for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and had spent a period playing with Limoux Rugby League in France before being injured in a car accident.
After coming through the joint venture Wests Tigers' ranks with the Western Suburbs Magpies, Fitzhenry made his debut in the National Rugby League playing at centre in Round 14 of the 2002 NRL season against the Penrith Panthers at Leichhardt Oval. Fitzhenry played at fullback for several games in 2002. His versatility has seen him play off the bench, as hooker and once as halfback (2004 against The Bulldogs). Injuries to the club's first choice player Benji Marshall saw Daniel used as a make-shift 5/8th at times.
Fitzhenry's most successful position has been on the wing. Initially Fitzhenry was placed under much pressure in the position with many opposition clubs targeting his defensive weaknesses, including his shifting defence and a perceived inability to catch bombs. However Fitzhenry improved over several seasons with his defence becoming solid.
Fitzhenry was a member of Wests Tigers team that won the 2005 NRL Grand Final, defeating the North Queensland Cowboys 30-16. He scored a try in the 63rd minute to give Wests a 12 point lead. He also scored a try in the 2006 World Club Challenge which the Tigers lost to Bradford.
Fitzhenry held the record for the most tries scored by a player at the Wests Tigers, with 43, before being surpassed by Benji Marshall in 2010. Despite his try-scoring feats, he has been described as receiving "constant hate mail" and being "targeted more than almost any other player in the NRL."[1]
In 2010, Fitzhenry returned to the Wests Tigers after two seasons playing with Hull KR.[2] He played in 18 games during the season, but was often named as a reserve back, getting little time on the field. At the end of the season, Fitzhenry retired from the NRL, signing a two year contract to captain-coach Southcity in the group 9 competition.[3]
In 2006, Daniel took part in an Australian runway fashion show alongside other team mates Shannon McDonnell and Robbie Farah.
Career highlights
- Junior Club: Dorrigo & Nambucca Heads
- First Grade Debut: Round 14, Wests Tigers v Penrith at Leichhardt Oval, 15 June 2002
- Career Highlight: Wests Tigers Leading Tryscorer; try in the 2005 NRL Grand Final
- Premierships: 2005 (West Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys)
External links
- Daniel Fitzhenry NRL Profile(no longer a valid link)
- Official Daniel Fitzhenry Playing Statistics
References
- ^ "Fitzy blitzes fans in the proper forum". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 May 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/22/2906583.htm?site=sport§ion=all. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Liam Fulton, Daniel Fitzhenry return to Tigers". ABC Grandstand. 16 October 2009. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/liam-fulton-daniel-fitzhenry-return-to-tigers/story-e6frexnr-1225787688219. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Fitzhenry to join Southcity in Wagga". ABC. 29 October 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2010/10/29/3051474.htm?site=riverina§ion=sport. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- Cousins, Wayne. "Fitzy reaches 100 games for Wests Tigers". Wests Tigers. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20070926223333/http://www.weststigers.com.au/NewsArticle.aspx?NewsId=174. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
Wests Tigers squad – 2005 NRL Premiers (1st Title) 1 Brett Hodgson • 2 Daniel Fitzhenry • 3 Shane Elford • 4 Paul Whatuira • 5 Pat Richards • 6 Benji Marshall • 7 Scott Prince (c)
• 8 Anthony Laffranchi • 9 Robbie Farah • 10 John Skandalis • 11 Ben Galea • 12 Mark O'Neill • 13 Dene Halatau
• 14 Liam Fulton • 15 Chris Heighington • 16 Bryce Gibbs • 17 Todd Payten
• Coach: Tim SheensCategories:- 1979 births
- Australian rugby league players
- Limoux Grizzlies players
- Wests Tigers players
- Hull Kingston Rovers players
- Living people
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