Ben Walker
| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 13 September 1976 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | |||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb) | |||||
| Position | Five-eighth, Halfback | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1995–00 | Brisbane Broncos | 72 | 13 | 95 | 0 | 242 |
| 1995–96 | London Broncos | 16 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 37 |
| 2001 | Northern Eagles | 26 | 18 | 103 | 1 | 279 |
| 2002 | Leeds Rhinos | 28 | 12 | 119 | 0 | 286 |
| 2003 | Manly-Warringah | 16 | 5 | 59 | 0 | 138 |
| 2005–06 | South Sydney | 21 | 5 | 43 | 3 | 109 |
| Total | 179 | 59 | 424 | 7 | 1091 | |
| Source: NRL Stats, RLP | ||||||
Ben Walker (born 13 September 1976) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A five-eighth or halfback, he played in Australia's National Rugby League for the Brisbane Broncos, Northern Eagles, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs, as well as in Europe's Super League for the London Broncos[1] and Leeds Rhinos. He currently coaches the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup alongside his brother Shane.[2]
Background
Walker was born in Toowoomba in Southern Queensland on 13 September 1976, the eldest of a trio of brothers who would all become rugby league footballers. While attending St Mary's High School in Toowoomba in 1993, Walker was selected in the Australian Schoolboys team.[3]
Playing career
Ben Walker, along with his brothers, Shane Walker and Chris Walker, all began their careers with the Brisbane Broncos. His premiership debut was in round 13 of the 1995 ARL season against the Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium on 25 June 1995. Walker was selected to play for the Brisbane Broncos in the 1997 Super League Grand Final from the interchange bench.
Walker later joined his brother Shane at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[4]
Playing for the Northern Eagles in the 2001 National Rugby League season, Walker was the equal competition leading point scorer (along with Newcastle's Andrew Johns) with 279 points (17 tries, 102 goals, 1 field goal) in 26 games,[5] receiving the Dally M Award for Top Points Scorer. Walker had kicked 102 of his 125 shots on goal, a percentage of 82.40 for the season. This stands as the most ever points scored by a five-eighth in a single National Rugby League season. Walker's 279 points is also the most points ever scored for the short lived Northern Eagles (2000-02) and the most points in a season by an Eagles player. Even though he only played for the Eagles in 2001, Walker's 279 points for the season remains the club record (The Northern Eagles played from 2000-2002). The next highest scorer for the club is Brendon Reeves who scored 130 points (30 tries, 5/10 goals) in 66 games from 2000-2002.
Walker was the first player in the NRL to score during golden point (extra-time). He kicked a penalty goal for Manly against Parramatta at Brookvale Oval on 18 May 2003.[6]
References
- ↑ Ben Walker profile Archived 18 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. at leedsrugby
- ↑ Round 1 Queensland Intrust Super Cup Preview rleague.com, 18 March 2011
- ↑ "Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League". Sporting Pulse. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ↑ "Rabbitohs sign Ben Walker". ABC News. 2005-04-18. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- ↑ "Factbox on Northern Eagles five-eight Ben Walker" (fee required). AAP Sports News (Australia). 2001-08-29. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- ↑ "Broncos farewell QEII in style, Manly win golden point thriller". ABC News. 2003-05-18. Retrieved 2007-11-24.