Michael Oldfield (rugby league)

Michael Oldfield (born 24 November 1990) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, centre and fullback for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.

Michael Oldfield
Personal information
Born (1990-11-24) 24 November 1990
Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb)[1]
Playing information
PositionCentre, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–12 Manly Sea Eagles 24 14 0 0 56
2013 Sydney Roosters 1 1 0 0 4
2014–15 Catalans Dragons 45 29 0 0 116
2016 South Sydney 4 2 0 0 8
2017 Penrith Panthers 1 1 0 0 4
2017– Canberra Raiders 25 13 0 0 52
Total 100 60 0 0 240
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–16 Tonga 2 0 0 0 0
As of 9 September 2019
Source: [2][3][4]

He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney Roosters and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League, and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.[5]

Background

Oldfield was born in Manly, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Tongan and European descent.

Early years

He attended Harbord Public School as a junior and later attended Cromer High School. For years 11 and 12, Oldfield was offered a sport scholarship to The Scots College. During his time at Scots, Oldfield predominantly played rugby union.

Playing career

Manly-Warringah

Oldfield played 34 games for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles National Youth Competition team over the 2009 and 2010 seasons, scoring 23 tries.[6]

Oldfield made his debut for Manly-Warringah in round 23 of the 2010 NRL season against the St George Illawarra Dragons. In 2011, in each of the games he played, he scored a try. Along with fullback Brett Stewart, Oldfield was regarded as one of the fastest runners not only at Manly but in the NRL.

Oldfield traveled with the Sea Eagles to England and played in their 2012 World Club Challenge loss to the Leeds Rhinos before the start of the 2012 NRL season.

It was hoped that the flying winger would be the club's permanent replacement for long-time left winger Michael Robertson, who had left the club following the 2011 NRL Grand Final victory. Despite scoring 6 tries for the Sea Eagles in 2012, Oldfield struggled to cement his place in Manly's first grade team and was soon replaced by powerhouse rookie Jorge Taufua. This saw Oldfield only playing in 7 games for the 2012 season.

On 19 June 2012, it was announced that Oldfield had signed a two-year contract with the Sydney Roosters from 2013. Since the announcement, Oldfield was not selected in Manly's first grade team until called up due to an injury to David Williams just before the 2012 NRL Finals. Instead, finding himself in the Sea Eagles New South Wales Cup squad for most of the season.[7]

Sydney Roosters

Oldfield signed with the Sydney Roosters for 2013. After making his club debut in a 22-24 loss to the Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium in round 5 of the 2013 NRL season in which he scored a try, Oldfield found himself playing in the NSW Cup for the Newtown Jets.

On 20 April 2013, Oldfield, who is of Tongan heritage from his mother, made his international debut for Tonga in the Pacific Rugby League International against Samoa at Centrebet Stadium Penrith.

Catalans Dragons

In December 2013, Oldfield signed a two-year contract with the Catalans Dragons.[8]

In the 2014 season, Oldfield scored 12 tries in just 17 games. On 14 June 2014 against St Helens R.F.C., he scored a hat trick during Catalans Dragons' 42-0 home win.

South Sydney

On 6 October 2015, it was announced that Oldfield had signed a one-year contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[9]

In 2016, he made his debut for South Sydney from which he scored two tries in his last three games. Oldfield also spent time playing for Souths feeder club side the North Sydney Bears in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW making 5 appearances and scoring 5 tries.[10][11]

Penrith Panthers

Oldfield then signed to the Penrith Panthers signing a one -year deal. In the same year he was granted a release to join the Canberra Raiders on a two-year deal.[12]

Canberra Raiders

Oldfield made 8 appearances for Canberra in the 2018 NRL season and scored 6 tries including a hat-trick against North Queensland.[13] Oldfield made 9 appearances for Canberra in the 2019 NRL season and scored 5 tries.[14]

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References
  1. "Catalans Dragons Equipe Saison 2015". Catalans Dragons site officiel. Catalans Dragons S.A.S.P. 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  2. loverugbyleague
  3. Michael Oldfield rugbyleagueproject.org
  4. rleague.com Stats Archived 12 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Manly Sea Eagles Profile, Manly Sea Eagles, retrieved 25 April 2011.
  6. Michael Oldfield Stats, rleague.com Archived 9 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 25 April 2011.
  7. Roosters sign Oldfield from 2013
  8. Oldfield, Michael. "CATALANS DRAGONS SIGN MICHAEL OLDFIELD". Zero Tackle. Catalans Dragons. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  9. Oldfield, Michael. "Rabbitohs Re-sign Goodwin & Confirm Signing Michael Oldfield". South Sydney Rabbitohs. South Sydney Rabbitohs. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  10. http://www.ssralmanac.com/mobile/pastplayers_bears.htm
  11. http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=7-6942-0-0-0&sID=141486&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=43449892
  12. "Raiders sign Michael Oldfield and Liam Knight". Zero Tackle. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  13. "Oldfield hat-trick helps Raiders blow Cowboys away". SMH.
  14. "Michael Oldfield the 'perfect man' for Raiders' injury crisis". Canberra Times.
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