Colin Best

Colin Best (born 22 November 1978) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played primarily in the National Rugby League as a wing or centre for Australian clubs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Canberra Raiders and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Best also played in the Super League for English club, Hull FC.

For the Irish lawn bowls player, see Colin Best (bowls).

Colin Best
Best playing for Canberra in 2008
Personal information
Born (1978-11-22) 22 November 1978
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight99 kg (15 st 8 lb; 218 lb)
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1998–02 Cronulla-Sutherland 81 43 0 0 172
2003–04 Hull F.C. 63 41 0 0 164
2005–06 St. George Illawarra 45 26 0 0 104
2007–08 Canberra Raiders 44 18 0 0 72
2009–10 South Sydney 40 9 0 0 36
2011–12 Cronulla-Sutherland 45 13 0 0 52
Total 318 150 0 0 600
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001 NSW City 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Background

Before his rugby league career, Best had also represented Australia at a junior level in indoor soccer.

Career

Best made his first grade debut for Cronulla in round 12 1998 against North Sydney, scoring a try in a 16-12 victory at Shark Park. In 1999, Best made 14 appearances and scored 12 tries as Cronulla won the minor premiership but lost in the preliminary final against rivals St. George at Stadium Australia.

The following year, Best scored 13 tries from 26 games as Cronulla reached the finals but were eliminated by the Brisbane Broncos in the first week. In 2001, Best played in Cronulla's preliminary final defeat against eventual premiers Newcastle.

At the end of 2002, Best signed with Hull in the Super League and spent two years in England before returning to Australia and signing with St. George. In the 2005 NRL season, Best finished as the club's top try scorer with 20 tries. Best played in the club's preliminary final loss against eventual premiers Wests Tigers at the Sydney Football Stadium.

In 2006, Best scored 6 tries in 19 games as St. George reached another preliminary final, however Best missed the match through injury. In 2007, Best signed for Canberra.

In 2008, while playing for Canberra he was awarded the Dally M Winger of the Year Award.

During the 2008 NRL season, Best signed a two-year contract with South Sydney commencing in the 2009. Best scored a try on debut for South Sydney's round 1 victory over rivals the Sydney Roosters which finished 52-12.[2][3][4]

In the 2009 State of Origin series Best was named in the 40 man New South Wales preliminary squad but ultimately was not selected for any of the games.

He signed for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for two seasons starting in 2011. At the end of the two seasons, Best announced his retirement, after a 15-year career, playing his final game in a finals lost against former club Canberra. Following his retirement, he was one of seventeen Cronulla players found guilty of using illegal substances under the club's 2011 supplements program, having a twelve-month suspension (which had already expired due to backdating) recorded against his name.[5]

Career highlights
  • Junior Club: Engadine Dragons
  • First Grade Debut: Round 12, Cronulla v North Sydney, Toyota Park, 30 May 1998
  • First Grade Record: 170 appearances scoring 87 tries
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References
  1. "Colin Best - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. Colin Best signs for the Rabbitohs Archived 26 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "2009 NRL Player Movements". NRL Live. 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  4. "South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Player Report - Colin Best". www.ssralmanac.com.
  5. Zemek, Steve (13 October 2016). "Sharks finalise ASADA deal". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
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