Matt Adamson
{{short description|Pro RL coach and former Australia international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Matt Adamson
|fullname = Matthew Adamson
|image = Matt Adamson.jpg
|image_size =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1972|08|14}}
|birth_place = Taree, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|195|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|107|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|FB|WG|SR}}
|club1 = Parramatta Eels
|year1start = 1991
|year1end =
|appearances1 = 1
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|club2 = Penrith Panthers
|year2start = 1993
|year2end = 01
|appearances2 = 157
|tries2 = 28
|goals2 = 2
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 116
|club3 = Leeds Rhinos
|year3start = 2002
|year3end = 04
|appearances3 = 72
|tries3 = 9
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 36
|club4 = Canberra Raiders
|year4start = 2005
|year4end =
|appearances4 = 16
|tries4 = 4
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 16
|yearAstart = 1997
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 5
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = New South Wales
|yearBstart = 2001
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 2
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = {{nowrap|New South Wales (SL)}}
|yearCstart = 1997
|yearCend =
|appearancesC = 1
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|coachteamA = Fiji
|coachyearAstart = 2018
|coachyearAend =
|coachgamesA = 1
|coachwinsA = 0
|coachdrawsA = 0
|coachlossesA = 1
|source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Matt_Adamson.html Rugby League Project][http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Matt-Adamson_11262.aspx Yesterday's Hero] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724012153/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Matt-Adamson_11262.aspx |date=24 July 2008}}
|retired = yes
|updated = 5 February 2021
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father =
| mother =
| spouse =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| relatives = Phil Adamson (brother)
}}
}}
Matt Adamson (born 14 August 1972 in Taree, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative {{rlp|sr}} (under the Super League banner), he played club football in Australia with the Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Canberra Raiders, and in England with Leeds. Adamson started his career as a {{rlp|fb}} or utility, and was moved into the forwards by Penrith coach Royce Simmons, in 1996.
Career
A 6'5" (195 cm) tall fullback or winger in the early years of his career, Adamson was reportedly the second tallest fullback in top level rugby league history in Australia, second only to former Brisbane, Queensland, and Australian fullback Paul Hauff who stands 6'6" (197 cm). Adamson was later joined as the second tallest fullback in history by now former Melbourne and South Sydney utility back (he primarily played fullback for Souths), Greg Inglis who is also 6'5" tall.
Adamson, who had signed with Super League in 1995 along with the rest of the Penrith Panthers and the club itself, made his test début from the bench for Australia in the inaugural ANZAC Test against New Zealand in 1997, won 34–22 by Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium. He was then selected in the second row for the end of season test against the Kiwis at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, won 30–12 by the Kiwis.
Following the test in Auckland, Adamson was selected to play for Australia in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Great Britain in England. He was selected in the second row for the first test at London's famous Wembley Stadium which saw Australia win 38–14. He kept his place in the side for the second test at Old Trafford, won 20–12 by the Lions, and was relegated to the bench for the deciding test at Elland Road in Leeds as the Australian's wrapped up the series with a 37–20 win. While the games are regarded as full test matches by the Rugby League International Federation, the Australian Rugby League refuse to acknowledge the tests played under the Super League due to the Super League war, and in their official records the games are not recorded.
Adamson made his State of Origin début from the bench for NSW in Game 2 of the 2001 State of Origin series at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney. He was again selected from the bench for the third and deciding game of the series at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium in what would be his final representative game.
After 10 seasons playing in Australia with Parramatta (1991) and Penrith (1993–2001), Adamson signed to play with English Super League team Leeds Rhinos following the 2001 NRL season. He would spend three seasons with Leeds before returning to Australia to play for the Canberra Raiders in 2005.
Matt Adamson retired from playing at the end of the 2005 season. He played 1 game for Parramatta, 157 games for Penrith, 62 for Leeds and 16 for Canberra.
Post Playing
Adamson worked as an assistant coach to Matthew Elliott at Penrith Panthers during 2007 and 2008 but was sacked at the end of the 2008 season as part of a coaching "restructure."{{cite news|publisher=ninemsn|title=Adamson sacked in Penrith restructure|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=634233|accessdate=20 September 2008|date=19 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919161059/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=634233|archive-date=19 September 2008|url-status=dead}}
Matt Adamson has worked a commentator for Fox Sports in their telecasts of the National Rugby League.
Appointed as the Melbourne Storm under 20's coach for the 2014 season. In 2015, he was appointed by the Melbourne Storm as their Queensland Coaching Director. The role saw him overseeing both feeder clubs Easts Tigers & Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Matt coach the Fiji national side for one game v Papua New Guinea on 23 June 2018 which Fiji lost 26-14 in Campbelltown Stadium, NSW.{{cite web|website=Rugby League Project|date=23 Jun 2018|accessdate=5 Feb 2021|title=PNG 26-14 Fiji|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/dates/23-june-2018/papua-new-guinea-vs-fiji.html}}
Career highlights
- First-grade début: 26 July 1991 – Round 18 Parramatta Eels vs North Sydney at Parramatta Stadium
Footnotes
{{reflist}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-sport}}
{{succession box
| before = Mick Potter
2016-2017
| after = {{nowrap|Brandon Costin}}
2019
| title = Head Coach
{{flagicon|Fiji}}
Fiji
| years = 2018
}}
{{S-end}}
External links
- [http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/2/playerid/2/seasonid/1/default.aspx NRL profile]
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081116235554/http://leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk/leedsrhinos/pastplayers/squad-page.asp?ID=122 Profile at leedsrugby]
{{2003 Super League Dream Team}}
{{Fiji national rugby league team coaches}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adamson, Matt}}
Category:Australia national rugby league team players
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Canberra Raiders players
Category:Fiji national rugby league team coaches
Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players
Category:Parramatta Eels players
Category:Penrith Panthers players
Category:Rugby league fullbacks
Category:Rugby league players from Taree