David Simmons (rugby league)

David Simmons

Simmons at the 2013 Dally M Awards
Personal information
Born	(1984-12-06) 6 December 1984 Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
Position	Wing, Fullback, Centre
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–09	Cronulla Sharks	112	54	0	0	216
2010–15	Penrith Panthers	88	49	2	0	200
	Total	200	103	2	0	416
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006	NSW City	1	1	0	0	4
Source: Rugby League Project

David Simmons (born 6 December 1984 in Sutherland, New South Wales) is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer. He played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He primarily played as a winger, fullback and centre.

Early life

Being born and raised in the Sutherland Shire, David predominantly played soccer up until his late teens when a friend suggested he should try rugby league for Cronulla-based De La Salle, he did and was signed onto the Cronulla side as a junior not long after.

Playing career

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

After joining the Cronulla club Simmons quickly worked his way into the Sharks Jersey Flegg side, originally being positioned on the wing. He was a part of the Sharks nearly undefeated 2003 Flegg side which would only lose one game for the entirety of the season, key performances for the side quickly elevated Simmons in only a few games into the Sharks Premier League side.

While in the Sharks premier league team Simmons was quickly shifted from his more common role on the wing to a new position in fullback; after several impressive performances he was quickly earmarked as a potential first grade fullback of the future.

After limited time in premier league he made his debut for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2003 against the Sydney Roosters in round 22 at Aussie Stadium yet again playing on the wing.

With the new season in 2004 Simmons was again relegated to the Sharks premier league side for the early part of the season, after some more impressive performances he was yet again in the first grade side and picked up his first try at the top level against North Queensland in round 5. Simmons continued to impress on the wing and occasionally at fullback for the Sharks throughout the 2004 season as he continued to score on a frequent basis both in first grade and occasionally in the lower grades.

After gradually playing more and more first grade game over the 2004 season, 2005 was where Simmons would eventually cement his spot in the Sharks side, he would play in all 25 Cronulla-Sutherland games for the duration of season usually on the wing but also again occasionally at his preferred fullback when club stalwart David Peachey was either injured or playing in the halves. Simmons also tasted his first finals series when the Sharks played the St George-Illawarra Dragons in round one of the 2005 finals. Though the Sharks were beaten, Simmons scored one try in the match. Simmons would go on to become the club's top try scorer for the season crossing the try line a total of sixteen times.

With David Peachey leaving the club in 2006, Simmons took over the fullback position. Though scoring 8 tries during the season, Simmons suffered a shoulder injury during the year which kept him on the sidelines for eight weeks.

During the 2006 season Simmons tasted his first representative experience being called up to the City Origin side in the annual City against Country match after Hazem El Masri had to withdraw because of injury, in the match Simmons scored a try.

With the arrival of new coach Ricky Stuart in 2007, Simmons would spend most of the season switching between wing, center and fullback. Simmons scored 9 tries in the 2007 season, though once again Simmons injured his left shoulder and was injured for six weeks.

In 2008, Stuart permanently moved Simmons to the right centre position where he played in all 26 Cronulla-Sutherland games. Simmons scored 7 tries in the duration of the season. Simmons got his second taste of finals when the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks finished in third place (though tied with firsts for points) of the regular season. The Sharks defeated the Canberra Raiders in week one of the finals at Remondis stadium, however lost to the Melbourne Storm (later to be discovered cheating the cap) in the preliminary final.

In 2009, Simmons would only play 7 games for the Sharks (though scoring 5 tries). 2009 would be Simmons last year at the Sharks after announcing a two-year deal with the Penrith Panthers.

Penrith Panthers

Simmons entered the Panthers camp in 2010 with high expectations to be a new attacking weapon for the team, but once again Simmons injured his left shoulder in the trial match which resulted in him being sidelined until round 14. Simmons was finally able to represent Penrith in Round 15 of the NSW Cup, playing for the Windsor Wolves.^[1] Simmons made his Penrith Panthers first grade debut against the Dragons, Round 17 2010, scoring a try in the Panthers victory.

In 2011, Simmons became a regular first grader for the Penrith Panthers, playing mostly left wing, though occasionally filled in the fullback position. Simmons played 23 games and was Penriths to try scorer with Lachlan Coote, scoring 12 tries. It was announced in an E-mail sent to all Panthers members that David Simmons had signed for another year at the Panthers.

Simmons played 16 games for the Panthers in 2012, but only scored two tries.

Simmons finished the 2013 NRL season as the leagues equal leading try scorer for the regular season, having crossed for 19 tries for the Panthers. He shared the award with David Williams of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, and James McManus of the Newcastle Knights.

Retirement

On 31 August, Simmons announced his retirement from rugby league at the end of the 2015 NRL season.^[2]

Personal life

Simmons is a Christian, becoming one after attending a youth group and hearing the gospel. He then became a priest.^[3] He is completing a Bachelor of Theology as a part-time student at Moore Theological College, Sydney.

References

External links

• 2015 Penrith Panthers profile
• Cronulla Sharks profile
• David Simmons NRL Profile
• Sydney Anglicans David Simmons page

Other sources

1. "For the love of God and the game", Sydney Anglicans, retrieved 16 June 2006