Jason Death

Jason Death (pronounced /diːθ/; born 25 August 1971) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a hooker, he played for the Canberra Raiders, North Queensland Cowboys, New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs throughout his 14-season career.

Background

Born in Young, New South Wales, Death attended Lake Ginninderra College in Canberra, where he represented the Australian Schoolboys in 1989 and 1990, before being signed by the Canberra Raiders. He is the uncle of current Penrith Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary.

Playing career

In 1989, Death represented the New South Wales under-19 side, starting at second-row in their 22–16 win over Queensland.

Canberra Raiders

In round 2 of the 1991 NSWRL season, Death made his first grade debut for Canberra in a 48–10 win over the Parramatta Eels. At the end of the season, he was named the club's Rookie of the Year. In 1994, after just 16 games over the previous two seasons, Death played 16 games and featured in the side's qualifying final and preliminary final wins. He missed out on playing in the Grand Final winning side despite being named on the interchange bench. In 1995, Death featured prominently again, playing 21 times, including the club's preliminary final loss to the Sydney Bulldogs.

North Queensland Cowboys

In 1996, Death joined the North Queensland Cowboys after Tim Sheens, Death's coach at the Raiders who was set to join the Cowboys in 1997, recommended he sign with the club. In his first season with the Cowboys, he played 20 games, starting all but one at hooker. In 1997, Death played just eight games, stuck behind former Raiders' teammate Steve Walters.In June Death was sent home from the clubs World Club Challenge trip to the U.K and fined $10,000 after exposing himself to the Australian Cricket Team in a Leeds hotel. In 1998, his final season in Townsville, he played 17 games, mostly at lock. In Round 22 of the 1998 season, he played his 100th first grade game in a 10–22 loss to the Brisbane Broncos.

Warriors

In 1999, joined the then-Auckland Warriors, playing 18 games and winning the club's Player of the Year award. In 2001, Death played 21 games for the re-branded New Zealand Warriors, which included playing in the club's first finals game, a 12–56 loss to the Parramatta Eels.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

In 2002, Death returned to Australia, signing with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, who had just been readmitted into the competition. Death started 23 games at hooker for the Rabbitohs, winning the team's Clubman of the Year award. Over the next two seasons, Death played 21 games before retiring at the end of the 2004 season. In Round 9 of the 2004 season, Death played his 200th game, a 4–38 loss to the Penrith Panthers.

Achievements and accolades

Individual

Canberra Raiders Rookie of the Year: 1991 New Zealand Warriors Player of the Year: 1999 South Sydney Rabbitohs Clubman of the Year: 2002, 2003

Statistics

NSWRL/ARL/Super League/NRL

Personal life

Death is the brother-in-law of former Warriors teammate Ivan Cleary and Josh Stuart, as Death and Cleary are married to Stuart's sisters. Death's nephew, Nathan Cleary, is a New South Wales State of Origin representative.