Mark Riddell 5824269 223697088 2008-07-05T09:10:24Z Londo06 2700576 &ndash; {{Infobox rugby league biography | playername = Mark Riddell | image = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Mark Riddell.jpg|260px|Mark Riddell]] --> | fullname = Mark Robert Riddell | dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1980|12|9}} | cityofbirth = [[Sydney, New South Wales]] | countryofbirth = [[Australia]] | dateofdeath = | cityofdeath = | countryofdeath = | height = 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m) | weight = 17 st 2 lbs (109 kg) | nickname = Piggy, Gurner, Fat Bastard | school = [[Holy Cross Ryde]] | position = [[Rugby league positions#Hooker|Hooker]] | currentclub = Parramatta | clubnumber = 9 | youthyears = | youthclubs = St Christopher’s Panania | years = 2001&ndash;2004<br />2005&ndash; | clubs = {{leagueicon|St. George Illawarra Dragons|16}} [[St George Illawarra Dragons|St. George Illawarra]]<br />{{leagueicon|Parramatta Eels|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]] | caps(points) = 92 (517)<br> 57 (92) | repyears = 2004&ndash;2005 | repteam = {{leagueicon|City|16}} [[City vs Country Origin|City]] | repcaps(points) = | youthrepyears = 1998 | youthrepteam = {{leagueicon|Australia|16}} [[Australian Schoolboys]] | youthrepcaps(points) = }} '''Mark Robert Riddell''' (born [[December 9]], [[1981]] in [[Sydney, New South Wales]]) is an [[Australia]]n [[rugby league]] player for the [[Parramatta Eels]] in the [[National Rugby League]] competition, he also previously played for the [[St George Illawarra Dragons]]. His position of choice is at [[Rugby league positions#Hooker|hooker]], though he can also play in the second-row. Riddell originally played for his local club side as a child, St Christopher’s in [[Panania, New South Wales]] before being signed by the [[Sydney Roosters]]. However, after several seasons and failing to crack first grade with the club he moved to the St George Illawarra Dragons, making his debut during the [[2001]] season. After four years at the Dragons Mark signed a lucrative deal with the Parramatta Eels for the beginning of the [[2005]] NRL season. While in his last season at the St George Illawarra club Riddell was called up for his first [[Cap (sport)|representative]] honour playing for the City team in the annual [[City vs Country Origin]] clash; after moving to the Eels the following year he was again called up to the City side for the second year in a row. ==Childhood and early career== Mark began playing rugby league at the age of four for his local Panania side St Christopher’s in the [[Canterbury, New South Wales|Canterbury]] competition where his talent was noticed by several rugby league scouts but eventually the Sydney Roosters won the race for his signature. Played for several years in the lower grades at the Roosters but ultimately was unable to make his way into the first grade team and left the club looking for opportunities elsewhere eventually signing with the St George Illawarra Dragons. His chubby stature got him the nickname "Piggy". ==St George Illawarra Dragons== Eventually made the transition into first grade while playing with his new club side at the Dragons making his debut against local rivals the [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] during round one of the 2001 season. Riddell became an immedtiate fan favourite at his new club after several displays showcasing a good running game particularly out of [[Rugby League positions#Hooker|dummy-half]] along with good hands and agility for a man of his size and build. During the season he would become a regular [[Goal (sport)|goal-kicker]] for the club where he developed a distinctive 'raised arm' motion before he would take the kick, fans in the crowd would then more often than not go on to mimic this action. Riddell would go on to have an impressive debut season in first grade with the Dragons finishing the season as top scorer with 130 points and going on to cement his position in the side at hooker. [[Image:Mark Riddell arm raised.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Riddell with distinctive arm raise & mimic from crowd.]] During his second season with the Dragons Riddell would again have a good season not only impressing club staff and fans with his quickly evolving running game from dummy-half, goal kicking and strength close to the try line ultimately earning himself a call up to the 2002 [[international]] [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian Kangaroos]] 'train-on' squad but was not selected in final touring side. He finished the season again as the top scorer with 129 points to his name even though he was sidelined during several games in the season through [[Suspension (punishment)|suspension]] after being sent off twice during the regular season. At the start of the [[2003]] season Mark was criticized amongst some media circles for being slow, out of shape and [[overweight]] along with negative talk about so-called discipline problems regarding him, however nothing ever eventuated and he went on to play all twenty-four games of the regular season again finishing as the top point scorer with an individual record high of 166 points. [[2004]] was again another season of consistent performances for Mark and several media pundits began talking up his chances of representing [[New South Wales Rugby League team|New South Wales]] in the annual [[Rugby League State of Origin|State of Origin]], however he was left out of the side but still tasted his first representative experience playing for the City origin side in the annual [[City vs Country Origin]] fixture. [[Salary cap]] restraints on the club at the conclusion of the season along with several lucrative offers saw Mark move from the Dragons seeing him eventually sign with the Parramatta Eels for the 2005 season. ==Parramatta Eels== Mark began the [[National Rugby League season 2005|2005 NRL season]] with the Eels continuing in his regular role of hooker and becoming a vital part of the [[Parramatta Eels]] offensive tactics for the season often crossing the [[try]] line with his strength and elusiveness from dummy half. He would go to have his worst season in regards to point scoring after having to share the goal kicking duties with team mate [[Luke Burt]] finishing the season with only 50 points but ultimately helping his side to the [[minor premiership]]. ===Controversy=== On [[May 17]], [[2006]] Riddell was dropped from the Eels first grade side and fined a total of 5,000 dollars for failing to show up to a recovery session on a Monday morning following a regular season fixture, he later admitted the reason he had failed to show up to the session was because he was [[Drunkenness|intoxicated]]{{ref|ref-rec1}}. ==Wigan Warriors== Wigan have signed goalkicking Parramatta hooker Mark Riddell on a three-year deal starting from 2009.<ref name="WARRIORS SOLVE RIDDELL">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/08/05/14/RUGBYL_Wigan.html|title=WARRIORS SOLVE RIDDELL|publisher=Sportinglife|date=2008-05-14|accessdate=2008-05-14}}</ref> ==Career playing statistics== ===Point scoring summary=== {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor=#bdb76b ! Games !! Tries !! Goals !! F/G !! Points |- | 128 || 36 || 217 || 1 || 579 |- |} ===Matches played=== {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor=#bdb76b ! Team !! Matches !! Years |- | St George Illawarra Dragons || 92 || 2001 - 2004 |- | Parramatta Eels || 36 || 2005 - present |- | City || 2 || 2004 - 2005 |- |} ==References== {{reflist}} # [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/taylor-gets-tough-and-axes-riddell-smith/2006/05/16/1147545325002.html "Taylor gets tough and axes Riddell, Smith"] by Glenn Jackson, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', retrieved July 4, 2006 ==External links== *[http://www.parraeels.com.au/teaminfo/playerprofile.asp?id=29 Parramatta Eels profile] *[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Eels/EelsPlayerProfile/tabid/250/playerid/327/Default.aspx NRL profile] *[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/Mark_Riddell.html Mark Riddell Scoring summary] {{DEFAULTSORT:Riddell, Mark}} [[Category:Australian rugby league players]] [[Category:Australian Schoolboy players]] [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Parramatta Eels rugby league players]] {{Parramatta Eels squad}}