Matthew Scott (rugby league)

Matthew Scott (born 30 July 1985), also known by the nickname of "Thumper",[3] is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL and Australia at international level.

For the Scottish rugby union player, see Matt Scott (rugby union).

Matt Scott
Scott in 2015
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Scott
Born (1985-07-30) 30 July 1985
Longreach, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004–19 North Qld Cowboys 268 19 0 0 76
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–16 Queensland 22 1 0 0 4
2009 Prime Minister's XIII 1 1 0 0 4
2010–16 Australia 22 2 0 0 8
2011 NRL All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]

Scott played his entire 16-year National Rugby League career with the Cowboys, co-captaining them to the 2015 NRL Grand Final and 2016 World Club Challenge. An eight-time State of Origin series winner with Queensland and World Cup winner with the Kangaroos, Scott was widely regarded as the best front-row forward of his generation in the Southern Hemisphere.[4]

Background

Scott was born in Longreach, Queensland and grew up in the small, nearby town of Ilfracombe. He played junior football for the Longreach Tigers and later the Gemfield Giants.[5][6] He moved to St. Brendan's College, Yeppoon as a boarder after being spotted by one of the school's coaches at an outback carnival. He was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys during his schoolboy days.[7]

Playing career

2004

In Round 19 of the 2004 NRL season, Scott made his NRL debut for the Cowboys, at the age of 18, against the Parramatta Eels.[7] Scott broke his leg in the opening minutes of the match, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

2005

Scott played just 3 NRL games in 2005, spending the majority of the season playing for the Cowboys' Queensland Cup side, the North Queensland Young Guns. He was a member of the Young Guns premiership-winning side that season, playing alongside future Cowboys teammates Scott Bolton and Gavin Cooper. Scott was 18th man for the Cowboys Grand Final against the Wests Tigers.

2006

In 2006, Scott played his first full season of first grade, playing 22 games and scoring 2 tries. He made his representative debut for Queensland in the 2006 State of Origin series, after just 14 NRL games. However, he was dropped from the team after the 17–16 loss to New South Wales and would not play in another Origin fixture until 2009. Speaking in 2009, Scott said that at the time, he thought his removal from the team was "harsh", but that he "obviously didn't step up and deliver".[8]

2007

In 2007, Scott played his second full season of first grade and was an integral member of the Cowboys side that reached their third ever finals series, playing 23 games and starting the majority of them in the front row.

2008
Scott in 2008

Scott's 2008 season was affected by injuries. He played the first 3 games of the season before succumbing to injuries. He would return to play the final 3 games of the year.

2009

Scott returned from an injury plagued 2008 with a strong 2009 season, which saw him return to the Queensland team and represent the Prime Minister's XIII in their end of season match against Papua New Guinea.[9][10] In August, he signed a new four-year contract with the Cowboys.[11]

2010

Scott was named the Cowboys' player of the year and players player for the 2010 season, though it was a poor season for the team, finishing 15th on the NRL ladder in front of only the Melbourne Storm, who had been stripped of their premiership points due to salary cap breaches.[12] S

He was Queensland's starting prop for all three matches of the 2010 State of Origin series and made his debut for the Australia national team in the Four Nations series.[13] He was selected as Australia's starting prop for the series final against New Zealand, edging veteran Petero Civoniceva out of the side.[14]

2011

In 2011, Scott was appointed as the co-captain of the Cowboys, sharing the position with Johnathan Thurston, who had previously held it alone.[15] He was also named the NRL's prop of the year in the Dally M Awards after missing out in 2010.[16] His performance in Game 1 of the 2011 State of Origin series won him plaudits, with Brisbane newspaper The Courier Mail calling his "impact and workrate... enormous",[17] and ABC Sport praising his "powerhouse display up front".[18] He and fellow Queensland prop Petero Civoniceva ran the ball for a total of 301 metres during the match; their New South Wales counterparts only managed 71.[19] Queensland won the match and went on to win the Origin series. The Cowboys returned to the NRL finals series, finishing in seventh place, and Scott was selected in the Australian squad to tour England for the Four Nations series.[20] He scored the first try of the tournament, in Australia's 26–12 win over New Zealand; it was his first try as an international.[21] During the tournament, the annual RLIF Awards dinner was held at the Tower of London and he was named prop forward of the year.[22]

2012

During the 2012 State of Origin series, Scott's mother died, interrupting his preparation. However he played in all three games, helping extend Queensland's record winning streak to 7 consecutive series. At the end-of-season Test match against New Zealand, in which Australia retained the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy, Scott was named man-of-the-match.

2013

Scott was selected for Australia in the 2013 Anzac Test, starting at prop. He played all three games of the 2013 State of Origin series in which Queensland extended their record for consecutive series victories to eight.

2014

In Round 9 of the 2014 NRL season, Scott ran for 220 metres in the Cowboys 27-14 win over the Broncos, earning him a rare perfect 10 score from Rugby League Week magazine. Despite missing his first State of Origin game for Queensland in five years through injury, Scott had a career best season in 2014. He averaged 56 minutes, 16.4 runs and 160 metres per game, all career bests, while also finishing the year with a career best 5 line breaks and 48 tackle busts.[23]

Scott required a shoulder reconstruction at the end of 2014, ruling him out of the Four Nations tournament.

2015

In 2015, Scott regained his spot in the Australia side for the annual Anzac Test and started at prop in all 3 games of Queensland's State of Origin series win. He scored his first Origin try in the Maroons' Game 2 loss.

In Round 12 of the 2015 NRL season, Scott scored two tries in a game for the first time in his NRL career, in the Cowboys 18-14 win over the Manly Sea Eagles.

Scott was man of the match in the Cowboys 39-0 victory over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Week Two of the 2015 Finals Series.[24] The Cowboys went on to defeat the Melbourne Storm the week after to book their place in the Grand Final.[25] On 4 October 2015, Scott co-captained the Cowboys' Grand Final winning side, in the side's 17-16 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.

At the Dally M Awards, Scott was named Dally M Captain of the year alongside teammate Johnathan Thurston.[26]

2016
Scott warming up for the Kangaroos in 2016

On 21 February 2016, Scott co-captained the Cowboys' World Club Challenge winning side, starting at prop in the side's 38-4 victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium. Scott regained his spot in the Australia side for the annual Anzac Test and started at prop in all 3 games of Queensland's State of Origin series win.

Scott collecting his medal in the 2016 Four Nations Final at Anfield

2017

In Round 2 of the 2017 NRL season, Scott tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) against the Brisbane Broncos, ruling him out for the year.[27] He later re-signed with the club on a two-year-deal.

2018

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, Scott successfully returned from his ACL knee injury in the Cowboys' 20–14 win over the Cronulla Sharks.[28] In the Cowboys' Round 24 victory over the Parramatta Eels, Scott played his 250th NRL game for the club, becoming just the third player to do so.[29]

Scott played 18 games for the Cowboys in 2018, missing a number games due to a recurring neck injury, for which he underwent surgery at the end of the season.[30][31]

2019

On 19 July, Scott announced his retirement from rugby league at the end of the 2019 NRL season.[32] On 20 August, the Cowboys announced that Scott had suffered a mild stroke two days earlier, following a Round 22 loss to the Newcastle Knights.[33] On 4 September, he was discharged from hospital in Brisbane and returned to Townsville.[34] In his final NRL season, Scott played 17 games, scoring two tries.

Achievements and accolades

Individual

Dally M Prop of the Year: 2011
RLIF Prop of the Year: 2011
Dally M Captain of the Year: 2015
North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year: 2010, 2013
North Queensland Cowboys Players' Player: 2010, 2013

Team

2015 NRL Grand Final: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
2016 World Club Challenge: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners

Ilfracombe statue

A 1.9-metre metal sculpture of Matt Scott was unveiled in Ilfracombe on 24 September 2021.[35] It was created by scrap metal artist Milynda Rogers who was commissioned by the Ilfracombe District Progress Association to complete the project with the aim of inspiring the region's youth while also giving the town a focus of pride.[35] Approximately 200 people attended the official unveiling.[35]

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2019 season[36]
† Denotes seasons in which Scott won an NRL Premiership
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2004 North Queensland 100—00
2005 North Queensland 300—00
2006 North Queensland 2220—08
2007 North Queensland 2310—04
2008 North Queensland 610—04
2009 North Queensland 2310—04
2010 North Queensland 2310—04
2011 North Queensland 2200—00
2012 North Queensland 1810—04
2013 North Queensland 2200—00
2014 North Queensland 2040—016
2015† North Queensland 2530—012
2016 North Queensland 2320—08
2017 North Queensland 200—00
2018 North Queensland 1810—04
2019 North Queensland 1720—08
Career totals 268 19 0 — 0 76

State of Origin
† Denotes seasons in which Scott won a State of Origin Series
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2006† Queensland 100—00
2009† Queensland 100—00
2010† Queensland 300—00
2011† Queensland 300—00
2012† Queensland 300—00
2013† Queensland 300—00
2014 Queensland 200—00
2015† Queensland 310—04
2016† Queensland 300—00
Career totals 22 1 0 — 0 4

Australia
† Denotes seasons in which Scott won a World Cup
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2010 Australia Australia 200—00
2011 Australia Australia 610—04
2012 Australia Australia 100—00
2013† Australia Australia 600—00
2014 Australia Australia 100—00
2015 Australia Australia 100—00
2016 Australia Australia 300—00
Career totals 20 1 0 — 0 4

Personal life

Scott and his wife Lauren have two sons, Hugo and Wil and a daughter, Freya.[37][38][35]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Matthew Scott - Playing Career - Summary". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. "Larger leadership role pays off for Scott". Nrl.com. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  4. "NRL Team of the Decade: Panel of legends choose 2010s greatest - NRL". 21 August 2019.
  5. Heming, Wayne (9 November 2010). "Young frontrowers Matt Scott and Dave Shillington push veteran Petero Civoniceva to the bench". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  6. Kelly, Aaron (24 May 2011). "Origin's proud sister". The Chronicle (Toowoomba). Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  7. Horne, Ben (24 May 2010). "Matt Scott's long bus ride to Origin fame". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  8. Stewart, Antony (8 July 2009). "Matt Scott rewarded". Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  9. Clark, Laine (24 May 2009). "Snubbed Scott powering Cowboys' engine". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  10. "Maroons inject new blood". TVNZ. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  11. "Powerhouse prop stays with Cowboys - North Queensland Cowboys". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  12. deKroo, Karl (9 October 2010). "Club and players name Matt Scott as North Queensland Cowboys' player of the year". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  13. McCullough, Ian (4 November 2010). "Todd Carney and fellow debutants Chris Lawrence, Matt Scott and Dean Young named in Kangaroos team for Four Nations". Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  14. Heming, Wayne (9 November 2010). "Young frontrowers Matt Scott and Dave Shillington push veteran Petero Civoniceva to the bench". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  15. Marshall, Matt (4 March 2011). "NRL Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston named as co-captains for North Queensland Cowboys". The Australian. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  16. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Dally M Player of the Year Medal Winner Billy Slater". Triple M. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  17. Marshall, Matt (25 May 2011). "Matt Scott salutes late Sam Faust with brilliant performance in Maroons' Origin I win". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  18. "State of Origin I: Player Ratings". ABC Sport. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  19. Badel, Peter (27 May 2011). "Maroons props Petero Civoniceva, Matt Scott deliver Origin mauling to Blues front-rowers Jason King, Kade Snowden". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  20. "Matt Scott tips Kangaroo teammate Paul Gallen as top prop". The Courier-Mail. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  21. Walter, Brad (29 October 2011). "Five-star Thurston takes command for Kangaroos". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  22. "Slater scoops player award". Sky Sports. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  23. "NRL Players - Overview and Stats". FOX SPORTS. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  24. Lutton, Phil. "North Queensland Cowboys whip Cronulla Sharks on back of Matt Scott's vintage night". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  25. "Cowboys beat Storm to set up all-Queensland NRL grand final". Abc.net.au. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  26. "2015 Dally M Awards - Zero Tackle". Zerotackle.com. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  27. "Scott ACL injury confirmed". Cowboys.com.au. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  28. "Great Scott holds no fear". Couriermail.com.au. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2023. (subscription required)
  29. "Thurston uses farewell speech to hail a special teammate | Tweed Daily News". Archived from the original on 24 August 2018.
  30. "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin". Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  31. "Neck surgery won't bring early end to Scott's career | Northern Star". Archived from the original on 11 October 2018.
  32. "Scott calls time - Cowboys". 19 July 2019.
  33. "Statement on Matt Scott - Cowboys". 20 August 2019.
  34. "Matt Scott update - Cowboys". 4 September 2019.
  35. Gall, Sally (27 September 2021). "Statue to NRL and Cowboys legend Matt Scott unveiled in Ilfracombe". North Queensland Register. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  36. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Matthew Scott - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  37. "Scott joins daddy club". Townesvillebulletin.com.au. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  38. "Scott Baby Boy Has Melted Townsville Hearts". Triplem.com.au. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
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