Ryan Girdler

Ryan Girdler (born 19 September 1972, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) was an Australian rugby league player. He played centre and became a popular figure in rugby league.

Rugby league career

Girds, as he was known, first played in the ARL for the Illawarra Steelers in 1993. During his time at Illawarra, he struggled with injuries and was given few chances to reach his full potential.

In 1995 he moved to the Penrith Panthers where he stayed for the rest of his career. Ryan won a Premiership with the Panthers in 2003 and retired at the end of the 2004 season.

His career reached great heights in 1997, when he played five Super-League tests for Australia as well as three games for New South Wales. After the demise of Super-League, Ryan's career went a step higher, when he was selected for State of Origin.

In 2000 Ryan set one of his many records at Penrith, kicking 78 goals in the season. Later that year Ryan was selected to play for the Kangaroos in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. He again wrote himself into the history book, when on the 4th of November, 2000, the Kangaroos smashed Russia 110 to 4 at The Boulevard, Hull. Ryan scored three tries and kicked 17 goals for a massive 46 points in total.

The following year was miserable for Ryan and the Penrith Panthers, as he was hit by more injuries and his team finished last on the table. In 2002, Ryan was once again injured, a knee injury ruling him out for half the season, despite the injury, Ryan was able to set another record at the Penrith club, scoring 28 points in a match against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Penrith Stadium in July.

2003 was the last year that Ryan would represent Australia, scoring the first try in the demolition of Wales 76 to 4.

However, the bad luck concerning injuries continued in 2003 when he was injured in the opening round and did not make a return until round 14. Upon Ryan's return, with the side already in a favourable position in comparison to previous years, finished minor premiers and went on to win the grand final.

His last game was the Preliminary Final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs who went on to win the 2004 NRL premiership.

Records

NSW sharpshooter Ryan Girdler

During the 2000 State of Origin he scored 32 points in one game, equalling Dally Messenger's for most points in an interstate game. His tally of 1690 first grade points is the 7th most in history, and he was the first player to score 100 and kick 500 goals (a feat only emulated by Hazem El Masri)

Club-Penrith

* Most Points (Match): 28 (2002)
* Most Goals (Season): 78 (2000)
* Most Points (Season): 229 (1999)
* Most Points (Penrith): 1,472

State-NSW

* Most Goals (Match): 10 (2000)
* Most Points (Match): 32 (2000)
* Most Points (Series): 52 (2000)
* Most Tries (Series): 5 (2000) record held with Lote Tuqiri (2002 for QLD)
* Most Goals (Series): 16 (2000)

Country-Australia

* Most Goals (Match): 17 (2000)
* Most Points (Match): 46 (2000)Note that both records were pool game at the 2000 World Cup and were not counted as Test Matches.

Off the Field

Ryan had a huge fan base that was not just confined to Penrith. His popularity led to him becoming a regular on rugby league television show 'The Footy Show'. His popularity gained him his own segment, firstly in 2001 with his fishing segment, Gone Fishin' (where the intro for the segment featured Ryan nude with a fish covering his front), and then a new segment from 2002 to 2003 which was titled Their House, the name parodying Australian TV program Our House (a lifestyle program).

Life after Rugby League

Since retiring after the 2004 season, Ryan has been active with many social and charity events, and still appeared on The Footy Show until the end of the 2005 season.

References

*Ryan's slaughter can't shoot the Messenger