Ken Sio
{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Ken Sio
|fullname = Ken Sio
|nickname = the jet
|image = Ken Sio Samoa.jpg
|imagesize =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|10|29}}
|birth_place = Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|1.81|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}{{cite web|url= http://www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/20528|title= Ken Sio Hull Kingston Rovers|author=|date=2011|website= www.superleague.co.uk|publisher= Rugby Football League|access-date=17 July 2015}}
|weight = {{convert|95|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|position = {{rlp|WG}}
|club1 = Parramatta Eels
|year1start = 2011
|year1end = 14
|appearances1 = 57
|tries1 = 37
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 148
|club2 = Hull Kingston Rovers
|year2start = 2015
|year2end = 16
|appearances2 = 61
|tries2 = 36
|goals2 = 13
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 170
|club3 = Newcastle Knights
|year3start = 2017
|year3end = 18
|appearances3 = 41
|tries3 = 17
|goals3 = 25
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 118
|club4 = Salford Red Devils
|year4start = 2019
|year4end = 23
|appearances4 = 102
|tries4 = 78
|goals4 = 13
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 330
| teamA = {{nowrap|Combined Nations All Stars}}
| yearAstart = 2021
| yearAend = 22
| appearancesA = 2
| triesA = 3
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 12
|retired = no
|source = {{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Ken-Sio/|title=Players - Love Rugby League|publisher=|accessdate=17 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/ken-sio/summary.html|title=Ken Sio - Career Stats & Summary|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=1990-10-29|accessdate=2016-10-31}}
|updated = 5 December 2023
}}
Ken Sio (born 29 October 1990) is a professional rugby league footballer who last played on the {{rlp|wg}} for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League.
He has previously played for the Parramatta Eels, the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, and Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
Background
Sio was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia.
Playing career
Having played his junior football for the Wentworthville Magpies, Sio went on and played in the Under 20s Toyota Cup in the 2009 and 2010 seasons for the Parramatta Eels.
Going on to train with the first-grade side before breaking his leg in a trial game in 2011, Sio returned halfway through the season for the Cabramatta Two Blues in the Bundaberg Red Cup.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
Parramatta Eels (2011–14)
Sio made his National Rugby League début in round 26 of the 2011 season, he played on the {{rlp|wg}} against the Gold Coast Titans, also scoring his début try in the same match.
In June 2011, he re-signed with the Parramatta Eels until 2014, along with teammates Matt Ryan and Joseph Paulo respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.parraeels.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=5220&player=ken-sio&team=Eels|title=Profile at Eels|publisher=|accessdate=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322122807/http://www.parraeels.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=5220&player=ken-sio&team=Eels|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=dead}}
Sio was seen as the shining light in 2012, which was a terrible season for the Parramatta Eels as they finished last on the table for the first time since 1972, when he scored 13 tries and subsequently came 6th in the NRL's top try scorers table for the season.
He was injured in round 1 of the 2013 season against the Warriors, in which he was replaced by debutant, Vai Toutai. Sio returned from injury to play 20 games for Parramatta in 2013 and scored 10 tries but it was not enough to save Parramatta from a second consecutive wooden spoon.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-work-to-erase-bitter-memories-of-2013s-wooden-spoon-season/news-story/53c0bcf5d4870490a3ab9c448bfae244/|title=Parramatta Eels work to erase bitter memories of 2013's wooden spoon season|website=Daily Telegraph}}
In the 2014 NRL season, Sio scored 13 tries in 12 games as Parramatta narrowly missed the finals.{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/2014-nrl-season-reviews-of-the-new-zealand-warriors-and-parramatta-eels/news-story/5d8b24d18b1cc6eb04fe9d759ee660d6/|title=2014 NRL season reviews of the New Zealand Warriors and Parramatta Eels|newspaper=News.com.au|date=12 September 2014|last1=Sangster|first1=Tom}}
Hull Kingston Rovers (2015-16)
On 31 July 2014, Sio signed a contract to play for Super League club Hull Kingston Rovers from 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.totalrl.com/hull-kingston-rovers-sign-ken-sio/ |title=Hull Kingston Rovers sign Ken Sio |publisher=Total Rugby League |last=Bower |first=Aaron |date=31 July 2014 |accessdate=24 August 2020}}
On 8 February 2015, he made his début for Hull Kingston Rovers in round 1 of the Super League season against the Leeds Rhinos. He then scored his first-ever Super League try against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in round 2.
He represented the club in the 2015 Challenge Cup Final.
Sio suffered relegation from the Super League with Hull Kingston Rovers in the 2016 season, due to losing the Million Pound Game by the Salford Red Devils.
That same game proved to be his last appearance for Hull Kingston Rovers, as he went onto join the Newcastle Knights ahead of the 2017 NRL season.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
Newcastle Knights (2017-18)
On 31 October 2016, Sio signed a 2-year contract to return to the National Rugby League with the Newcastle Knights.{{cite web|author=NRL Digital Media|url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2016/10/31/knights_sign_ken_sio.html|title=Knights sign Ken Sio - Knights|publisher=Newcastleknights.com.au|date=31 October 2016|accessdate=2016-10-31}}
In the 2017 NRL season, Sio played 21 games and scored 5 tries as Newcastle finished last on the table for a third straight season.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/09/04/knights-2017-season-review/|title=Knights 2017 season review|website=NRL.com|date=3 September 2017}}
On 21 April 2018, in round 7 of the 2018 season, Sio scored his first hat-trick of tries for Newcastle in their 22-20 win over the Wests Tigers at Tamworth.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2018/round-7/wests-tigers-vs-newcastle/summary.html|title=NRL 2018 - Round 7 - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=17 May 2018}}
Sio failed to come to terms with the Newcastle Knights over a new deal to remain at the club, after a well documented dispute over a contract that they had offered him previously. He then subsequently took the decision to make his return to the Super League.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
Salford Red Devils (2019 - 2023)
It was revealed on 18 October 2018, that Sio had signed a three-year contract to play for Salford in the Super League ahead of the 2019 season. Sio made his début for Salford on 1 February 2019, in a 14-34 victory over Huddersfield at the John Smiths Stadium.
He played in the 2019 Super League Grand Final defeat by St. Helens at Old Trafford.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2019/10/12/st-helens-vs-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/|title=St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford|publisher=Telegraph|date=12 October 2019|accessdate=25 October 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/|title=St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened|website=The Guardian|date=12 October 2019|last1=Unwin|first1=Will}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/|title=St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield|website=Sky Sports}}
In round 22 of the 2021 Super League season, and scored four tries for Salford in a 42-14 victory over Hull F.C.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/salford-42-14-hull-four-tries-from-ken-sio-inspires-red-devils-to-big-win/|title=Salford 42-14 Hull: Four tries from Ken Sio inspires Red Devils to big win|website=www.loverugbyleague.com|date=30 August 2021}}
At the end of the 2021 season the talented player finished as the competition's top try scorer.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/super-league-stats-ken-sio-leading-the-way-once-again/|title=Ken Sio leading the way once again|website=www.loverugbyleague.com|date=21 February 2022 }}
In round 2 of the 2022 Super League season, he scored four tries in a 38-12 victory over Toulouse Olympique.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/60425238/|title= Salford Red Devils 38-12 Toulouse Olympique - Ken Sio runs in four tries|work= BBC Sport}}
In round 19 of the 2022 Super League season, Sio scored a hat-trick in Salford's 32-6 win over Catalans.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12653947/salford-32-6-catalans-dragons-ken-sio-scores-hat-trick-to-keep-red-devils-super-league-play-off-hopes-alive/|title=Salford 32-6 Catalans Dragons: Ken Sio scores hat-trick to keep Red Devils' Super League play-off hopes alive|website=www.skysports.com}}
In the 2023 Super League season, Sio played 24 games for Salford and scored 12 tries as the club finished 7th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2023/10/02/salford-red-devils-2023-season-in-review/|title=Salford Red Devils' 2023 season in review|website=www.salfordnow.co.uk|date=2 October 2023 }}
On 5 December 2023, Salford reported that he had departed on compassionate grounds, despite signing a new contract at the end of the 2023 season.{{cite web|website=Love Rugby League|date=5 Dec 2023|title=Salford Red Devils confirm departure of star winger weeks after penning new deal|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/salford-red-devils-confirm-departure-of-star-winger-weeks-after-penning-new-deal}}
International
On 25 June 2021 he played for the Combined Nations All Stars, and scored two tries, in their 26-24 victory over England, staged at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, as part of England's 2021 Rugby League World Cup preparation.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
After missing out on initial selection, he was called up as a replacement into the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/rugby-league-world-cup-2021-squad-lists/ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021]
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.salfordreddevils.net/team/ken-sio/ Salford Red Devils profile]
- [https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/452/ken%3Cbr-%3Esio SL profile]
- [https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/newcastle-knights/ken-sio Newcastle Knights profile]
{{Samoa 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{2022 Super League Dream Team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sio, Ken}}
Category:Australian people of New Zealand descent
Category:Australian sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Combined Nationalities rugby league team players
Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players
Category:Newcastle Knights players
Category:Parramatta Eels players
Category:Rugby league fullbacks
Category:Rugby league players from Blacktown
Category:Salford Red Devils players