David Gower (rugby league)

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = David Gower

|fullname = David Neil Gower[http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/the-players-the-dragons-call-up-to-fill-the-gaps-come-state-of-origin-time/story-e6frepbx-1226072714356 The players the Dragons call up to fill the gaps come State of Origin time]{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915053639/http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/the-players-the-dragons-call-up-to-fill-the-gaps-come-state-of-origin-time/story-e6frepbx-1226072714356 |date=15 September 2012}}

|image = David Gower Eels.jpg

|imagesize = 290

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|9|30}}

|birth_place = Ryde, New South Wales, Australia

|height = {{convert|190|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|105|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|position = {{rlp|SR|LK|PR}}

|club1 = Salford City Reds

|year1start = 2006

|year1end = 07

|appearances1 = 18

|tries1 = 0

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 0

|club2 = Wests Tigers

|year2start = 2009

|year2end =

|appearances2 = 1

|tries2 = 0

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 0

|club3 = St. George Illawarra

|year3start = 2011

|year3end = 12

|appearances3 = 7

|tries3 = 0

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 0

|club4 = Manly Sea Eagles

|year4start = 2013

|year4end =

|appearances4 = 12

|tries4 = 0

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 0

|club5 = Parramatta Eels

|year5start = 2014

|year5end = 20

|appearances5 = 101

|tries5 = 6

|goals5 = 0

|fieldgoals5 = 0

|points5 = 24

|teamA = NSW City

|yearAstart = 2017

|yearAend =

|appearancesA = 1

|triesA = 1

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 4

|retired =

|source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/david-gower/summary.html Rugby League Project]

|updated = 19 November 2020

}}

David Neil Gower (born 30 September 1985) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr|sr}} and {{rlp|lk}} for the Hills District Bulls in the Ron Massey Cup competition.

He previously played for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League[http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/06/07/04/RUGBYL_Salford.html GOWER SIGNS FOR SALFORD| Sporting Life – Rugby League News| Super League, Ian Millward tips]. Sporting Life. Retrieved on 2011-06-10. and the Wests Tigers, St. George Illawarra Dragons,[http://www.nswrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=32556 David Gower set to sparkle for Dragons – New South Wales Rugby League] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315013854/http://nswrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=32556 |date=15 March 2011 }}. Nswrl.com.au (16 December 2010). Retrieved on 2011-06-10. the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. He played for NSW City in 2017.

Background

Gower was born in Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.

Gower played his junior football for the Holy Cross Rhinos before moving to England to play for the Salford Red Devils.

Playing career

=2006–07: Salford City Reds=

Between 2006 and 2007 he played in the Super League for the Salford City Reds.

=2009–10: Career with Wests Tigers=

In 2009, Gower joined the Wests Tigers. In round 26 of the 2009 NRL season, he made his NRL debut against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at the Sydney Football Stadium. At the end of the 2009 NRL season, Gower won the New South Wales Cup Player of the Year award.

File:Davidgower.jpg in 2012]]

At the end of 2010, after making the New South Wales Cup Team of the Year, Gower signed a 1-year contract with 2010 NRL Premiership-winning team, St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in the 2011 season.{{cite web|title=Rate The 2011 Player Transfers|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/rate-the-2011-nrl-player-transfers/story-fn2mcuj6-1225975165315#match12|date=2011-01-29| publisher=Fox Sports}}

=2011–12: Career with St. George Illawarra=

After playing in five NRL matches for St. George Illawarra, his contract was extended at the end of the year.{{cite news|url=http://www.dragons.com.au/?s=article-display&id=45131|title=Dragons Re-Sign Trio|date=15 November 2011|work=dragons.com.au|access-date=16 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225819/http://www.dragons.com.au/?s=article-display&id=45131|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

At the end of the 2012 NRL season, Gower was named in the 2012 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year and also won the Illawarra Cutters' New South Wales Cup Player of the Year award, before signing a one-year contract with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

=2013: Career with Manly-Warringah=

Gower played off the bench in Manly-Warringah's 2013 NRL Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/david-gower-to-play-in-grand-final-for-manly-20131005-2v0tr.html/|title=David Gower to play in grand final for Manly|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 October 2013}}

=2014–2020: Career with Parramatta=

On 18 November 2013, Gower signed a one-year contract with the Parramatta Eels. After a successful season, Gower was rewarded with a two-year extension with the Eels until 2016. In 2017 whilst playing for Parramatta, Gower was selected to play for the City representative side in the annual and last ever City vs Country Origin match.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/david-gower-drops-fbomb-on-live-tv-during-city-vs-country-match/news-story/975c6ec52a5a2bb42e2db8b2ade1eb27|title=I just f...ing hope we get the cash|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=7 May 2017}} On 2 June 2017, Gower broke his hand in Parramatta's 32–24 victory over The Auckland Warriors.{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/eels-pull-off-gutsy-win-over-warriors/news-story/33d358e69e3f3e6257b52c17924d1435|title=Broken hand sours gutsy Eels victory|publisher=News.com.au |date=2 June 2017}} On 13 September 2017, it was announced that Gower had signed a one-year contract extension to stay at Parramatta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-market-watch-cost-of-james-grahams-dragons-move-chris-heighingtons-future/news-story/66add9309e249204aaf01e85449ff2df|title = NRL Market Watch: Cost of James Graham's Dragons move, Chris Heighington's future|date = 12 September 2017}} In 2018, Gower made 16 appearances for Parramatta and scored one try as the club endured a horrid season on and off the field and claimed its 14th wooden spoon.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/Ny0xNzE3LTQtLS0tLS01NDY1LS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLQ==|title=Custom Match List – Rugby League Project}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/12/parramatta-eels-2018-season-review/|title = Parramatta Eels 2018 season review|date = 23 October 2018}}

On 30 October 2018, Gower signed a one-year contract extension keeping him at the club until the end of the 2019 NRL season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/parramatta-eels-contract-extensions-david-gower-peni-terepo-george-jennings-kaysa-pritchard/1e9l5u9vefeo8zk3hcp4frdi4|title = Parramatta Eels announce contract extensions for four players}}

In round 14 of the 2019 NRL season, Gower scored his first try of the season as Parramatta defeated Brisbane 38–10 at the new Western Sydney Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-15/eels-hand-broncos-a-lesson-storm-panthers-get-points/11210042/|title=Parramatta crushes Brisbane 38–10, Melbourne beats Newcastle 34–4, Penrith defeats Souths 19–18|publisher=ABC News|date=15 June 2019}}

Gower made 16 appearances for Parramatta in the 2019 NRL season which he announced would be his last. Gower's final game as a player was for Parramatta's feeder club the Wentworthville Magpies in the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW grand final which Wentworthville lost 20–15 against Newtown at Bankwest Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2019/09/29/newtown-reign-supreme-in-epic-decider/|title=Newtown reign supreme in epic decider|website=NSWRL|date=29 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/eels/eels-veteran-david-gowers-plan-to-curb-nrl-bad-behaviour-and-inspire-rising-stars/news-story/732e6897d14f461d1c2e4a988106bf5c/|title=Eels veteran David Gower's plan to curb NRL bad behaviour and inspire rising stars|publisher=Fox Sports|date=19 February 2019}}

On 4 November 2019, it was announced that Gower had overturned his decision to retire and signed a one-year deal with Parramatta for the 2020 NRL season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/parramatta-eels-ryan-matterson-nrl-rugby-league-2019/13m9urcw5tp4310oqxjf1meiwg/|title=Parramatta Eels re-sign five players as rumours of Ryan Matterson joining grow louder|website=Sporting News}}

In round 9 of the 2020 NRL season, Gower made his 100th appearance for Parramatta against Newcastle. Parramatta would go on to win the match 10–4 at McDonald Jones Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/eels/eels-rookie-in-hot-water-over-potential-breach-of-nrls-biosecurity-rules/news-story/ec749501295a9acbc6ae6736763b0c09/|title=Eels rookie in hot water over potential breach|publisher=Fox Sports|location=Australia|date=12 July 2020}}

Gower made three appearances for Parramatta in the 2020 NRL season. On 12 October, Gower was released by the club as a player and took up a role with Parramatta in their educational and well-being team.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/parramatta-eels-farewell-11-players-in-mass-exodus-following-disappointing-finals-exit/1txqr55h228vq1wxk66ecwybmr/|title=Parramatta Eels farewell 11 players in mass exodus following disappointing finals exit|website=sportingnews.com}}

=Hills District=

On 12 February 2021, Gower signed a contract to play for Hills District in the Ron Massey Cup.{{cite web|url=https://hillstohawkesbury.com.au/gower-power-for-the-hills-bulls/|title=Gower Power for the Hills Bulls|website=hillstohawkesbury.com.au|date=12 February 2021}}

=Ryde-Eastwood Hawks=

In 2022, Gower signed a contract to play for Ryde-Eastwood Hawks in the 2022 Ron Massey Cup. He started off the bench in round 2 against the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://www.playrugbyleague.com/Competitions/Match/rmc-ryde-eastwood-hawks-v-rmc-blacktown-workers-sea-eagles-3811141|title=PlayRugbyLeague – Ryde Eastwood v Blacktown Workers|website=playrugbyleague.com.au|date=27 March 2021}}

References

External links

[https://www.parraeels.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/parramatta-eels/david-gower/ Parramatta Eels profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306202709/https://www.parraeels.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/parramatta-eels/david-gower/ |date=6 March 2018 }}
[http://www.parraeels.com.au/team/profiles/david_gower.html Eels profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029044641/http://www.parraeels.com.au/team/profiles/david_gower.html |date=29 October 2016 }}
[http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/12/playerid/736/seasonid/7/default.aspx NRL profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706110130/http://nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/12/playerid/736/seasonid/7/default.aspx |date=6 July 2011 }}
[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/player-profile?playerid=111624&teamid=3476 Daily Telegraph profile]

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian rugby league players

Category:Australian people of English descent

Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England

Category:New South Wales City Origin rugby league team players

Category:Manly Warringah Sea Eagles players

Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players

Category:Wests Tigers players

Category:Salford Red Devils players

Category:Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers players

Category:Illawarra Cutters players