Mark Nicholls (rugby league)
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Mark Nicholls
|fullname = Mark Robert Nicholls
|image = Mark Nicholls Dolphins.jpg
|imagesize =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|1|5}}
|birth_place = Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{cvt|194|cm|ftin}}
|weight = {{cvt|104|kg|stlb}}
|position = {{rlp|PR}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|Canberra Raiders}}
|year1start = 2012
|year1end = 15
|appearances1 = 19
|tries1 = 1
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 4
|club2 = {{nowrap|Melbourne Storm}}
|year2start = 2016
|year2end = 17
|appearances2 = 9
|tries2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 0
|club3 = {{nowrap|South Sydney}}
|year3start = 2018
|year3end = 22
|appearances3 = 100
|tries3 = 6
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 24
|club4 = Dolphins
|year4start = 2023
|year4end = present
|appearances4 = 51
|tries4 = 7
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 28
| teamA = {{nowrap|NSW Residents}}
| yearAstart = 2015
| yearAend =
| appearancesA = 1
| triesA = 0
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 0
|retired =
|updated = 27 April 2025
}}
Mark Nicholls (born 5 January 1990) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr}} for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Melbourne Storm and the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.
Background
Nicholls was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. He played junior rugby league for the Leeton Greenies and Gungahlin Bulls, before being signed by the Canberra Raiders.
Education
When the NRL announced its annual Academic Team of the Year for 2023 in recognition of the educational achievements of current players off-field, Nicholls' academic record included a Graduate Certificate of Program Management from Queensland University of Technology (2021), a Diploma of Business from Australian Vocational Training Company (2013) and a Bachelor of Sport Management & Coaching Science from the University of Canberra (2012).{{Cite web |date=2023-08-31 |title=NRL announce 2023 NRL & NRLW Academic Team of the Year |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/08/31/nrl-announce-2023-nrl--nrlw-academic-team-of-the-year/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}}https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-nicholls13/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
Playing career
=Early career=
From 2008 to 2010, Nicholls played for the Canberra Raiders' NYC team.{{cite web|url=http://nycdatabase.org/players/n/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624123605/http://nycdatabase.org/players/n/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 June 2015|title=N|work=NYC DATABASE|date=27 December 2012|accessdate=24 September 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/dream-green-start-just-out-of-reach-20091123-izha.html|last=Jean|first=David|title=Dream green start just out of reach|date=17 March 2009|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=1 August 2012}} In October 2010, he played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/junior-kangaroos-team-named/tabid/10874/newsid/60555/default.aspx|title=Junior Kangaroos team named|work=NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com|date=4 October 2010|accessdate=24 September 2015}}
=Canberra Raiders <small>(2012–2015)</small>=
In round 17 of the 2012 NRL season, Nicholls made his NRL debut for the Raiders against the St. George Illawarra Dragons.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2012/round-17/canberra-vs-st-george-illawarra/summary.html|title=NRL 2012|first1=Shawn|last1=Dollin|first2=Andrew|last2=Ferguson|date=19 August 2015|accessdate=24 September 2015}} He played twelve consecutive games that year, coming off the bench as a prop.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/Mi0xNTMwLTQtLS0tLS0xOTk2My0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0=|title=Custom Match List|first1=Shawn|last1=Dollin|first2=Andrew|last2=Ferguson|date=1 September 2015|accessdate=24 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.raiders.com.au/news-display/Player-Review-2012--Mark-Nicholls/65446|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219175400/http://www.raiders.com.au/news-display/Player-Review-2012--Mark-Nicholls/65446|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 February 2013|accessdate=14 January 2013|title=Mark Nicholls Player Review|website=raiders.com.au}}
On 25 April 2013, Nicholls re-signed with Canberra on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/mark-nicholls-re-signs-until-the-end-of-2015-9282/#3bo8swJQeWsHrRbC.97|title=Mark Nicholls re-signs until the end of 2015|work=NRL - Zero Tackle|accessdate=24 September 2015|date=25 April 2013}} However, he only played twice for Canberra in those two seasons. Otherwise, Nicholls played for the New South Wales Residents against the Queensland Residents in July 2014.{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2014/07/01/vb_nsw_cup_representative_side_team_announcement_.html|title=VB NSW Cup Representative Side - Team Announcement|publisher=NSWRL|date=July 2014|accessdate=2015-09-26}} He played a total of five games for Canberra in 2015.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-31 |title=Mark Nicholls - Canberra Raiders - NRL.com |url=http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/2/playerid/1188/seasonid/43/default.aspx |access-date=2024-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331211739/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/2/playerid/1188/seasonid/43/default.aspx |archive-date=31 March 2017 }}
File:Mark Nicholls Canberra.jpg|Nicholls in 2009
File:Mark Nicholls (rugby league).jpg|Nicholls in 2013
=Melbourne Storm <small>(2016–2017)</small>=
In 2016, Nicholls commenced a one-year contract with the Melbourne Storm.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/storm-announce-four-key-signings-19263/#7ttGfZt4I4xGGgtk.97|title=Storm announce four key signings | NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=6 October 2015|accessdate=2015-10-06}}{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/storm-sign-raider/|title=STORM SIGN RAIDER|work=Rugby League Week|accessdate=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925115800/http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/storm-sign-raider/|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=dead}}
On 1 February, he was named in the Storm's 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad but did not appear for Melbourne in the 2016 NRL season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/storm-name-youthful-nines-squad/tabid/10874/newsid/91534/default.aspx|title=Storm name youthful Nines squad|website=NRL.com|date=February 2016|accessdate=2016-02-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/2016-downer-nrl-auckland-nines-official-squads/tabid/10874/newsid/91563/default.aspx|title=2016 Downer NRL Auckland Nines Official Squads|publisher=NRL|date=3 February 2016|accessdate=3 April 2017}}
Nicholls was named in the Storm squad for the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines.{{cite web|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-league/auckland-nines-squads/|title=2017 Auckland Nines squads: Every player named for the tournament|publisher=The Roar|date=28 February 2017|accessdate=31 March 2017}} He made his Melbourne debut against the Penrith Panthers in round 5 of the 2017 NRL season. He made a total of nine appearances for Melbourne. The club itself won the minor premiership and the 2017 NRL Grand Final; however, Nicholls did not play in the latter.{{cite web|url=http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4570087/heroic-storm-defence-holds-out-panthers-photos/?cs=101|title=NRL: Melbourne Storm defence holds out Penrith Panthers|publisher=The Examiner|date=2 April 2017|accessdate=2 April 2017}}
=South Sydney Rabbitohs <small>(2018–2022)</small>=
Nicholls made his South Sydney debut in round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, starting at prop in South Sydney's 20–32 loss to the New Zealand Warriors. He made a total of twelve appearances for South Sydney that season. In the 2019 NRL season, South Sydney finished third on the table and qualified for the finals. Nicholls made a total of twenty-four appearances including all three of the club's finals games; one of which was the preliminary final loss against his former club Canberra.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-20/nrl-south-sydney-rabbitohs-beat-manly-sea-eagles-in-semi-final/11527098/|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Manly Sea Eagles 34-26 in NRL semi-final|website=ABC|date=20 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/09/20/rabbitohs-dig-deep-to-eliminate-sea-eagles-in-finals-thriller/|title=Rabbitohs dig deep to eliminate Sea Eagles in finals thriller|website=NRL|date=20 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/27/canberra-raiders-end-25-year-wait-to-reach-nrl-grand-final-with-victory-over-rabbitohs/|title=Canberra Raiders end 25-year wait to reach NRL grand final with victory over Rabbitohs|website=The Guardian|date=27 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/nrl-2019-finals-south-sydney-rabbitohs-sydney-roosters-wayne-bennett-george-burgess/1qyzpgsb39vns13ma3af9acymr/|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett confirms major changes for Sydney Roosters final|website=Sporting News|date=12 September 2019 }}
In round 10 of the 2020 NRL season, Nicholls scored his first try for South Sydney in their 18–20 loss to the Newcastle Knights at Bankwest Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-south-sydney-rabbitohs-vs-newcastle-knights-round-10-live-updates-supercoach-scores-cody-walker-mitchell-pearce/news-story/72341dc0a1706d12b7023e99ef537776/|title=South Sydney v Newcastle|website=foxsports.com|date=18 July 2020}} He made a total of nineteen appearances for Souths and played in all three of the club's finals matches including their preliminary final loss to Penrith.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-17/nrl-preliminary-final-penrith-panthers-south-sydney-scorecentre/12774550/|title=Penrith Panthers beat South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-16 to set up NRL grand final against Melbourne Storm|date=17 October 2020|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} In round 24 of the 2021 NRL season, Nicholls scored two tries for South Sydney in a 52–12 victory over arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-latrell-mitchell-tackle-on-joey-manu-south-sydney-rabbitohs-vs-sydney-roosters/news-story/156a8033fd827141bc6a4067c4f7bde2/|title='Might decimate both teams': Latrell faces big ban for 'enormous' high shot on Manu|website=foxsports.com.au|date=28 August 2021}} In round 25, he was named captain for the match against St. George Illawarra, after South Sydney chose to rest Adam Reynolds in the lead-up to the finals. Nicholls played a total of twenty-seven games for South Sydney in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final loss to Penrith.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/oct/04/one-of-finest-nrl-grand-finals-of-all-time-provides-cure-to-difficult-season/|title=One of finest NRL grand finals of all time provides cure to difficult season|website=theguardian.com|date=3 October 2021}}
In the 2022 NRL season, Nicholls scored one try in eighteen games for South Sydney including all three of the club's finals matches when they reached the preliminary final for a fifth straight season. Souths lost the preliminary final 12–32 to Penrith, the eventual premiers.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-24/nrl-penrith-panthers-defeats-south-sydney-rabbitohs/101470088/|title=Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-12 to qualify for third straight NRL grand final|newspaper=ABC News|date=24 September 2022 }}
=Dolphins <small>(2023–present)</small>=
In January 2022, Nicholls signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins from 2023 onwards.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/dolphins-set-to-poach-souths-fan-favourite-mark-nicholls-on-multiyear-deal-transfer-whispers/news-story/9b51d816c90a36c1b2518e403d5269ab/|title=Dolphins set to poach Souths fan favourite Mark Nicholls on multi-year deal: Transfer Whispers|website=foxsports.com.au|date=21 January 2022}}
He made his club debut for the inaugural Dolphins team in round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, scoring a try as the new team pulled off a big upset defeating the Sydney Roosters 28–18 at Suncorp Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-dolphins-depth-paul-kent-concern-injuries-suspension-wayne-bennett-season-prediction-roosters/news-story/27a22c6da73128c4b22dc59985651f74/|title='I don't want to take the gloss off... but': Kenty's warning for Dolphins after historic first-up win|website=foxsports.com.au|date=6 March 2023 }} In round 6, Nicholls captained the Dolphins in their 32–22 win against the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium due to regular captain Jesse Bromwich missing the game because of a throat infection.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-07 |title=Final Team: Bromwich out, Nicholls to skipper |url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/04/07/final-team-bromwich-out-nicholls-to-skipper |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The Dolphins |language=en}}
In round 8, Nicholls scored a try for the Dolphins in their 28–26 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.{{Cite web |title=Dolphins v Titans |url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2023/round-8/dolphins-v-titans |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}} During that match, he broke a thumb and subsequently underwent surgery to stabilise the joint, rendering him unfit to play for the next few weeks.https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/04/28/dolphins-casualty-ward/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} Nicholls next played in round 13 and scored a try for the Dolphins in their 26–12 victory over the St. George Illawarra Dragons at Kayo Stadium.{{Cite web |title=Round 13: Dolphins v Dragons {{!}} Dolphins |url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/draw/nrl-premiership/2023/round-13-dolphins-v-dragons |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The Dolphins |language=en}} He finished 2023 with twenty-one appearances, three tries and 93.9% tackle efficiency.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-04 |title=Mark Nicholls |url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/dolphins/mark-nicholls/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The Dolphins |language=en}} In September, the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball was held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Nicholls received the club's annual Best Forward award.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=Emotional Isaako sweeps Dolphins awards |url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-isaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The Dolphins |language=en}}
On 15 May 2024, Nicholls re-signed with the Dolphins until the end of 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Nicholls extends until 2025 |url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2024/05/15/nicholls-extends-until-2025/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=The Dolphins |language=en}}
Nicholls played a total of 23 games for the Dolphins in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 10th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-season-review-dolphins-wayne-bennett-20240912-p5ka9m.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: How one star 'lost his way' as Dolphins struggle with 'demanding' schedule|website=www.nine.com.au}}
= 2025 =
Nicolls was named in the team to play in round one of the 2025 NRL season, but he later withdrew from the team to protect his home during Tropical Cyclone Alfred.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-05 |title=Dolphins stars pull out of NRL clash due to cyclone |url=https://www.riverineherald.com.au/aap-rugby/dolphins-stars-pull-out-of-nrl-clash-due-to-cyclone/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Riverine Herald |language=en-US}}
File:Mark Nicholls 2024 Dolphins NRL.jpg|Nicholls in Brisbane
File:Dolphins NRL signing for fans January 2024.jpg|Nicholls seated on right
File:Robert_Jennings_and_Mark_Nicholls.jpg|Nicholls (right) in 2024
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2012
| rowspan="3" |{{Leagueicon|Canberra|16}} Canberra Raiders |12 |1 |4 |
| 2013
|2 | | |
| 2015
|4 | | |
| 2017
|{{Leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} Melbourne Storm |9 | | |
| 2018
| rowspan="5" |{{Leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs |12 | | |
| 2019
|24 | | |
| 2020
|19 |2 |8 |
| 2021
|27 |3 |12 |
| 2022
|18 |1 |4 |
| 2023
| rowspan="3" |{{Leagueicon|Dolphins|16}} Dolphins |21 |3 |12 |
| 2024
|23 |3 |12 |
| 2025
| | | |
| |Totals
|172 |13 |52 |
Personal life
On 2 November 2019, Nicholls married professional model and executive assistant Perrie Davis in the Great Hall at the University of Sydney.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-15 |title=NRL star and his model wife announce pregnancy at their wedding |url=https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/my-wedding-day-rugby-league-player-mark-nicholls-and-wife-perrie-announce-pregnancy/64ec261a-bce1-4976-97e5-6890d4dfa883 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=honey.nine.com.au |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Inside Perrie & Marks' Chic Sydney wedding {{!}} Inspiration {{!}} THE DRESS TRIBE |url=https://www.thedresstribe.com/inspiration/inside-perrie-mark-s-chic-elegant-wedding-in-sydney |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.thedresstribe.com}} Perrie is also an accredited pilates instructor. The couple have two daughters{{Cite web |date=2022-11-03 |title=Bennett's Dolphins deal Nicholls simply couldn't refuse |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/11/04/bennetts-dolphins-deal-nicholls-simply-couldnt-refuse/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}} and bought a house in the Moreton Bay region of Queensland in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Dolphins players splash out on property in Moreton Bay region - realestate.com.au |url=https://www.realestate.com.au/news/dolphins-players-splash-out-on-property-in-moreton-bay-region/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.realestate.com.au |language=en}}
Notes
{{further|List of Dolphins (NRL) players}}{{further|2023 Dolphins (NRL) season}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/dolphins/mark-nicholls/ Dolphins profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161025234805/https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/team/profiles/mark_nicholls.html Melbourne Storm profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170331211739/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/2/playerid/1188/seasonid/43/default.aspx NRL profile]
- [https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/search/?keyword=mark+nicholls&sort=Relevance South Sydney Rabbitohs profile]
{{Dolphins squad}}
{{Dolphins Inaugural Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholls, Mark}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Canberra Raiders players
Category:Dolphins (NRL) players
Category:Junior Kangaroos players
Category:Melbourne Storm players
Category:Mount Pritchard Mounties players
Category:New South Wales Residents rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league players from Wagga Wagga
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs players
Category:Sunshine Coast Falcons players