Matt Orford

Matt Orford
Orford while playing for the Sea Eagles in 2008
Personal information
Full name Matthew Orford
Nickname Ox[1]
Born (1978-04-22) 22 April 1978
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height 169 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Position Halfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2000 Northern Eagles 11 4 23 0 62
2001–05 Melbourne Storm 120 52 333 3 877
2006–09 Manly Sea Eagles 98 17 242 9 561
2010 Bradford Bulls 14 3 31 2 76
2011 Canberra Raiders 6 0 0 0 0
Total 249 76 629 14 1576
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001–06 City Origin 3 0 0 0 0
Source: Rugby League Project and Yesterday's Hero

Matthew Orford (born 22 April 1978 in Gosford, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A City New South Wales representative halfback, he played the majority of his club football career in Australia for National Rugby League clubs, Melbourne Storm and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won 2008's Dally M Medal and NRL premiership. Orford also played for NRL sides, the Northern Eagles and Canberra Raiders, as well as in Super League for England's Bradford Bulls.

Playing career

Orford was a North Sydney Bears junior and started his career with the Northern Eagles before joining the Melbourne Storm. In 2004 he was named the Storm's player of the year.[2]

He joined the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles for the 2006 NRL season. He was later appointed captain of the club. Orford was a member of the Sea Eagles team which lost the 2007 NRL grand final to the Melbourne Storm.[3] Orford captained the Sea Eagles in the 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over the Melbourne Storm.[4]

In September 2008, Orford won the prestigious Dally M Medal for being voted the best and fairest player of the 2008 NRL season. He finished on 24 points, two points ahead of Billy Slater. Orford is the first player since Peter Sterling to win the Dally M Medal and the premiership in the same year.

He signed for the Bradford Bulls on a three-year deal, starting in the 2010 season. However, his first season with the struggling Yorkshire club did not go well and was brought to an early finish due to Orford suffering a shoulder injury that would require surgery. He gained a release from the Bulls in order to return home to Australia.

Orford's release was officially granted on 10 January 2011, and he signed with the Canberra Raiders on the same day.[5] Affected by a groin injury, Orford played six matches for Canberra in the 2011 season. At the end of the season, he was released from the remainder of his contract.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Bulls hold up Ox's return with demand for $200,000" by Brad Walter (The Sydney Morning Herald 8 December 2010)
  2. ↑ melbournestorm.com.au. "NRL Honour Board". Club. Melbourne Storm.
  3. ↑ "Factfile on 2007 Grand Final". The Daily Telegraph. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Grand final: As it happened". Fox Sports. 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
  5. ↑ http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/raiders-sign-orford/2042814.aspx
  6. ↑ Massoud, Josh (8 January 2012). "Matt Orford has a point to prove after a disastrous 2011 NRL season with Canberra Raiders". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 25 January 2012.


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