Chris Houston (rugby league)
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Chris Houston
|fullname = Christopher Houston
|image = CHRIS_HOUSTON.jpg
|imagesize = 200px
|caption = Houston playing for the Knights in 2009.
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1985|2|15}}
|birth_place = Narooma, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|191|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|102|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|SR|LK|PR}}
|club1 = St. George Illawarra
|year1start = 2007
|year1end =
|appearances1 = 16
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|club2 = Newcastle Knights
|year2start = 2008
|year2end = 15
|appearances2 = 160
|tries2 = 27
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 108
|club3 = Widnes Vikings
|year3start = 2016
|year3end = 18
|appearances3 = 68
|tries3 = 6
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 24
|teamA = NSW Country
|yearAstart = 2011
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|retired = yes
|source = [https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Chris-Houston loverugbyleague][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/chris-houston/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 29 January 2019
}}
Chris Houston (born 15 February 1985) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Widnes Vikings in the Super League. He played as a {{rlp|sr|lk}} and {{rlp|pr}} and previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.
Background
Born in Narooma, New South Wales, Houston played his junior football for the Narooma Devils before being signed by the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Houston played for the Dragons' Premier League reserve-grade team in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com//db/player/h/houston_chris/index.php|accessdate=1 August 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618105021/http://www.rleague.com//db/player/h/houston_chris/index.php|archivedate=18 June 2012|title=rleague.com - Houston, Chris}}
Playing career
In round 3 of the 2007 NRL season, Houston made his NRL debut for St. George Illawarra against the North Queensland Cowboys.
In late 2007, Houston signed a contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2008. In round 13 of the 2008 NRL season, Houston made his first appearance as a captain due to the Newcastle Knights regular captain Kurt Gidley and vice-captain Steve Simpson being unavailable for the match. In March 2010, Houston was served with a notice to attend court on charges of supplying ecstasy and cocaine.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/knights-chris-houston-to-face-drug-supply-charges-20100301-pd3y.html|title=Knights' Chris Houston to face drug supply charges|last=Proudman|first=Dan|date=1 March 2010|work=smh.com.au|accessdate=1 March 2010}} He voluntarily terminated his contract with the Newcastle club.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com.au/chris-houston-signs-knights-623/|title=Latest rugby league news and rumours|publisher=Zero Tackle|accessdate=2015-12-02}}
On 17 December 2010, Houston was cleared of all charges{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/464389/chris-houston-cleared-of-drug-charges/|title=Chris Houston cleared of drug charges | Newcastle Herald|website=Theherald.com.au|date=2010-12-17|access-date=2015-12-02}} On 23 December 2010, due to being cleared of all charges, Houston signed a new two-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/?s=article-display&id=32689 |title=Houston rejoins Knights - Newcastle Knights |website=www.newcastleknights.com.au |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728093625/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/?s=article-display&id=32689 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}
On 31 July 2012, Houston re-signed with Newcastle on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Houston-announces-resigning/60596|accessdate=31 July 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802211228/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Houston-announces-resigning/60596|archivedate=2 August 2012|title=Houston announces re-signing}}
Houston made 992 tackles in the 2012 season, averaging over 41 tackles a game, the most of any player in the National Rugby League.{{cite news|author=Brett Keeble|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title= Bennett wields the axe as star duo dropped|url= http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/bennett-wields-the-axe-as-star-duo-dropped-20130514-2jku4.html|accessdate=15 May 2013|date=14 May 2013}}
On 31 October 2014, Houston re-signed with Newcastle on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2014/10/31/knights_sign_trio.html|title=Knights sign trio - Knights|website=Newcastleknights.com.au|date=31 October 2014|accessdate=2015-12-02}} On 2 December 2015, Houston signed a two-year contract with Super League side Widnes Vikings starting in 2016, after being told he was free to look elsewhere by incoming Knights coach Nathan Brown.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/houston-joins-widnes-vikings-from-newcastle-knights-19868/#fYWOjAGrCL7YveFS.97|title=Houston joins Widnes Vikings from Newcastle Knights | NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|accessdate=2015-12-02}}
On 11 July 2017, it was announced that Houston had signed an extension of his contract with Widnes, keeping him at the club until the end of 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/40571252|title=Chris Houston: Widnes Vikings second row signs new deal with club|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-07-12|language=en}}
Representative career
In 2009, Houston was named 18th man for New South Wales in Game 3 of the 2009 State of Origin series, however he didn't play.
In 2011, Houston played for Country against City in the annual City vs Country Origin match.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180118011443/http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/club/teams/player_profile?522855-chris-houston Widnes Vikings profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185307/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/team/profiles/chris-houston.html Newcastle Knights profile]
- [http://www.rugby-league.com/superleague/player-info/1906 SL profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Houston, Chris}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Country New South Wales Origin rugby league team players
Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players
Category:Newcastle Knights players
Category:Newcastle Knights captains
Category:Maitland Pickers players
Category:Rugby league second-rows