Kai O'Donnell

Kai O'Donnell (born 21 February 1999) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League.

Kai O'Donnell
Personal information
Born (1999-02-21) 21 February 1999
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2020 Canberra Raiders 4 1 0 0 28
2022– Leigh Leopards 31 15 0 0 60
Total 35 16 0 0 88
Source: [1]
As of 5 January 2023

Background

Born in Brisbane, Queensland, O'Donnell played his junior rugby league for the Proserpine Brahmans and attended Proserpine State High School before being signed by the Gold Coast Titans.[2] While on the Gold Coast, he attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School.[3]

Playing career

In 2015, O'Donnell played for the Mackay Cutters Cyril Connell Cup side.[4] In 2017, he played for the Burleigh Bears Mal Meninga Cup side and moved up to their Hastings Deering Colts side in 2018.[5] Later in 2018, O'Donnell made his debut for the Bears' Queensland Cup side.[6]

In February 2019, O'Donnell came off the bench in the Gold Coast Titans pre-season trial loss to the North Queensland Cowboys.[7] In April 2019, he made a mid-season move to the Canberra Raiders, joining their Jersey Flegg Cup side and starting at second-row in their Grand Final loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[8]

2020

In February, O'Donnell was a member of the Raiders' NRL Nines squad.[9]

In round 9 of the 2020 NRL season, O'Donnell made his NRL debut for Canberra against the Melbourne Storm.[10]

In round 20, he scored his first try in the top grade during a 38-28 victory over Cronulla-Sutherland at Kogarah Oval.[11]

2022

On 8 April, O'Donnell signed a contract to join RFL Championship side Leigh.[12]

2023

In the 2023 Challenge Cup quarter-final, O'Donnell was sent off for a spear tackle in Leigh's 34-14 victory over York RLFC.[13] On 20 June, O'Donnell was given a six-game ban by the RFL over the incident.[14] O'Donnell played 22 games for Leigh in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished fifth on the table and qualified for the playoffs.[15]

References
  1. Rugby League Project
  2. "Talent in Cowboys academy". Queensland Times. 1 June 2016.
  3. "2017 ASSRL 18 Years Championship guide". 18th Man. 7 July 2017.
  4. "Five junior Brahmans picked in Cutters' squads". Whitsunday Times. 6 February 2015.
  5. "Bears post opening MM Cup win". QRL. 29 March 2017.
  6. "Super Cup debut for our Kai". Whitsunday Times. 28 July 2018.
  7. "Watch trial live stream this Saturday". Gold Coast Titans. 21 February 2019.
  8. "Canberra v South Sydney". 18th Man.
  9. "Whitehead to captain Raiders at NRL Nines". Canberra Times. 11 February 2020.
  10. "Raider 365 - Kai O'Donnell". Canberra Raiders. 7 July 2020.
  11. "Parramatta beats Wests Tigers to claim third spot on NRL ladder, Panthers and Raiders score wins". www.abc.net.au.
  12. "Leigh Centurions sign NRL forward Kai O'Donnell". www.leighjournal.co.uk.
  13. "York Knights 14 Leigh Leopards 34: Plucky underdogs give Super League high-flyers huge scare on proud night". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  14. "Josh Griffin: Hull FC centre gets seven-game ban after red card in Challenge Cup loss". www.bbc.co.uk.
  15. "Leigh Leopards 2023 season in review". www.leighleopards.co.uk.


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