Bailey Simonsson
{{Short description|Maori international dual code rugby footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Bailey Simonsson
|fullname = Bailey George Simonsson{{cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=26 October 2017|title=Rugby: Bailey Simonsson has strong BOP ties|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/rugby-bailey-simonsson-has-strong-bop-ties/RKFKU5HIYTCAMEQIR2KKSKAAXA/|publisher=New Zealand Herald|access-date=27 April 2021}}
|image = Bailey Simonsson.jpg
|image_size =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|02|18|df=y}}
|birth_place = Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|97|kg|stlb|0|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|WG|CE}}
|club1 = Canberra Raiders
|year1start = 2019
|year1end = 21
|appearances1 = 45
|tries1 = 16
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 64
|club2 = Parramatta Eels
|year2start = 2022
|year2end = present
|appearances2 = 54
|tries2 = 18
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 72
|teamA = Māori All Stars
|yearAstart = 2021
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
| ru_teamA = All Blacks 7s
| ru_yearAstart = 2018
| ru_appearancesA =
| ru_triesA =
| ru_goalsA =
| ru_fieldgoalsA =
| ru_pointsA =
| source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/bailey-simonsson/summary.html Rugby League Project]
| updated = 8 May 2025
}}
Bailey George Simonsson (born 18 February 1998) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|wg}}er or {{rlp|ce}} for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League and New Zealand Māori at international level.
He previously played for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.
Background
Simonsson was born in Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Māori heritage through his father and European heritage through his mother.[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/rugby-bailey-simonsson-has-strong-bop-ties/RKFKU5HIYTCAMEQIR2KKSKAAXA/ Rugby: Bailey Simonsson has strong BOP ties] Retrieved 12 July 2022.[https://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-union/club-roar/newington-prodigy-making-waves-across-the-ditch-3-756854/ Newington prodigy making waves across the ditch] Retrieved 12 July 2022. He attended Marist College Canberra, Knox Grammar School and Newington College in Sydney as a school student.[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/rugby-bailey-simonsson-has-strong-bop-ties/RKFKU5HIYTCAMEQIR2KKSKAAXA/ Rugby: Bailey Simonsson has strong BOP ties] Retrieved 13 June 2023.
Playing career
=Early career=
Simonsson played for the Canberra Raiders in the Harold Matthews Cup (under 16s), later joining the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to play S. G. Ball Cup (under 18s) and NYC (under 20s) until 2017.
=Switch to rugby union=
=Return to rugby league=
Simonsson signed with the Canberra Raiders in December 2018.{{cite web|last=Polkinghorne|first=David|date=20 December 2018|title=Canberra Raiders sign former All Blacks sevens player Bailey Simonsson|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/canberra-raiders-sign-former-all-blacks-sevens-player-bailey-simonsson-20181220-p50ndh.html|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=27 April 2021}}{{cite web|date=20 December 2018|title=Former All Black's son signs for Canberra Raiders after NZ sevens stint|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/109523466/former-all-blacks-son-signs-for-canberra-raiders-after-nz-sevens-stint|publisher=stuff|access-date=27 April 2021}} He made his first grade debut in Round 1 of the 2019 NRL season against the Gold Coast Titans scoring a try in a 21-0 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/03/12/round-1-nrl-team-lists/ |title=Round 1 NRL team lists|publisher=NRL.com|date=12 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/canberra-raiders-sink-gold-coast-titans-in-wet-20190317-p514wp.html/|title=Canberra Raiders sink Gold Coast Titans in wet|website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 March 2019}}
In Round 20 against the New Zealand Warriors, Simonsson scored 2 tries as Canberra won the match 46-12 at Mount Smart Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/08/02/raiders-run-riot-as-warriors-crumble-at-home/|title=Raiders run riot as Warriors crumble at home|website=NRL|date=2 August 2019}}
In the 2019 qualifying final, Simonsson scored a try as Canberra staged a shock 12-10 victory over minor premiers Melbourne at AAMI Park to secure a home preliminary final.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/14/raiders-upset-storm-to-advance-to-nrl-preliminary-finals/|title=Raiders upset Storm to advance to NRL preliminary final|website=The Guardian|date=14 September 2019}}
Simonsson played from the bench in the 2019 NRL Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters in which Canberra were defeated 14-8 at ANZ Stadium. It was Canberra's first grand final appearance in 25 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-grand-final-player-ratings-roosters-and-raiders-hits-and-misses-20191006-p52y53.html/|title=NRL grand final player ratings: Roosters and Raiders hits and misses|website=SMH|date=6 October 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/49950757/|title=Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders to win NRL Grand Final|work=BBC Sport}}{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/grand-final-ricky-stuart-reaction-canberra-raiders-six-again-jack-wighton/ae39b639-d375-4608-89a6-af6285c3d635/|title=How Ricky Stuart reacted to grand final 'six-again' refereeing shocker|website=WWOS|date=6 October 2019 }}
Simonsson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against Melbourne at GIO Stadium in round 9 of the 2020 NRL season after which he underwent surgery and spent the rest of the season in rehabilitation.
In round 22 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored a hat-trick in Canberra's 26-16 loss against Melbourne.{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm-keep-winning-streak-alive-despite-raiders-scare/news-story/870d5dfe26989783d54907763f3ecc52/|title=Melbourne Storm keep winning streak alive despite Raiders scare|newspaper=News.com.au|date=12 August 2021|last1=Gould|first1=Joel}}
On 10 December 2021, Simonsson signed a three-year deal to join Parramatta starting in the 2022 NRL season.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/12/10/hodgson-simonsson-ink-deals-with-eels/|title=Hodgson, Simonsson ink deals with Eels|website=www.nrl.com|date=9 December 2021}}
In round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, he made his club debut for Parramatta in their 32-28 victory over the Gold Coast.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/nrl/story/_/id/33490949/parramatta-eels-edge-gold-coast-titans-nrl-opener?platform=amp/|title=Eels win thriller with Titans, lose hat-trick hero Russell|website=www.espn.com.au|date=13 March 2022 }}
In round 12 of the 2022 NRL season, he scored two tries for Parramatta in their 28-20 victory over his former side Canberra.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-29/nrl-live-bulldogs-dragons-raiders-eels-score-updates/101107860/|title=Parramatta Eels edge Canberra Raiders 28-20, Dragons beat Bulldogs 34-24|website=www.abc.net.au|date=29 May 2022 }}
Simonsson played for Parramatta in their 28-12 Grand Final loss to Penrith. In the second half of the match, Simonsson made a break down the left hand side of the field but was tackled into touch by Dylan Edwards. Simonsson injured his shoulder during the tackle and was taken from the field with his arm being held in a sling.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-grand-final-penrith-panthers-grand-final-celebrations-accor-stadium-grounds-buggy-jarome-luai-social-media-post-news-parramatta-eels-results-highlights/news-story/1a26e12e295fd2af8a2c5dd0782a7c2e/|title='Parra are our sons': Panther's cheeky Eels sledge as stars run riot, Luai has another dig|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=3 October 2022 }}
In round 5 of the 2023 NRL season, Simonsson was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Sydney Roosters player James Tedesco. Simonsson later scored a try in Parramatta's 28-20 loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-bailey-simonsson-sin-bin-james-tedesco-tackle-roosters-vs-eels-match-review-committee/news-story/485f1e59cface9ea54faf524a4e6d296/|title='Ropeable at the time': Eels flyer slapped with hefty ban for ugly Tedesco hit|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=30 March 2023 }}
In round 12 of the 2023 NRL season, Simonsson scored two tries for Parramatta in their 36-16 upset victory over South Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-19/nrl-dragons-roosters-rabbitohs-eels/102359064/|title=Eels upset Rabbitohs 36-16 to snap losing NRL run, Dragons snatch 24-22 victory over Roosters|website=www.abc.net.au|date=19 May 2023 }}
Simonsson played a total of 20 matches for Parramatta in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 10th and missed the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-parramatta-eels-season-review/87bc005ef8afccb71c8cd224#:~:text=Following%20a%201%2D4%20start,to%20the%20Eels'%20poor%20season./|title=NRL 2023: Parramatta Eels season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=7 September 2023 }}
On 3 June 2024, it was announced that Simonsson would miss the rest of the 2024 NRL season with an ACL injury. Simonsson had been one of the standout players in a struggling Parramatta side prior to the injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-casualty-ward-round-13-injuries-suspensions-state-of-origin-return-dates-ins-and-outs/news-story/1b630e771175d88cbad7282e13d08f5d/|title=Eels' dual blow amid flyer's season-ending blow and enforcer's concussion issues: Casualty Ward|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=4 June 2024 }}
On 16 August 2024, Simonsson re-signed with Parramatta until the end of 2027.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=Eels extend Bailey Simonsson |url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2024/08/15/eels-extend-bailey-simonsson/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEsLx9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdQtRyJXSglPvBSIOaZsJ025nLh9dd3sKiite7AKxkDlJnyC26uqXM8rNg_aem_G14UGyn5Ft-prKOOfoLNCQ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Parramatta Eels |language=en}}
On 13 May 2025, it was announced that Simonsson would miss between 8-10 weeks with a stress fracture in his foot which he sustained during the clubs narrow loss to the Dolphins in round 10 of the 2025 NRL season.{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2025/05/13/injury-update-round-11/|title=Injury Update: Round 11|website=www.parraeels.com.au|date=13 May 2025 }}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2019
| rowspan="3" |{{Leagueicon|Canberra|16}} Canberra Raiders |21 |8 |32 |
| 2020
|7 |2 |8 |
| 2021
|17 |6 |24 |
| 2022
| rowspan="4" |{{Leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels |20 |3 |12 |
| 2023
|20 |9 |36 |
| 2024
|10 |4 |16 |
| 2025
|2 |1 |4 |
| |Totals
|97 |33 |132 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.raiders.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/canberra-raiders/bailey-simonsson/ Raiders profile]
- [http://allblacks.com/Player/Sevens/2747?team=Sevens All Blacks sevens profile]
{{Parramatta Eels squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simonsson, Bailey}}
Category:Australian people of Māori descent
Category:Australian people of Swedish descent
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian rugby union players
Category:Canberra Raiders players
Category:Parramatta Eels players
Category:New Zealand international rugby sevens players
Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players
Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players
Category:People educated at Newington College
Category:Rugby league players from Sydney
Category:People educated at Marist College Canberra