Shaun Berrigan

Shaun Berrigan

Berrigan playing for Hull in 2008
Personal information
Born	4 November 1978 (1978-11-04) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	87 kg (13 st 10 lb)
Playing information
Position	Hooker, Five-eighth, Halfback, Centre
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1998–2007	Brisbane Broncos	186	77	0	0	308
2008–2010	Hull	68	12	0	0	48
2011	NZ Warriors	19	6	0	0	24
2012–	Canberra Raiders	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	273	95	0	0	380
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2002–2007	Queensland	15	2	0	0	8
2004–2007	Australia	14	2	1	0	10
As of 14 June 2011
Source: [1]

Shaun Berrigan (born 4 November 1978 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canberra Raiders of the NRL. Brother of fellow professional, Barry, Shaun has also played for the Brisbane Broncos, Hull and the New Zealand Warriors. A very versatile footballer, he has played numerous games at hooker, Five-Eighth, halfback and centre, having played in all positions for Australia, Queensland and Brisbane. Berrigan was a regular representative player, appearing twelve times in State of Origin for the Queensland Maroons and in five test matches for Australia before a 3-year stint in the English Super League.

Brisbane Broncos

Berrigan, who, through his mother is of German descent, made his debut for the Brisbane Broncos in Round 11, 1998 against the Balmain Tigers. He played from the interchange bench in the Broncos' 2000 Grand Final-winning side. Berrigan's regular position was centre but he can play a number of back-line positions as well as hooker.

Berrigan's versatility is evident in analysing the Queensland State of Origin team where in 2002 Berrigan was the five-eighth for the entire series. The next series in 2003 he played at halfback for Queensland throughout the series.

He played in the centres for the 2004 State of Origin series. He was then the top try-scorer for the Broncos in the 2005 season scoring 19 tries.

Berrigan played his 150th first grade game for the club in 2006. He started the year in the centre position but injuries to the Broncos' full-time hookers, Michael Ennis and Shaun's brother Barry, made coach Wayne Bennett move Berrigan to hooker. This turned out to be a success, with former great Peter Sterling saying that it bought a new dimension to the Broncos' game not seen for a while.^{[citation needed]} He played so well at hooker in the Broncos' 2006 NRL Grand Final victory over Melbourne that he was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for best on field. Berrigan was superb from dummy-half, but also shut down Melbourne Storm super-star Greg Inglis for the entire match. He was later selected in the 2006 Tri-Nations side for Australia and played in the final which Australia won.

In the 2006 and 2007 Origin series Berrigan has been the utility back for Queensland on the bench, playing the majority of these games as Hooker when Cameron Smith was off the field. In 2007 at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Berrigan.

Berrigan's Brisbane contract ended at the end of the 2007 season.

Hull

Berrigan signed a four year deal with English Super League team and 2006 Grand Final runners up,the mighty Hull FC. His contract commenced with the start of the 2008 season when he replaced Richard Swain, who retired from the game at the end of the 2007 season, thus freeing up a free quota space.

In regards to the signing, Berrigan said "I have had a fantastic career at the Broncos, winning premierships, playing for Queensland and of course for Australia. I am really excited to be joining Hull and playing in the Super League and Challenge Cup. I am excited by their plans, I believe the club has a fantastic future and I am looking forward to being a part of it for the next 4 years".

Shaun Berrigan in action for Hull in 2008

Berrigan scored his first try for new club Hull in Round 2 of Super League XIII. On the 30 August Shaun Berrigan appeared for Hull at Wembley in the 2008 Challenge Cup Final. During his Hull career Berrigan continued to play at hooker.

New Zealand Warriors

At the start of 2011 Berrigan secured a release from Hull so he could move to be closer to his family following the death of his father in 2010. After being linked with the North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans, Berrigan signed a one year deal with the New Zealand Warriors for the 2011 season. During the 2011 NRL season, Berrigan played from the bench and at centre, although he did not play during their grand final loss against Manly.

Canberra Raiders

On 19 October 2011 the Canberra Raiders announced they had signed Berrigan on a one year contract for the 2012 season with the option for an extension.

External links

• Shaun Berrigan at the State of Origin official website.
• Shaun Berrigan at the Former Origin Greats website.

Preceded by Scott Prince (Wests Tigers)

Clive Churchill Medallist 2006

Succeeded by Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm)