Trent Barrett

Trent Barrett

Barrett playing for Wigan in 2008
Personal information
Born	18 November 1977 (1977-11-18) Temora, New South Wales, Australia
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Position	Five-eighth, Halfback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1996–98	Illawarra Steelers	45	30	0	2	122
1999–06	St. George Illawarra	154	47	0	5	193
2007–08	Wigan Warriors	58	24	0	5	101
2009–10	Cronulla-Sutherland	35	5	0	3	19
	Total	292	106	0	15	435
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–05	Country Origin	2	1	0	0	8
1997–10	New South Wales	11	3	0	1	13
1997–05	Australia	13	3	0	0	12
As of 16 July 2010
Source: Rugby League Project and Yesterday's Hero

Trent Barrett (born 18 November 1977 in Temora, New South Wales) is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative five-eighth, he previously played for the Illawarra Steelers before they merged to form the St George Illawarra Dragons, with whom he continued to play, winning the 2000 Dally M Medal. Barrett also had a two-season spell in Super League with England's Wigan Warriors and was named in 2007's Super League Dream Team before finishing his career back in Australia with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Playing career

While attending St Gregory's College, Campbelltown, Barrett played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1995.

One of the traits Barrett has shown throughout his career is his varied skills as a playmaker, able both to run with the ball in hand and also to kick accurately behind attacking defences.

Barrett burst onto the scene in 1996 with the Illawarra Steelers, immediately attracting attention due to his obvious natural ability and potential, within two years of first grade, Barrett had already been selected to play his first State of Origin match. His 30 tries in only 48 game period^{[citation needed]} of time reflects the brilliance that he can often display.

His first season at the new joint venture of the St George Illawarra Dragons was marred by controversy as the incessant media hype over an alleged feud with Anthony Mundine and whether by playing out of position at half-back was affecting his form. With the shock departure of Mundine in 2000, Barrett was allowed to move back to his more comfortable position of five-eighth and his form returned which could clearly be seen by his receiving of the Dally M Medal in 2000.

At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour.

Barrett had two years left on his St George Illawarra Dragons contract, but a get-out clause enabled him to quit the club for a move to England. He signed a three year deal with the Wigan Warriors on 4 May 2006, despite their position at the bottom of the Super League and the threat of relegation to National League Division 1.

Barrett made his Wigan debut in a 16–10 defeat against Warrington at the JJB Stadium on 9 February 2007.

In October 2007, Barrett was named as the Rugby League Players' Player of the Year but missed out on the "Man of Steel" although he had been tipped to be named. James Roby of St. Helens received the award.

Following a release from the final year of his three year contract with Wigan, Barrett signed with the Cronulla Sharks in June, 2008, on a two-year deal, commencing in 2009. He earned the five-eighth spot for the New South Wales team in the 2nd State of Origin match that year. Barrett announced his retirement on 22 July 2010.

Controversies

In 2005 Barrett made history during the Tri-Nations by becoming the first ever Kangaroo to be sin binned twice in one match^{[citation needed]}He was sin binned in the first half for what he claimed was a 'nothing' incident, and was dismissed in the 70th minute for illegally tackling a Great Britain player on his way to the tryline. The Kangaroos won the match 26–14.

Following a Round 12, 2006 game against the Newcastle Knights, Barrett was charged with a grade five striking charge on Newcastle's Brian Carney. The incident initially went unnoticed throughout the entire weekend but it is understood a Channel Nine producer picked up the incident. Barrett was suspended for six matches, ruling him out of Dally M contention.

In his Origin comeback, Barrett was charged following a reckless tackle on Queensland's Greg Inglis, and as a result was suspended for two club matches. It did not however deter him from playing in the third and final Origin match in which he set up several tries as NSW defeated Queensland in the dead rubber, Queensland having won the series with victory three weeks prior.

Representative games

• "Club:" Played 199 games for the Illawarra Steelers and the St George Illawarra Dragons
• Country: Played for country in City/Country Origin
• State Of Origin: Played 11 games in total for New South Wales
• International: Played 13 tests to date for Australia including the 2000 World Cup

Awards

• Dally M: Dally M Player of the Year in 2000
• Super League Players' Player of the Year 2007

External links

Media related to Trent Barrett at Wikimedia Commons

• Trent Barrett Wigan Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.
• Super League profile
• 2001 Ashes profile
• State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats