Chris Heighington
{{Short description|England international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Chris Heighington
|fullname = Christopher Heighington
|nickname =
|image = Chris Heighington cricket.jpg
|imagesize = 290
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1982|01|14}}
|birth_place = Camden, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|187|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|103|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|LK|SR|PR}}
|club1 = Wests Tigers
|year1start = 2003
|year1end = 12
|appearances1 = 201
|tries1 = 39
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 156
|club2 = Cronulla Sharks
|year2start = 2013
|year2end = 17
|appearances2 = 116
|tries2 = 2
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 8
|club3 = Newcastle Knights
|year3start = 2018
|year3end =
|appearances3 = 21
|tries3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 4
|teamA = Prime Minister's XIII
|yearAstart = 2008
|yearAend = 09
|appearancesA = 2
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = NSW Country
|yearBstart = 2008
|yearBend = 11
|appearancesB = 2
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = England
|yearCstart = 2011
|yearCend = 17
|appearancesC = 8
|triesC = 2
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 8
|teamD = NRL All Stars
|yearDstart = 2013
|yearDend =
|appearancesD = 1
|triesD = 0
|goalsD = 0
|fieldgoalsD = 0
|pointsD = 0
|retired = yes
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/player-profile?playerid=108560&teamid=3400|title=League Central|access-date=12 October 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/chris-heighington/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Heighington&submit=Go&c=England|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}
|updated = 17 November 2018
}}
Christopher Heighington (born 14 January 1982) is a former professional rugby league footballer. An English international, Country New South Wales and NRL All Stars representative, his positions were {{rlp|lk|sr}} and {{rlp|pr}}. He played for the Wests Tigers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, winning a premiership with each, before finishing his career with the Newcastle Knights.
Background
He was born in Camden, New South Wales, Australia.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
Club career
=Wests Tigers=
A Umina Bunnies junior, Heighington made his début for Wests Tigers in 2003. He later said, "To be honest, I couldn't believe I was making my début. It was a great experience. It came so quickly. I only started the pre-season at the end of 2002."{{cite news| work= Canberra Times | title=Sharks' quiet achiever Chris Heighington prepares for 300th NRL game|author=Andrew Parkinson | url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/sharks-quiet-achiever-chris-heighington-prepares-for-300th-nrl-game-20170330-gv9w3n.html}} He made seven appearances from the bench that year, and was a backup again in 2004. By 2005 he had cemented his place in the team and played from the interchange bench in the Tigers' 30–16 victory in the 2005 NRL grand final over the North Queensland Cowboys.
As NRL Premiers Wests faced Super League champions Bradford Bulls in the 2006 World Club Challenge. Heighington played at second-row forward in the Tigers' 30–10 loss.
Heighington won the award for Wests Tigers' Player of the Year for 2008.{{cite news|publisher=The Weekly Times|title=Sports News|author=Chris Karas|url=http://www.weeklytimes.com.au/2008/10_october/08_10_08/sports.html|date=8 October 2008|access-date=4 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002093314/http://www.weeklytimes.com.au/2008/10_october/08_10_08/sports.html|archive-date=2 October 2009|df=dmy }} He was selected to play in the 2008 Country Origin side as well as the Prime Minister's XIII team which visited Papua New Guinea.{{cite web|author=Wayne Cousins|website=www.tigers.org.au|title=Players all okay after big win|url=http://www.tigers.org.au/Football_club/news_articles_2008/aus_v_png_28AUG08.html|access-date=20 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105234601/http://www.tigers.org.au/Football_club/news_articles_2008/aus_v_png_28AUG08.html|archive-date=5 January 2009 }} He was called into the 2009 Prime Minister's XIII for the injured Luke Lewis.{{cite news|work=Fox Sports|title=St George Illawarra five-eighth Jamie Soward called up for Country|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25426010-5016947,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731152630/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25426010-5016947,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2012|date=4 May 2009|access-date=4 May 2009}}
File:Chris Heighington Wests Tigers.jpg
Before the start of the 2011 season, Ricky Stuart named Heighington in a "Blues in Waiting" squad, for potential future NSW State of Origin players. He was described as one of the players, "on the cusp of selection."{{cite news|work=ABC News|title=Stuart names 'Blues in waiting'
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/13/3112075.htm?site=sydney|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112124215/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/13/3112075.htm?site=sydney|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 November 2012|access-date=29 March 2011|date=13 January 2011}} He was considered by some unlucky to have not played State of Origin.{{cite news|work=ABC News|title=Heighington channels Tiger great Pearce|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/21/3018103.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026051352/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/21/3018103.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2010|access-date=22 December 2010|date=21 September 2010}}
Having played in every game of the 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 seasons, Heighington set the record for most appearances by a Wests Tigers player in 2012, surpassing the milestone of 185 set by John Skandalis.{{cite news|author=Glenn Jackson|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title= Terry towels up stuttering Tigers as Raiding party rules the west|url=http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/terry-towels-up-stuttering-tigers-as-raiding-party-rules-the-west-20120326-1vujz.html|access-date=3 April 2012|date=26 March 2012}}
Described by team-mate Benji Marshall as, "the heart and soul of Wests Tigers on and off the field,"{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=Heighington may play for England|author=Glenn Jackson|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/heighington-may-play-for-england-20100620-ypay.html|access-date=23 June 2010|date=21 June 2010}} the club controversially released him after failing to make the semi-finals in 2012.{{cite news|author=Daniel Lane|work=Sydney Morning Herald|title=Heighington speaks out|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/heighington-speaks-out-20120922-26dmo.html|access-date=23 October 2012|date=23 September 2012}}
Signing a three-year contract with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Heighington said, "'I don't know what to say except I'm a bit disappointed. I thought I would be a one-team player but, at the end of the day, if the coach doesn't want you, he doesn't want you."
==Grand final controversy==
Following the grand final victory, Heighington was interviewed by Nine Network sideline commentator Matthew Johns, who asked Heighington to describe the feeling of winning the premiership. Heighington replied "Yeah mate it’s fucking awesome, you don’t know how to fucking ... there’s no words for it, it’s just fucking unbelievable". In the following days, the Wests Tigers club issued a statement apologising for the inappropriate language used by some of their players.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/matty-johns-relives-the-infamous-aftermath-of-the-2005-grand-final/news-story/7e8056941f0d7c9fcd62c74d0f18a6ad/|title=Matty Johns relives the infamous aftermath of the 2005 Grand Final|website=news.com.au}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tigers-apologise-for-bad-language-20051005-gdm6pz.html/|title=Tigers apologise for bad language|website=Sydney Morning Herald}}
=Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks=
In round 1 of the 2013 NRL season, Heighington made his club début for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks against the Gold Coast Titans playing off the interchange bench in the 12-10 win at Remondis Stadium. He played in all of Cronulla's 26 matches and scored one try.
In an effort to motivate his 2016 Sharks teammates to win their first premiership, Heighington bet them his foreskin: he promised to subject himself to being circumcised if his team won.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/james-maloney-reveals-chris-heighington-outrageous-grand-final-bet-circumcision-sharks/5xkkjx87nshy15hvv30mjs85x|title=Maloney reveals Heighington's unspoken, outrageous grand final bet|last=Di Lonardo|first=Michael|date=2017-08-24|work=Sporting News|access-date=2017-11-11|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171111080838/http://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/james-maloney-reveals-chris-heighington-outrageous-grand-final-bet-circumcision-sharks/5xkkjx87nshy15hvv30mjs85x|archive-date=11 November 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
In 2016, he came off the bench in Cronulla's first premiership win 14-12 over the Melbourne Storm for his second premiership victory.
Heighington played his 300th game on 1 April 2017, saying, "It’s hard to believe I’m on the same list of 300-game players as him. To see my name alongside Brad Fittler, Darren Lockyer, Terry Lamb, Andrew Ettingshausen, and many more, I’m just so grateful."{{cite news| work= Courier Mail | title=Chris Heighington celebrates 300 NRL matches with Tigers, Sharks | url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/sharks/chris-heighington-celebrates-300-nrl-matches-with-tigers-sharks/news-story/9db54b733bd1d190d3450bdf53fc5d8c?from=htc_rss|author=David Riccio}} As of April 2017, Heighington was one of only three current NRL players to have eclipsed 300 NRL games, the others being Melbourne's Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.
=Newcastle Knights=
After 116 games with the Sharks, Heighington signed a one-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/chris-heighington-depart-sharks-29784|title=Newcastle Knights sign Chris Heighington - Zero Tackle|date=12 October 2017|access-date=12 October 2017}}
In round 1 of the 2018 season, Heighington made his début for Newcastle in their 19-18 golden point extra-time win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2018/03/09/late-mail-knights-v-manly|title=Late mail: Knights v Manly|date=9 March 2018|access-date=9 March 2018}}
On 31 July 2018, Heighington announced that the 2018 season would be his last after a 16-season career.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/heighington-to-hang-up-the-boots-at-seasons-end-35205/|title=Heighington to hang up the boots at seasons end - Zero Tackle|date=31 July 2018|access-date=31 July 2018}} He has played over 330 professional games with 3 clubs, winning a premiership with the Wests Tigers in 2005, and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2016.
=Highlights=
- First Grade début: 2003 – Round 1, Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra Dragons, Stadium Australia, Sydney, 15 March.
- Premierships: 2005 – Wests Tigers defeated North Queensland Cowboys 30 – 16 in the Grand Final at Stadium Australia, Sydney, 2 October.
- Premierships: 2016 - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks defeated Melbourne Storm 14 - 12 in the Grand Final at Stadium Australia, Sydney, 2 October.
- NSW Country Origin début: 2008 – NSW Country Origin v NSW City Origin, WIN Stadium, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2 May.
- NSW Country Origin Selection: 2008, 2011
- Prime Minister's XIII début: 2008 – Prime Minister's XIII v Papua New Guinea, Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 27 September.
- Prime Minister's XIII Selection: 2008–2009
- 300 First Grade Games round 5 2017
Representative career
Heighington has a British passport through his father, and was eligible to represent England if he chose to (Heighington's father Tom emigrated to Australia when he was about 15 from County Durham, an area the family have retained strong links with, including their association with the village of Heighington near Darlington).[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/chris-heighington-to-play-for-england/story-e6frexnr-1225892385222 Chris Heighington to play for England| thetelegraph.com.au]. Dailytelegraph.com.au (16 July 2010). Retrieved on 24 September 2011.[http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/heighington-turns-back-on-poms-to-chase-blue-jersey-20110126-1a5fa.html Heighington turns back on Poms to chase blue jersey]. Watoday.com.au (27 January 2011). Retrieved on 24 September 2011. Heighington took up the option in 2011 and was named in the England train-on squad for the 2011 Four-Nations. Coach Steve McNamara noting, "His work-rate and work ethic are first class."{{cite news|work=Fox Sports|title=Wests Tigers lock Chris Heighington selected in England squad and set for Four Nations campaign|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/wests-tigers-lock-chris-heighington-selected-in-england-squad-and-set-for-four-nations-campaign/story-e6frf3ou-1226141140910|access-date=25 September 2011|date=19 September 2011}} Heighington played in the warm up test against France and also the opening game of the Four Nations against Wales. He scored his first international try against Wales after Gareth Widdop put him over the line. Heighington played in all the preliminary games of the Four Nations, scoring a further try, but was ruled out of participating in the final.{{cite news|publisher=Sunday Telegraph (Sydney)|title=The Kangaroos have sent Darren Lockyer out on a high note after big win in Four Nations|author=James Hooper|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/the-kangaroos-have-sent-darren-lockyer-out-on-a-high-note-after-big-win-in-four-nations/story-e6frexnr-1226200258673|access-date=21 November 2011|date=20 November 2011}}
In October 2017, he was selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/james-roby-back-fold-wayne-11312505|title=England rugby league World Cup squad revealed - and James Roby is back in the fold|publisher=Mirror|date=9 October 2017|access-date=30 October 2019}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2003
| rowspan="10" |{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|size=16}} Wests Tigers |7 |1 |4 |
| 2004
|10 |2 |8 |
| 2005
|24 |4 |16 |
| 2006
|21 |7 |28 |
| 2007
|24 |4 |16 |
| 2008
|24 |6 |24 |
| 2009
|18 | | |
| 2010
|27 |6 |24 |
| 2011
|26 |6 |24 |
| 2012
|20 |3 |12 |
| 2013
| rowspan="5" |{{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |26 |1 |4 |
| 2014
|19 | | |
| 2015
|23 |1 |4 |
| 2016
|26 | | |
| 2017
|22 | | |
| 2018
|{{leagueicon|Newcastle|size=16}} Newcastle Knights |21 |1 |4 |
| |Totals
|338 |42 |168 |
Post playing
In 2019, Heighington was inducted as a life member of the Wests Tigers.{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Caitlyn |date=2019-09-10 |title=Wests Tigers induct three new Life Members |url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2019/09/10/wests-tigers-induct-three-new-life-members/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Wests Tigers |language=en}} In 2023, Heighington had completed his certificates for Fitness and begun Chris Heighington Sports Performance.{{Cite web |last=Beauchamp |first=Thomas |date=2023-02-06 |title=Lawrence: Why Heighington is so important |url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/02/06/lawrence-why-heighington-is-so-important/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Wests Tigers |language=en}} Heighington was also named as assistant coach of the Wests Tigers alongside Robbie Farah, and was made strength and conditioning coach for the teams NSW cup side..{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Ethan Lee |date=2023-11-01 |title=Wests Tigers confirm 2024 Pathways coaches |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/wests-tigers-confirm-2024-pathways-coaches-165008/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Wests Tigers announce pathways squads |url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/01/17/wests-tigers-announce-pathways-squads/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Wests Tigers |language=en}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180305203958/https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/newcastle-knights/chris-heighington/ Newcastle Knights profile]
- [http://www.nrl.com.au/Players/tabid/10390/default.aspx?playerid=62 Chris Heighington at NRL.com]{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }}
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090414084118/http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=424 Chris Heighington at Wests Tigers]
- [http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=379#Chris-Heighington Statistics at rlwc2017.com]
{{Wests Tigers squad 2005 NRL premiership}}
{{Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks squad - 2016 NRL premiers}}
{{England 2011 Rugby League Four Nations squad}}
{{England 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{Rugby league footballers with 300 NRL games}}
{{Wests Tigers Life Members}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heighington, Chris}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian people of English descent
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:Newcastle Knights players
Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players
Category:NRL All Stars players
Category:Prime Minister's XIII players
Category:Country New South Wales Origin rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league second-rows