Matt Groat
{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Matt Groat
|image = MATT GROAT (Australian rugby league player).jpg
|caption =
|country =
|position = {{rlp|PR|SR|LK}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|03|04|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Sydney, Australia{{cn|date=June 2025}}
|height = {{convert|192|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|120|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Wests Tigers
|year1start = 2011
|year1end = 13
|appearances1 = 17
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|club2 = Doncaster
|year2start = 2015
|year2end =
|appearances2 = 16
|tries2 = 4
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 16
|club3 = Dewsbury Rams
|year3start = 2016
|year3end =
|appearances3 = 24
|tries3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 4
|source =[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/matt-groat/summary.html Rugby League Project][http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/player-profile?playerid=112744&teamid=3400 League Central][http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Matt-Groat/ Love Rugby League]
|updated = 26 October 2023
}}
Matthew Groat (born 4 March 1992) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup. He previously played for Thirlmere Roosters in the Group 6 Rugby League, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Wests Tigers in the NRL and Doncaster, and the Dewsbury Rams in the Championship. He also played in the Queensland Cup for the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls and Easts Tigers. He played as a {{rlp|pr}}.
Playing career
=Early years=
From the small town of Rankins Springs in the Riverina, Groat lived on a 6000ha property. He went to school in Griffith,{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|title=Aaron Woods, Matt Groat out to make mark|author=Christian Nicolussi|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/aaron-woods-matt-groat-out-to-make-mark/story-e6frfgbo-1226137221817|access-date=1 January 2012|date=15 September 2012}} before becoming a student at renowned rugby league school St Gregory's College, Campbelltown.{{cite web|title=MATT GROAT ENJOYS THE JOURNEY|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=43587&title=matt-groat-enjoys-the-journey|author=Wayne Cousins|access-date=1 January 2012|website=weststigers.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524042047/http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=43587&title=matt-groat-enjoys-the-journey|archive-date=24 May 2012|url-status=dead}} During his time at the school, he was named as the most valuable player for his team at the 2010 Australian Schoolboys Championships,{{cite web|title=2010 18 Years Championships|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-2130-0-0-0&sID=152044|access-date=1 January 2012|publisher=SportingPulse}} and represented the Australian Schoolboys team in 2009 and 2010.{{cite web|title=Australian Schoolboy's relishing English Challenge|url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/~superlea/article.php?id=20548|access-date=1 January 2012|website=www.therfl.co.uk}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2011, he was named in the Junior Kangaroos team.{{cite web|title=11 NRL players feature in Junior Kangaroos |url=http://www.nrl.com/11-nrl-players-feature-in-junior-kangaroos/tabid/10874/newsid/65151/default.aspx |access-date=1 January 2012 |website=nrl.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007091638/http://www.nrl.com/11-nrl-players-feature-in-junior-kangaroos/tabid/10874/newsid/65151/default.aspx |archive-date=7 October 2011 }}
=Wests Tigers=
Groat joined the Wests Tigers NYC Cup team in 2011. By round 12 he had progressed to making his début in first grade, after a late injury to Wade McKinnon. Having already played a lower-grade game, Groat came off the bench in the last 5 minutes.{{cite web|title=MATT GROAT ENJOYS THE JOURNEY|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=43587&title=matt-groat-enjoys-the-journey|author=Wayne Cousins|access-date=1 January 2012|website=weststigers.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524042047/http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=43587&title=matt-groat-enjoys-the-journey|archive-date=24 May 2012|url-status=dead}} Later in the season, Groat became a regular in the first side, playing off the bench. Wests Tigers won 8 of the 10 games he played in 2011.
In an early-season match in 2012, Groat was knocked unconscious by a shoulder charge from Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Te'o.[http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/broncos-forward-ben-teo-faces-three-game-ban-for-shoulder-charge-on-tigers-prop-matt-groat/story-fn2mcuj6-1226322064665 Broncos to appeal Te'o ban|NRL, Rugby League, NRL Scores, NRL Ladder|Fox Sports] The incident was considered a "test case" on how the NRL Judiciary would treat players who made contact with the head when attempting a shoulder-charge.{{cite news|author=Chris Barrett|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=Te'o shoulders responsibility of tackling judiciary hearing head on|url=http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/teo-shoulders-responsibility-of-tackling-judiciary-hearing-head-on-20120409-1wl4j.html|access-date=24 April 2012|date=10 April 2012}} Two weeks later Groat played for New South Wales in the inaugural under-20s State of Origin match,{{cite news|publisher=NRL News|title=Tigers prop Groat back from injury|url=http://www.nrl.com/tigers-prop-groat-back-from-injury/tabid/10874/newsid/66916/default.aspx|access-date=24 April 2012|date=16 April 2012}} but he failed to make a further first grade appearance for the season.
Groat was unable to play at the start of 2013 due to injury. Coach Mick Potter said, "Matt got his ankle, foot and toe caught in the ground and got some weight on the back of it. He had been working hard and his shape was looking better too."{{cite news|author=Wayne Cousins|work=weststigers.com.au|title=James Gavet and Matt Groat to miss start of season|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/news-display/James-Gavet-and-Matt-Groat-to-miss-start-of-season/67626|access-date=23 March 2013|date=25 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410015408/http://www.weststigers.com.au/news-display/James-Gavet-and-Matt-Groat-to-miss-start-of-season/67626|archive-date=10 April 2013|url-status=dead}} He didn't play any first grade in 2013.
=St. George Illawarra Dragons=
In September 2013, it was announced that Groat had signed with the Dragons for at least one season.{{cite web|work=dragons.com.au/|title=Matthews Agrees To Terms|url=http://www.dragons.com.au/news-display/Matthews-Agrees-To-Terms/83792|access-date=5 September 2013|date=5 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908050722/http://www.dragons.com.au/news-display/Matthews-Agrees-To-Terms/83792|archive-date=8 September 2013|url-status=dead}} He failed to make any first-grade appearances for the club, and a year later signed with Salford.{{cite news|work= BBC|title=Salford Red Devils: Matt Groat and Luke Menzies join for 2015|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/29032778|access-date=3 September 2014|date=2 September 2014}}
=Doncaster=
On 16 April 2015, Groat signed for English side Doncaster.{{cite web|url=http://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/42758/the-dons-sign-matt-groat/|title=The Dons sign Matt Groat|website=doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk}}
=Dewsbury=
On 29 January 2016, Groat was released by Doncaster and signed with Dewsbury.{{cite web|url=https://www.thepressnews.co.uk/sportsnews/matt-groat-excited-rams-future/|title=Matt Groat excited over Rams future|website=thepressnews.co.uk}}
=Central Queensland=
In 2017, Groat returned to Australia and signed with Queensland Cup side the Central Queensland Capras. On 16 January 2018, Groat was released by Central Queensland and signed with the Easts Tigers.{{cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/20182/01/16/cq-capras-gains-and-losses/|title=CQ Capras gains and losses|website=qrl.com.au/}}
=Easts Tigers=
Groat made a total of eight appearances for Easts in his first season at the club scoring no tries.{{cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-cup/easts-tigers/matthew-groat/|title=Player profile|website=qrl.com.au/}}
=Wynnum Manly=
In the 2019 Queensland Cup, Groat played for Wynnum Manly Seagulls where he made 15 appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.wynnumseagulls.com.au/injury-report-groat-faces-stint-on-the-sideline/|title=Injury Report: Groat faces stint on the sideline|website=www.wynnumseagulls.com.au}}
=Souths Logan=
In the 2020 Queensland Cup, Groat played for Souths Logan Magpies making one appearance.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
Personal life
Footnotes
{{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Groat, Matt}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers players
Category:Central Queensland Capras players
Category:Dewsbury Rams players
Category:Doncaster R.L.F.C. players
Category:Illawarra Cutters players
Category:Junior Kangaroos players
Category:Rugby league players from Sydney
Category:Wests Tigers NSW Cup players
Category:People educated at St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England