Russell Packer
{{short description|New Zealand & Maori international rugby league player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Russell Packer
|fullname = Russell Packer
|image = RUSSELL PACKER.jpg
|image_size = 285
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|10|09}}
|birth_place = Foxton, New Zealand
|height = {{convert|187|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|119|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|PR}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}}
|year1start = 2008
|year1end = 13
|appearances1 = 110
|tries1 = 6
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 24
|club2 = St. George Illawarra
|year2start = 2016
|year2end = 17
|appearances2 = 41
|tries2 = 1
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 4
|club3 = Wests Tigers
|year3start = 2018
|year3end = 21
|appearances3 = 33
|tries3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 4
|teamA = New Zealand Māori
|yearAstart = 2010
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = New Zealand
|yearBstart = 2011
|yearBend = 17
|appearancesB = 7
|triesB = 1
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 4
|teamC = Māori All Stars
|yearCstart = 2021
|yearCend =
|appearancesC = 1
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|retired =
|updated = 6 May 2021
}}
Russell Packer (born 9 October 1989) is a former New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|pr}} for the Wests Tigers, St. George Illawarra Dragons and the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, and the New Zealand Māori and New Zealand at international level.
Background
Packer was born in Foxton, New Zealand.
Educated at Foxton Beach School and Manawatu College, Packer originally played rugby union from a young age for the junior Foxton rugby club and also for a junior Marist club in Nelson. {{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}
Packer also played in the Foxton Rugby League Under 14s side at the age of nine years in a curtain raiser between the Manawatu Mustangs and Auckland Warriors reserve-grade side in 1998.
Packer then played for the Levin Lions. In 2005, Packer was named in the New Zealand under-16 side. When he was only 16 he debuted for the Central Falcons{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5713448/Warriors-hardman-Packer-proud-of-Foxton-origins|title=Warriors hardman Packer proud of Foxton origins|publisher=stuff.co.nz|date=1 October 2011|access-date=4 January 2016}} in the Bartercard Cup. He again achieved national selection in 2006 when he was named both the captain of the Junior Kiwis and as a member of the New Zealand 'A' squad. In 2007, he was named in the New Zealand under-18 side.
Professional playing career
=2007-2010=
In 2007, Packer signed with the New Zealand Warriors but spent most of the season playing for the Auckland Lions in the NSWRL Premier League. He also played for the Central Falcons in the final season of the Bartercard Cup. At the end of 2007 he received an offer from the Sydney Roosters but turned them down, preferring to stay in New Zealand.
He made his NRL debut in Round 10 on 4 May 2008 against the Canberra Raiders. He played in four other NRL games in 2008 and also played twenty games for the Junior Warriors in the new Toyota Cup competition. At the end of the season Packer was named in the National Youth Competition's Team of the Year alongside teammate Ben Matulino.{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/warriors-name-jones-and-world-cup-stars-2478943|title=Warriors name Jones and World Cup stars|date=11 February 2009|agency=NZPA|work=Television New Zealand|access-date=6 November 2011}} He finished his Toyota Cup career at the end of 2009 with twenty three appearances and five tries.[http://www.nzleague.co.nz/warriors/U20_player_profile.php?letter=P&id=8&name=Packer ]{{dead link|date=September 2015}}
In 2010, Packer played for the New Zealand Māori against England.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10681035&ref=rss|title=League: Maori draw with England|work=New Zealand Herald|date=16 October 2010|access-date=6 November 2011}}
=2011-2013=
Packer was selected to play for the Warriors in the 2011 NRL Grand final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles as a starting prop forward. In the post-season he was selected to make his debut for the New Zealand national team in the same position in a game against Australia in Newcastle. At the 2011 Four Nations tournament held shortly after, Packer played one match for New Zealand against England.
In June 2013, Packer was caught on camera urinating in his shorts on field prior to kick off. Packer then played out the match for the Warriors against the Brisbane Broncos. The incident, dubbed "completely unacceptable and disgusting" by the NRL, resulted in a $15,000 fine.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/russell-packer-appears-to-have-public-urination-form-reportedly-taking-a-similar-leak-in-2012/story-fn2mcuj6-1226657527928#.Ua7j5vYpZGg|title=Russell Packer appears to have public urination form, reportedly taking a similar leak in 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 June 2013}} After the game he tweeted "Good win when u gotta go u gotta go lol".{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/warriors-forward-russell-packer-urinates-during-broncos-match-at-lang-park/story-fni3fbgz-1226656529641|title=Russell Packer urinates on field|publisher=Dailytelegraph.com.au|access-date=2015-09-29}}
On 2 October 2013, Packer signed a 4-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-02/knights-grab-packer-on-four-year-deal/4993408|title=Newcastle signs New Zealand Warriors prop Russell Packer on a four-year contract|publisher=ABC News|date=2 October 2013|access-date=3 January 2016}} In January 2014, Packer's contract was terminated before he could play for the Knights due to a serious assault committed by Packer at the end of November 2013 and impending criminal proceedings.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11185571|title=NRL: Packer's contract terminated by Knights|newspaper=New Zealand Herald|date=13 January 2014|access-date=3 January 2016}}
Assault conviction
On 29 November 2013, Packer appeared before court in Sydney, New South Wales, charged with assaulting a 22-year-old man, fracturing his eye socket.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/9460171/Former-Kiwis-prop-charged-with-assault|title=Former Kiwis prop charged with assault|date=29 November 2013|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=29 November 2013}} Packer punched the man in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground. Packer then punched the man several times as he lay on the ground and stomped on his head, leaving the victim with two fractured facial bones. On 6 January 2014, Packer was sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11182044|title=League: Former Warrior Russell Packer jailed for two years|date=6 January 2014|work=New Zealand Herald}} Magistrate Greg Grogan labeled Packer's actions as "cowardly and deplorable". {{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}
In April 2014 the non-parole period of Packer's two-year sentence was reduced on appeal from two years to one.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-11/russell-packer-wins-appeal-to-receive-parole-after-12-months/5384864|title=Former NRL player Russell Packer wins appeal against assault sentence; judge hands down 12-month non-parole period|publisher=ABC News|date=11 April 2014|access-date=17 December 2015}} Having had a criminal conviction, there had been fears that he would be deported back to New Zealand, but on 16 December he was granted permission to remain in Australia, thus clearing the way for him to resume his first grade career with the St. George Illawarra Dragons.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-17/russell-packer-cleared-to-play-nrl-with-st-george-illawarra-dra/7037024?section=sport|title=Russell Packer cleared to play NRL with St George Illawarra Dragons|publisher=ABC News|date=17 December 2015|access-date=17 December 2015}}
Return to rugby league
=2015-2017: St. George Illawarra=
In May 2015, Packer returned to rugby league with the Dragons' second-tier team the Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/st-george-illawarra-dragons/russell-packer-cleared-to-play-first-match-of-rugby-league-for-illawarra-cutters-20150508-ggxk3m.html|title=Russell Packer cleared to play first match of rugby league for Illawarra Cutters|publisher=Smh.com.au|access-date=2015-09-29}} On 27 September 2015, he was named at prop in the 2015 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/09/27/_2015_vb_nsw_cup_tea.html|title=2015 VB NSW Cup Team of the Year|publisher=NSWRL|access-date=2015-09-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928015018/http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/09/27/_2015_vb_nsw_cup_tea.html|archive-date=28 September 2015|df=dmy-all}} The Dragons had been assisting Packer's rehabilitation within the rugby league community throughout 2015 and in October of that year, after the NRL gave formal approval for him to play in the NRL once more, he was able to sign a 2-year contract with them, starting in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/packer-approved-for-nrl-return-19485/#Ddfl92ywxiPRVPKM.97|title=Packer approved for NRL return | NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2015-10-28|access-date=2015-10-28}}
Packer played 41 games during his two-year stay at Dragons, scoring 1 try, almost always as starting prop. At the end of 2016, Packer said, "I would love to represent my country again. I have done it a couple of times back in 2011 but I was pretty young then and I took a lot of the experiences for granted. I think at that stage of my life I didn’t appreciate the time that I had. I would love to get another opportunity just to be around that environment."{{cite web| work= Daily Telegraph | title=St George Illawarra Dragons prop Russell Packer wants New Zealand jersey to complete career revival| author=Paul Crawley | url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/dragons/st-george-illawarra-dragons-prop-russell-packer-wants-new-zealand-jersey-to-complete-career-revival/news-story/cbc3c2ee7cd87574c979d94d9fe83955}} Packer made his return to international football in the 2017 Anzac Test, and played in every game for New Zealand in 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
=2018 onward: Wests Tigers=
==2018==
Reuniting with Ivan Cleary, who had coached Packer at the Warriors, he was one of Wests Tigers major signings for 2018. Cleary said, "I've known Russell for a long time and he has leadership qualities as well. He's not shy about coming forward and having an opinion. He's passionate about what he does."{{cite web| work= Sydney Morning Herald | title=Russell Packer emerges as shock captaincy candidate at Wests Tigers| author=Adrian Proszenko | url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/russell-packer-emerges-as-shock-captaincy-candidate-at-wests-tigers-20171108-gzh97c.html}}
After the departure of Aaron Woods, Packer was named as one of 5 co-captains at Wests Tigers, alongside Benji Marshall, Chris Lawrence, Elijah Taylor and Josh Reynolds. Coach Ivan Cleary said, "I just think it's the right model for us right now. When we started this preseason it was pretty obvious straight away that there was no real pecking order. There was no set culture to adhere to. It was all new."{{cite web| work= nrl.com | title=Wests Tigers name five co-captains for 2018| author=Michael Chammas | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/02/14/wests-tigers-name-five-co-captains-for-2018/|archive-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214065439/https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/02/14/wests-tigers-name-five-co-captains-for-2018/}} With the role rotating, Packer was the on-field captain for the first time in round 2.
==2019==
At the start of the 2019 NRL season, Packer remained as one of the club's first choice props and featured in the first six games of the season. After Wests 51–6 loss against Parramatta at the new Western Sydney Stadium, Packer was demoted to reserve grade by coach Michael Maguire{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/russell-packer-and-michael-maguire-falling-out-souths-deny-dane-gagai-report/news-story/4d10dfd80ce442177f9d51128d3934dc/|title=Russell Packer and Michael Maguire falling out, Souths deny Dane Gagai report|website=Fox Sports}} and played no further games in first grade.
==2020==
In February 2020, it was revealed that Packer could be forced to medically retire from rugby league after struggling to recover from an ongoing foot injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/nrl-2020-moses-mbye-josh-reynolds-case-russell-packer-injury-rugby-league/1iggkl8secrh1nomnk6xa4ax3/|title=NRL 2020: Moses Mbye reveals Josh Reynolds has a "smile back on his face" after dramatic off-season|website=www.sportingnews.com}}
In round 5 of the 2020 NRL season, Packer played his first game in the top grade since April 2019 as Wests played against the Canberra Raiders. During the game, Packer was sin binned for a professional foul and later placed on report for a high tackle where he was subsequently suspended for two games.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/06/12/round-5-charges/|title=Round 5 charges|website=www.nrl.com}}
In round 10, Packer returned to first grade, running for 150 metres as Wests Tigers beat the Brisbane Broncos 48–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/nrl-2020-wests-tigers-v-brisbane-broncos-kevin-walters-commentary-of-billy-walters-try/news-story/1d6152781b0d5add3fe251b9ab89ed2f/|title=Billy Walters scores first try|website=www.foxsports.com}} Maguire said, "Since I've been at the club, the poor bloke hasn't been able to train and there's been contention about how I'm going with him. Fortunately with my medical staff they were able to find something in his foot they were able to fix and now all of a sudden he's training. It was an outstanding performance for a bloke that hasn't started throughout the season."{{cite web| work= weststigers.com.au | title=TMaguire applauds accountability in Broncos demolition|author=Dan Talintyre | url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/07/18/maguire-applauds-accountability-in-broncos-demolition/}}
On 6 September, it was reported that Packer and teammate Josh Reynolds had left the club's round 17 match against Manly-Warringah at half-time which was against team protocols.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe released a statement saying "The actions are not acceptable from my perspective. We are focused on ensuring every single person, player coach administrator board members actions are in complete alignment with the expectation of higher standards".{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/bigmoney-tigers-walked-out-of-brookie-before-teammates-staged-epic-comeback-win/news-story/e497402f354e08a451e189b75060be73|title=Big-money Tigers WALKED OUT of Brookie before teammates staged epic comeback win|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
=2021=
On 2 September, Packer announced his retirement from rugby league following the conclusion of the 2021 NRL season.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-bulldogs-confirm-departing-players-dylan-napa-lachlan-lewis-will-hopoate-roster-contracts/news-story/0f92571846a3b360fa3df2cd52db5dd8/|title='Incredibly proud': Reformed bad boy retires as Tigers get 750k cap boost: NRL Transfer Centre|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
Children
He has 2 children Marley Packer and Madison Packer.https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/03/03/embracing-reality-with-brutal-honesty-packer-achieves-mba-dream/#:~:text=Russell%20Packer%20with%20partner%20Lara%20Wilcox%2C%20daughter%20Madison%20and%20son%20Marley.
With Marley being the oldest at 12.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/russell-packer/ Wests Tigers profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304143542/http://www.dragons.com.au/content/dragons/club/team/profiles/russell_packer.html St. George Illawarra Dragons profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161026233542/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/12/playerid/681/seasonid/44/default.aspx NRL profile]
- [http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=377#Russell-Packer 2017 RLWC profile]
{{New Zealand 2011 Four Nations squad}}
{{New Zealand 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{2008 National Youth Competition Team of the Year}}
{{2015 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Packer, Russell}}
Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:Auckland rugby league team players
Category:Illawarra Cutters players
Category:Manawatu rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand criminals
Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players
Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:New Zealand sportspeople convicted of crimes
Category:New Zealand Warriors players
Category:People convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
Category:Prisoners and detainees of New South Wales
Category:Rugby league players from Manawatū-Whanganui
Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players