Mitchell Dunn
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Mitch Dunn
|fullname = Mitchell Dunn
|image = Mitch Dunn.jpg
|imagesize = 150
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|2|3}}
|birth_place = Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|190|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|145|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|SR|LK|FE}}
|club1 = North Qld Cowboys
|year1start = 2018
|year1end = 23
|appearances1 = 58
|tries1 = 3
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 12
|retired = Yes
|updated = 20 May 2023
}}
Mitchell Dunn (born 3 February 1997) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who currently works as a coach for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Dunn dominated for six seasons in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the North Queensland club, predominately at {{rlp|sr}}.
Background
Dunn was born on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and grew up in Mackay, Queensland.
He played his junior rugby league for Mackay Brothers and attended St Patrick's College, before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.{{cite web|url=http://www.stpats.qld.edu.au/index.php/students/92-website/news-events/news?start=50|title=Students - St Patrick's College – Mackay Senior Catholic High School|website=www.stpats.qld.edu.au|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214093309/http://www.stpats.qld.edu.au/index.php/students/92-website/news-events/news?start=50|url-status=dead}}
Playing career
=Early years=
In 2013, Dunn played for the Mackay Cutters' Cyril Connell Cup side and represented Queensland under-16s.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/mackay-junior-enjoys-his-origin-debut-despite-defe/1898438/|title=Mackay junior enjoys his 'Origin' debut despite defeat|publisher=|access-date=1 June 2018}} In 2014, he moved up to the Cutters' Mal Meninga Cup side before moving to Townsville to join the North Queensland Cowboys under-20s squad in 2015. That season, he played in the Townsville Stingers' Mal Meninga Cup winning side and was selected for Queensland under-18s, before making his debut for the Cowboys' under-20s team.{{cite web|url=https://nycdatabase.org/teams/north-queensland-cowboys/players/|title=Players|date=2 January 2013|publisher=|access-date=1 June 2018}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He played mostly as a {{rlp|fe}}.{{cite web|url=https://outline.com/EwZbxG|title=Outline|website=outline.com|access-date=1 June 2018}}
In 2017, Dunn captained the North Queensland Cowboys NYC team and represented the Queensland under-20s side.{{cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2017/05/23/queensland-under-20s-team/|title=Queensland Under 20s team|date=23 May 2017|publisher=|access-date=1 June 2018}} In October 2017, he re-signed with North Queensland on a two-year contract until the end of 2019, joining their NRL squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/cowboys-muster-two-mackay-juniors/3231770/|title=Cowboys muster two Mackay juniors|last=Samuel.Obrien|publisher=|access-date=1 June 2018}}
2017 was a successful season as Dunn formed a lethal combination with impressive backrower Ryan Lloyd.
=2018=
In 2018, Dunn graduated to the North Queensland Cowboys Queensland Cup feeder side, the Mackay Cutters. In Round 13 of the 2018 NRL season, he made his NRL debut, coming off the bench against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2018/05/31/final-team-cowboys-v-sea-eagles/|title=Final team: Cowboys v Sea Eagles|date=31 May 2018|publisher=|access-date=1 June 2018}}
=2019=
Dunn played the first four games of the season for the North Queensland side, before being dropped back to the Mackay Cutters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/03/25/dunn-good-opportunity-knocks-for-transformed-forward/|title = Dunn good: Opportunity knocks for transformed forward|date = 24 March 2019}} He returned to first grade in Round 9, playing five games, earning his first start at second row in a 22–16 win over the Canberra Raiders. In Round 13, Dunn dislocated his shoulder in North Queensland's 20–22 loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, ruling him out for the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/06/12/hes-unfairly-treated-green-jumps-to-mcguires-defence/|title = 'He's unfairly treated': Green jumps to McGuire's defence|date = 11 June 2019}}
On 4 September, he signed a one-year contract extension with North Queensland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2019/09/04/cowboys-re-sign-local-duo/|title=Cowboys re-sign local duo|date=4 September 2019}}
=2020=
In February, Dunn was a member of the North Queensland 2020 NRL Nines winning squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2020/02/15/nines-final-team-list-final-v-dragons/|title=Nines final team list: Final v Dragons|date=15 February 2020}} After starting the season coming off the bench, Dunn established himself as a starting {{rlp|sr}}er for the Cowboys. On 31 July, he re-signed with the North Queensland outfit until the end of the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2020/07/31/cowboys-re-sign-forward-trio/|title=Cowboys re-sign forward trio|date=31 July 2020|website=N Cowboys}}
In round 14, he scored his first try in a 30–31 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He played 17 games in 2020, starting 12 at {{rlp|sr}}, and was sin-binned twice, against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 3 and against the Newcastle Knights in Round 15.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cqnews.com.au/news/coach-sees-the-positives-in-nrl-rule-changes/4027717/|title=Coach sees the positives in NRL rule changes|date=1 June 2020|website=CQ News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2020/08/21/knights-v-cowboys-round-15-game-day-blog/|title=Knights v Cowboys Round 15 Game Day Blog|date=21 August 2020|website=Newcastle Knights}} On 3 October, Dunn won the Cowboys' Coach's Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2020/10/02/2020-presentation-night-live-updates/|title=2020 Presentation Night: Live Updates|date=2 October 2020|website=NQ Cowboys}}
=2021–2023=
Dunn played 20 games for North Queensland in the 2021 NRL season as the club finished 15th on the table. In the 2022 NRL season, Dunn played only two games for the first grade side before tearing his ACL in round 2. Dunn played eight games for North Queensland in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-north-queensland-cowboys-season-review/7022566a2d89154cc990318b#:~:text=They%20won%20just%20four%20of,the%20nadir%20of%20their%20efforts./|title=NRL 2023: North Queensland Cowboys season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=7 September 2023 }}
On 20 September, he was announced as one of nine North Queensland players not offered a contract for 2024.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/north-queensland-cowboys-swing-axe-in-roster-cleanout-after-horror-nrl-season-c-11956281/|title=North Queensland Cowboys swing axe in roster cleanout after horror NRL season|website=7news.com.au|date=19 September 2023 }}
Coaching career
On 8 November 2023, Dunn was announced as North Queensland's Game Development Coach, a role that sees him work with junior rugby league coaches throughout north Queensland, as well as working with the club's academy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2023/11/08/dunn-joins-coaching-ranks/|title=Dunn joins coaching ranks|date=8 November 2023|website=NQ Cowboys}} In September 2024, following the sacking of assistant coach James Maloney, Dunn began working as the Cowboys' on-field NRL trainer.
Achievements and accolades
=Individual=
- North Queensland Cowboys Coach's Award: 2020
=Team=
- 2020 NRL Nines: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
Statistics
=NRL=
: Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/cowboys/mitchell-dunn/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} season{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/mitchell-dunn/summary.html|title=Mitchell Dunn - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project|website=Rugby League Project}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" | |||||
| width=2%|Season
!width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|T !width=2%|G !width=2%|GK % !width=2%|F/G !width=2%|Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2018
| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" |{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland | 2|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 | |||||
| style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2019 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2020
| 17|| 1|| 0|| —|| 0|| 4 | |||||
| 2021
|20 |2 | | | |8 | |||||
| 2022
|2 | | | | | | |||||
| 2023
|7 | | | | | | |||||
| class="sortbottom"
! colspan="2" | Career totals ! 57 ! 3 ! 0 ! — ! 0 ! 12 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.cowboys.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys/mitchell-dunn/ North Queensland Cowboys profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/cowboys/mitchell-dunn NRL profile]
{{North Queensland Cowboy 2020 NRL Nines Champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunn, Mitchell}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:North Queensland Cowboys players
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:Rugby league players from the Gold Coast, Queensland