Chris McQueen
{{short description|England international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Chris McQueen
|fullname = Christopher John McQueen
|image = CHRIS MCQUEEN Wests.jpg
|imagesize = 290
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|08|03}}
|birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|1.89|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|position = {{rlp|SR|LF|WG|CE}}
|club1 = South Sydney
|year1start = 2009
|year1end = 15
|appearances1 = 116
|tries1 = 24
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 96
|club2 = {{nowrap|Gold Coast Titans}}
|year2start = 2016
|year2end = 17
|appearances2 = 38
|tries2 = 11
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 44
|club3 = Wests Tigers
|year3start = 2018
|year3end = 20
|appearances3 = 10
|tries3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 0
|club4 = {{nowrap|Huddersfield Giants}}
|year4start = 2020
|year4end = 23
|appearances4 = 75
|tries4 = 33
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 132
|club5 = Brisbane Tigers
|year5start = 2024
|year5end = present
|appearances5 = 0
|tries5 = 0
|goals5 = 0
|fieldgoals5 = 0
|points5 = 0
|teamA = {{nowrap|Prime Minister's XIII}}
|yearAstart = 2011
|yearAend = 15
|appearancesA = 2
|triesA = 1
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 4
|teamB = Queensland
|yearBstart = 2013
|yearBend = 14
|appearancesB = 6
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = England
|yearCstart = 2017
|yearCend =
|appearancesC = 1
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|retired = yes
|source = [https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/chris-mcqueen/ loverugbyleague][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/chris-mcqueen/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 10 March 2024
}}
Chris McQueen (born 3 August 1987) is a former England international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sr}} or {{rlp|lf}} for the Brisbane Tigers in the Queensland Cup.
He previously played for the Wests Tigers, Gold Coast Titans and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, winning the 2014 NRL Grand Final with the Rabbitohs. He played for the Prime Minister's XIII and Queensland in the State of Origin series and played as a {{rlp|wg}}er and {{rlp|ce}} earlier in his career. despite finishing on the losing side with Huddersfield McQueen was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy after being named player of the match in the 2022 Challenge Cup Final.{{cite web | url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12214/12623633/chris-mcqueen-huddersfield-giants-lance-todd-trophy-winner-proving-he-still-has-what-it-takes | title=Chris McQueen: Huddersfield Giants' Lance Todd Trophy winner proving he still has what it takes }}
Background
McQueen was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He grew up in country town of Kingaroy.
McQueen played his junior rugby league for the Kingaroy Red Ants. He is the nephew of Australian former Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/player-poll-olympians-in-the-making/tabid/10874/newsid/100168/default.aspx|title=Player Poll: Olympians in the making|date=11 August 2016|access-date=2016-08-11}} McQueen moved to Brisbane in 2006 to join the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, where he progressed through their Colts system to the Queensland Cup competition. In 2006, his first year playing with the Wynnum Manly Colts side, the team made the grand final, losing to a Norths Devils team that featured future NRL stars Israel Folau and Will Chambers.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
Playing career
=Early career=
He played 9 Queensland Cup games in 2007 and cemented his spot in the starting side in 2008, playing 19 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-2046-0-0-0&sID=15976&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=18169137|title=EMERGING TALENT SQUAD - Red Ant Junior - Wide Bay Division - FOX SPORTS PULSE|website=Sportingpulse.com|date=2012-01-25|accessdate=2015-12-13}}{{cite web|url=http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=210676|title=Souths sign Chris McQueen - The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League|website=Forums.leagueunlimited.com|accessdate=2015-12-13}} In 2008, he signed a two-year contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
=South Sydney Rabbitohs=
McQueen joined South Sydney in 2009 and spent the majority of the season playing for the Rabbitohs feeder team, the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Cup competition. He made his NRL debut in Round 22 of the 2009 season, days after his 22nd birthday. A late call up to the side, McQueen played on the wing and scored a try in South Sydney's 36–22 win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2009/round-22/manly-warringah-vs-south-sydney/summary.html|title=NRL 2009 - Round 22|publisher=Rugby League Project|accessdate=2015-12-13}} Due to injury, McQueen missed the entire 2010 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/rabbitohs-backrower-chris-mcqueen-chooses-maroons-over-england/story-fni3gki8-1226644725461|title=Rabbitohs Backrower Chris McQueen Chooses Maroons Over England|website=Dailytelegrpah.com.au|accessdate=2015-12-13}} He returned to first grade in 2011, playing almost every game for the South Sydney side, switching between wing and second row, and was named in Australia's 34-man Four Nations train on squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/kangaroos-train-on-squad-named/tabid/10874/newsid/64619/default.aspx|title=Kangaroos train-on squad named|website=NRL.com|date=5 September 2011|accessdate=2015-12-13}} Later that year he represented the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea.{{cite web |url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news-display/Three%20Rabbitohs%20in%20PMs%20XIII%202011/52620 |title=Three Rabbitohs in PMS XIII 2011 - South Sydney Rabbitohs |accessdate=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130627220253/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news-display/Three%20Rabbitohs%20in%20PMs%20XIII%202011/52620 |archivedate=27 June 2013}}
In 2012, he began the season again at wing, before making a permanent switch to second row. In 2013, McQueen cemented his spot in the South Sydney starting side. In 2012 and 2013, he was a member of Queensland's Emerging Origin Squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/default.aspx?s%3Demerging-players|title=Emerging Players - Queensland Rugby League|accessdate=24 May 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124181736/http://www.qrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=emerging-players|archivedate=24 January 2014 }} In 2013, he made his State of Origin debut for Queensland.{{cite web|author=Phil Lutton|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/state-of-origin/mcqueen-set-to-be-maroons-new-action-hero-20130527-2n7j9.html|title=Chris McQueen Named in Queensland Maroons State of Origin Squad|website=Brisbanetimes.com.au|date=27 May 2013|accessdate=2015-12-13}} He played all three games of the 2013 State of Origin series in which Queensland extended their record for consecutive series victories to eight.
On 5 October 2014, McQueen was selected to play for South Sydney from the interchange bench in the 2014 NRL Grand final, helping them to a 30–6 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-win-2014-nrl-grand-final-defeating-canterbury-bulldogs-306/story-fni3fbgz-1227080755667|title=Rabbitohs Win 2014 NRL Grand Final Defeating Bulldogs 30-6|website=Dailytelegraph.com.au|accessdate=2015-12-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/rabbitohs-grand-final-player-ratings/tabid/10874/newsid/82375/default.aspx|title=Rabbitohs Grand Final Player Ratings|website=NRL.com|date=2014-10-05|accessdate=2015-12-13}}
On 26 September 2015, McQueen again played for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/merrin-to-lead-prime-ministers-xiii/tabid/10874/newsid/89831/default.aspx|title=Merrin to lead Prime Minister's XIII|website=NRL.com|date=2015-09-15|accessdate=2015-12-13}}
=Gold Coast Titans=
On 11 December 2015, McQueen signed a two-year contract with the Gold Coast Titans starting in 2016, after being released from the final year of his Souths contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/mcqueen-to-become-a-titan-19958/#kAlwGK3mqUprlgms.97|title=McQueen to become a Titan | NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|accessdate=2015-12-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/rabbitohs/chris-mcqueen-signs-twoyear-deal-with-titans/news-story/5a6836a5a71dd3d4b11482598cf728fc|title=Chris McQueen Signs Two Year Deal with Titans|website=Couriermail.com.au|accessdate=2015-12-13}}
= Wests Tigers =
On 12 April 2017, it was announced that McQueen would join the Wests Tigers on a three-year deal, starting in 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2017/04/12/wests_tigers_sign_ch.html|title=Wests Tigers sign Chris McQueen|last=Media|first=NRL Digital|work=NRL CLUBS|access-date=2017-05-14|language=en-au}} McQueen started off the 2018 season playing for Intrust Super Premiership NSW side Western Suburbs after being unable to break into the starting 17 for The Tigers. After spending the first 10 games in reserve grade, McQueen was called up to The NRL side for their Round 11 clash against Penrith.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/nrl-nsw-cup-qld-cup-josh-papalii-blake-austin/m6vd4uvowyq01iq11qbva3q24|title=The NRL-standard players stuck in reserve grade}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/panthers-v-wests-tigers-team-lists-for-round-11-clash/news-story/717551a9a2ce062d0347baf9a2554d12|title = Panthers v Wests Tigers final teams|newspaper = News.com.au|date = 17 May 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-premiership-nsw/western-suburbs-magpies/chris-mcqueen/?_t_id=1B2M2Y8AsgTpgAmY7PhCfg%3D%3D&_t_tags=andquerymatch%2Clanguage%3Aen%7Clanguage%3A7D2DA0A9FC754533B091FA6886A51C0D%2Csiteid%3A8c2d7fd4-24c4-4a20-bb06-03c8bf4abf2d%7Csiteid%3A84BFAF5C52A349A0BC61A9FFB6983A66&_t_ip=127.0.0.1&_t_hit.id=NRL_Web_Business_Models_Pages_PlayerLinkPage%2F_0e8504e4-e63a-4b4b-81cd-5e62b328f066_en&_t_hit.pos=1&_t_q=Mcqueen |title=Official Intrust Super Premiership profile of Chris McQueen for Western Suburbs Magpies - NSWRL |access-date=4 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141937/https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-premiership-nsw/western-suburbs-magpies/chris-mcqueen/?_t_id=1B2M2Y8AsgTpgAmY7PhCfg%3D%3D&_t_tags=andquerymatch%2Clanguage%3Aen%7Clanguage%3A7D2DA0A9FC754533B091FA6886A51C0D%2Csiteid%3A8c2d7fd4-24c4-4a20-bb06-03c8bf4abf2d%7Csiteid%3A84BFAF5C52A349A0BC61A9FFB6983A66&_t_ip=127.0.0.1&_t_hit.id=NRL_Web_Business_Models_Pages_PlayerLinkPage%2F_0e8504e4-e63a-4b4b-81cd-5e62b328f066_en&_t_hit.pos=1&_t_q=Mcqueen |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}
McQueen was limited to only six games for the Wests Tigers in the 2019 NRL season. McQueen instead spent most of the year playing for Western Suburbs in the Canterbury Cup NSW competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/news/what-made-returning-tiger-chris-mcqueens-714day-wait-for-a-win-taste-even-sweeter/news-story/110d01671820c7eb00d6b75e6fedb8c1/|title=What made returning Tiger Chris McQueen's 714-day wait for a win taste even sweeter|website=Fox Sports|date=30 April 2019}}
On 4 September 2020, McQueen was released by the Wests Tigers effective immediately.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-transfer-centre-new-signings-contract-extensions-melbourne-storm-ryley-jacks-nicho-hynes-darren-schonig/news-story/8335cb300bce6610a90f9ee386b2e2d9|title=Transfer Centre: Sharks lock in try-scoring machine; Tigers release former title winner|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=4 September 2020}}
=Huddersfield=
McQueen joined Huddersfield in the European Super League following his release from the Wests Tigers. In round 2 of the 2022 Super League season, McQueen scored two tries for Huddersfield in a 26-12 victory over the Hull Kingston Rovers.{{cite web|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/verdict-hull-kr-huddersfield-giants-6688788.amp/|title=Hull KR verdict: Worrying signs as Tony Smith's men overpowered by Huddersfield|website=www.hulldailymail.co.uk}}
On 28 May 2022, McQueen played for Huddersfield in their 2022 Challenge Cup Final loss against Wigan. McQueen was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/61594770.amp/|title=Challenge Cup final: Huddersfield Giants 14-16 Wigan Warriors|website=www.bbc.co.uk|date=26 May 2022 }}
On 18 September 2023, McQueen announced he would be retiring from rugby league at the end of the 2023 Super League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/66845697/|title=Chris McQueen: Huddersfield Giants back-rower announces retirement|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
=England=
McQueen was called up to the England national team by coach Wayne Bennett for the test against Samoa on 6 May 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39693614|title = Three England debutants for Samoa Test|work = BBC Sport}} It was the first time that McQueen had accepted England after rejecting an approach for the 2013 World Cup in order to play for Queensland in the State of Origin. The Brisbane-born player qualifies for England through his father.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39717554|title = Graham unconcerned by McQueen call-up|work = BBC Sport}}
Post-NRL career
In 2024, McQueen was part of the Brooklyn Kings RLFC men's side that participated in the NRL Las Vegas 9's, a tournament organised as part of the lead-up to the 2024 NRL season opening matches being played at Las Vegas.{{Cite Instagram|last=McQueen|first=Chris|user=mcqueen_1070|date=2 March 2024|access-date=7 March 2024|title=Had a blast the last two days at the @vegas9s_rugbyleague.|postid=C3_7KpPLexj}} On 24 January 2025, it was announced that McQueen had signed to play with the Moranbrah Miners in the Mackay competition.{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Ethan Lee |date=2025-01-24 |title=Six-time Origin utility confirms new club for 2025 |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/six-time-origin-utility-confirms-new-club-for-2025-218394/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2009
| rowspan="6" |{{leagueicon|South Sydney|size=16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs |4 |2 |8 |
| 2011
|23 |8 |32 |
| 2012
|22 |5 |20 |
| 2013
|23 |3 |12 |
| 2014
|20 |4 |16 |
| 2015
|24 |2 |8 |
| 2016
| rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans|size=16}} Gold Coast Titans |25 |9 |36 |
| 2017
|13 |2 |8 |
| 2018
| rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|size=16}} Wests Tigers |3 | | |
| 2019
|6 | | |
| rowspan="2" |2020
|{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|size=16}} Wests Tigers |1 | | |
| {{Nowrap|{{leagueicon|Huddersfield|12}} Huddersfield Giants}}
|9 |2 |8 |
| 2021
| rowspan="3" |{{Nowrap|{{leagueicon|Huddersfield|12}} Huddersfield Giants}} |20 |4 |16 |
| 2022
|27 |17 |68 |
| 2023
|27 |12 |48 |
| |Totals
|239 |68 |272 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.giantsrl.com/locker-room/profile/1032/chris-mcqueen Huddersfield Giants profile]
- [https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/chris-mcqueen/ Wests Tigers profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers/chris-mcqueen/ NRL profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308231810/https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers/chris-mcqueen/ |date=8 March 2018 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160105044907/http://www.titans.com.au/team/profiles/chris_mcqueen.html Gold Coast Titans profile]
{{South Sydney Rabbitohs squad - 2014 NRL premiers}}
{{South Sydney Rabbitohs - 2015 Auckland Nines winners}}
{{South Sydney Rabbitohs - 2015 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Lance Todd Trophy winners}}
{{2022 Super League Dream Team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McQueen, Chris}}
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Australian people of English descent
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:Gold Coast Titans players
Category:Huddersfield Giants players
Category:Lance Todd Trophy winners
Category:North Sydney Bears NSW Cup players
Category:NRL All Stars players
Category:Prime Minister's XIII players
Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players
Category:Rugby league players from Brisbane
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs players
Category:Western Suburbs Magpies NSW Cup players