Shannon McDonnell

Shannon Jay McDonnell (born 5 August 1987) is a former Ireland international rugby league footballer who last played for St Helens in the Super League. He had previously played for National Rugby League clubs the Wests Tigers and the Newcastle Knights, and in the Super League for Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull FC. He primarily played as a fullback and as a wing.

Not to be confused with Shannon McDonnell (footballer).

Shannon McDonnell
Personal information
Full nameShannon Jay McDonnell
Born (1987-08-05) 5 August 1987[1]
Camden, New South Wales, Australia
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb)[1]
Playing information
PositionFullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005–09 Wests Tigers 31 8 0 0 32
2009–11 Newcastle Knights 29 7 0 0 28
2012 Hull Kingston Rovers 22 6 0 0 24
2013–14 Hull F.C. 22 4 0 0 16
2014–16 St Helens 29 15 0 0 60
Total 133 40 0 0 160
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012 Exiles 1 0 0 0 0
2014–17 Ireland 6 3 0 0 12
Source: [2][3][4]
As of 30 January 2019

Background

McDonnell was born in Camden, New South Wales, Australia. McDonnell is of Irish descent and attended Mount Carmel High School and Westfields Sports High School, while playing his junior football for All Saints Liverpool. He was then signed by the Wests Tigers. He is the son of Wests Tigers Recruitment Manager Warren McDonnell.

Playing career

Early career

In 2004, McDonnell played for the New South Wales Under-17s team. The next season, he played for the New South Wales Under-19s team[5] and made his NRL début for the Wests Tigers against the Penrith Panthers in Round 26 of the 2005 NRL season.

Wests Tigers

Having played one game for Tigers in 2005, McDonnell was named as the probable replacement for winger Pat Richards, if he was unable to overcome an ankle injury, to take his place in the 2005 NRL Grand Final team.[5]

In 2006, McDonnell played on the wing in the Tigers' 30–10 loss to Super League champions Bradford Bulls in the 2006 World Club Challenge, and also played for the New South Wales Under-19s team and Junior Kangaroos.[6]

McDonnell playing for the Western Suburbs Magpies in 2008

In 2008, McDonnell made himself available for Ireland's 2008 Rugby League World Cup campaign.[7][8] Although named in the Ireland training squad for the World Cup,[9] he was forced to withdraw through injury.[10]

Newcastle Knights

On 7 May 2009, McDonnell joined the Newcastle Knights mid-season for the remainder of the year, after being released from his Tigers contract.[11][12]

At the conclusion of the 2011 NRL season, McDonnell joined Hull KR in the English Super League.[13]

Hull Kingston Rovers

At the beginning of 2012, McDonnell joined the Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League on a 1-year contract, following his former Knights assistant coach Craig Sandercock.[14]

In June 2012, McDonnell played for the Exiles.[15]

Hull F.C.

On 26 October 2012, McDonnell signed a 2-year contract with Hull KR's cross city rival team in Hull FC, starting in 2013.[16] In his first year at the club, he helped the team to the 2013 Challenge Cup Final against the Wigan Warriors where they were defeated 16–0.[17]

St Helens

On 3 July 2014, McDonnell joined St Helens mid-season for the remainder of the year, after resigning from his Hull F.C. contract.[18]

In October and November 2014, McDonnell played for Ireland in the 2014 European Cup.[19] He scored two tries on début as Ireland beat France 22–12 in their European Cup opener.[20]

On 5 January 2015, McDonnell signed a train and trial contract to return to his first club Wests Tigers, in the hope of impressing for a second-tier contract.[21]

On 30 April 2015, McDonnell rejoined St Helens effective immediately on a 2-year contract.[22]

In 2016, he was called up to the Ireland squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup European Pool B qualifiers.[23]

Camden Rams

McDonnell played for the Camden Rams in 2017.[24]

In October 2017, Shannon was called up to the Ireland squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[24]

References
  1. "Shannon McDonnell St Helens". superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  2. loverugbyleague
  3. "Shannon McDonnell - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 5 August 1987. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  5. Brad Walter and Greg Prichard (30 September 2005). "Teenager waits in the wins for Richards". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  6. "Junior kangaroos named". Thekennel.net.au. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  7. Collins, Ben: "Kelly eyes Cup sitr by Irish", pages 18-19. Rugby League World, April 2008
  8. "White Eyes a Green Jersey". RLWC08.com. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  9. "Ireland Name World Cup 40 Man Training Squad". Rugby League Ireland. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  10. "Ireland suffer White injury blow". BBC. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  11. "Shannon McDonnell quits Wests Tigers for Newcastle". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  12. "Shannon McDonnell quits Wests Tigers for Newcastle". BBC. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  13. Keeble, Brett (6 September 2011). "Knights in no hurry to go separate ways". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  14. "McDonnell signs with ESL side Hull KR". NRL - Zero Tackle. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  15. "McDonnell called into Exiles team". Hullkr.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  16. "Hull FC sign full-back Shannon McDonnell after Hull KR exit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  17. "Tetley's Challenge Cup: Hull FC full-back Shannon McDonnell battling to be fit for the final". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  18. "Shannon McDonnell: St Helens sign former Hull FC full-back". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  19. "Rugby League: Shannon McDonnell in Ireland's European Championship squad". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  20. "Match Report - Ireland v France - 18th October 2014 - Sky Sports - Rugby League News". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  21. "Wests Tigers add depth to pre-season squad". Weststigers.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  22. "McDonnel rejoins Super League's St Helens | SBS News". Sbs.com.au. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  23. "Warrington Wolves trio named in Ireland squad for World Cup qualifiers". Warrington Guardian. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  24. "Rugby League World Cup: Ireland name squad". BBC. 7 October 2017.
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