Damian Gibson

Damian Gibson (born 14 May 1975) is a former Wales international rugby league footballer.[1][2] 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 Emerald, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	83 kg (13 st 1 lb)
Position	Fullback, Centre, Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1995–96 North Queensland 31 7 1 0 30 1997 Leeds Rhinos 28 6 0 0 24 1998–01 Halifax 113 40 0 0 160 2002 Salford City Reds 29 3 0 0 12 2003–04 Castleford Tigers 46 6 0 0 20 2005–08 Halifax 4 1 0 0 4 2009 Sheffield Eagles 19 13 0 0 52 Total 270 76 1 0 302 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1998–08 Wales 18 8 0 0 32
Source: [1][2]

Early life

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

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

Playing career

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 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. 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

ARL

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

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

Following his retirement, Gibson served as an assistant coach for the Exiles rugby league team, Leeds Rhinos, 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

1. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=7-2245-0-0-0&sID=19459&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=107848
5. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/arl-1995/round-1/north-queensland-vs-sydney-bulldogs/summary.html

External links

• Leeds Rhinos profile
• Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk