Kris Radlinski

Kris Radlinski
Personal information
Born (1976-04-09) 9 April 1976
Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
Playing information
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 14 st 2 lb (90 kg)
Position fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1993–2006 Wigan Warriors 322 183 1 0 734
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001 Lancashire 3 3
1995–2001 England 10 3 0 0 12
1996–2004 Great Britain 20 2 0 0 8

Kris Radlinski MBE (born 9 April 1976 in Wigan, England) is a retired English rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. He played his entire professional career for his hometown club, Wigan Warriors, and also represented Great Britain at international level. He primarily played as a fullback.[1]

Playing career

Radlinski signed for his hometown club in 1993, aged 17, and went on to play his entire professional career with them. In 1995, at age 19, he became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Premiership final and also the youngest ever winner of the Harry Sunderland Trophy for man-of-the-match in Wigan's victory.[2]

Radlinski was selected to play for England in the 1995 World Cup final at fullback in their defeat to Australia.

Radlinski was a Premiership winner with Wigan in Sunday 8 September 1996.

Radlinski played fullback in Wigan's 44-14 victory over St. Helens in the Premiership final during Super League I at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday 8 September 1996.[3]

Radlinski played centre and scored a try in Wigan's 25-16 victory over St. Helens in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.[4]

In the 1997 post season, Radlinski was selected to play for Great Britain at centre in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Australia.

Radlinski was named in the Super League Dream Team of 1998. He also appeared for the Wigan Warriors at fullback in their 1998 Super League Grand Final victory over Leeds Rhinos. Radlinski played for the Wigan at centre in their 2000 Super League Grand Final loss to St Helens RLFC. Radlinski played at fullback in Wigan's 2001 Super League Grand Final loss against the Bradford Bulls. In the 2002 Challenge Cup final at Murrayfield Stadium Radlinski won the Lance Todd Trophy for man of the match. Kris competed in this match despite being in hospital all week prior to Wigan's 21–12 victory over St Helens with a serious foot infection.

Radlinski played for Wigan at fullback in the 2003 Super League Grand Final defeat to Bradford Bulls.

He was given a testimonial year in 2005 for his loyal service to Wigan Warriors, and despite that year being very successful for the team, it was a difficult season for Kris with him making only 15 appearances for the team through a knee injury. His testimonial match was played at the JJB Stadium on 29 January 2006 against the Huddersfield Giants. Wigan won this match 38–22.

Internationally he was capped 20 times by Great Britain, and won 10 England caps. The pinnacle of his international career, in which he was a main stay in the international setup, saw him captain the team against New Zealand 'A'. He scored three tries in this match.

Retirement

Radlinski announced his retirement from the sport prematurely on 2 March 2006 due to persistent injuries. He had made 310 appearances for Wigan, scoring 183 tries. This brought down the curtain on a successful career during which the player was a loyal servant to his club.

Comeback

In June 2006 Radlinski came out of retirement and returned to Wigan for the remainder of 2006's Super League XI, playing for "no fee" to aid the team during their personnel struggles that year. He once again retired at the conclusion of the season.

Post-retirement

Radlinski returned to Wigan during the 2009 season to take a scholarship coaching role. As well as publishing an autobiography entitled Simply Rad,[5] he was given a place on the England coaching staff for the 2009 Four Nations tournament. On 1 December 2009, Radlinski was appointed Rugby General Manager at Wigan, working alongside new head coach Michael Maguire.[6]

Honours

Club

  • 1995–96 Charity Shield
  • 1995–96 Championship
  • 1995–96 Regal Trophy
  • 1996–97 Premiership
  • 1998 Super League
  • 2002 Challenge Cup

Individual

  • 1995 Harry Sunderland Trophy – This was awarded for his man of the match performance when he became the first player to score 3 tries in the Premiership final.
  • 2001 Roy Powell Medal – Awarded for his man of the match performance in Lancashire's 36–24 victory over Yorkshire.
  • Married childhood sweetheart Rachel Turley in December 2007.
  • 2007 MBE

References

  1. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (13 October 2000). "Radlinski's art turns defence into attack". The Independent (London).
  2. ↑ "Tri-Nations: Great Britain profiles". Mail Online (London, UK: Associated Newspapers). 19 October 2004. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "8th September 1996: St Helens 14 Wigan 44 (Premiership Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "13th January 1996: St Helens 16 Wigan 25 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Radlinski, Kris (2009). Simply Rad. UK: Vertical Editions. ISBN 9781904091349. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "Radlinski appointed Wigan manager". wwos.

External links

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