Matt Hilder
 Hilder playing for the Knights in 2014. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Hilder[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 30 April 1982 Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock, Hooker, Five-eighth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matt Hilder (born 30 April 1982) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Gold Coast and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He primarily played at lock, hooker and five-eighth. Throughout his playing career he was known by two nicknames: Trouble,[3] and Waltzing (as in "Waltzing Matilda").[4][5]
Background
[edit]Hilder was born in Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia. He played his junior football for the Cronulla-Caringbah before being signed by Cronulla-Sutherland.
Playing career
[edit]Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
[edit]In round 1 of the 2003 NRL season, Hilder made his NRL debut for Cronulla-Sutherland against the Melbourne Storm scoring a try in a 32-36 loss. In his four years at Cronulla, Hilder played in one finals campaign which came in the 2005 NRL season. Cronulla were eliminated in the first week by rivals St George.[6]
Gold Coast Titans
[edit]After four seasons of first-grade with Cronulla, Hilder joined the Gold Coast Titans for their inaugural season, signing a 1-year contract starting in 2007. He was a regular in first-grade, but left the club at the end of the season.
Newcastle Knights
[edit]
In 2008, Hilder joined the Newcastle Knights.
In 2010, Hilder won the Knights' Player of the Year award for being one of the most hardworking and consistent players in the team.[7]
On 6 September 2013, Hilder re-signed with the Knights on a 1-year contract.[8]
A few days after re-signing, Hilder made a return to first-grade — after being seldom used by Knights coach Wayne Bennett since early 2012 — in time to play all three of the Knights' finals games and scoring a try in his 100th Knights game and 200th NRL game against the Melbourne Storm.[9] These were the final few first-grade games of his career.
At the end of 2013, Hilder won the Knights' New South Wales Cup Players' Player award.[10]
In September 2014, Hilder announced his retirement from rugby league, finishing up with 201 NRL appearances.[11]
Representative football
[edit]In July 2013, Hilder played for the New South Wales Residents against the Queensland Residents.[12]
Controversy
[edit]On 10 September 2006, Hilder threw a plastic chair at a man during an argument, causing head injuries. Hilder was fined $1,000.[13][14]
Personal life
[edit]Hilder has a wife, Natalie and three children: two daughters, Indy and Eden, and a son, Sunny.
References
[edit]- ^ "Player statistics for Matthew Hilder - FOX SPORTS PULSE". Archived from the original on 24 September 2014.
- ^ "Matt Hilder - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Australian Breaking News Headlines & World News Online | SMH.com.au".
- ^ de Kroo, Karl, "Waltzing Matt Hilder's fresh start", heraldsun.com, 24 March 2007.
- ^ FitzSimons, Peter. "The wisdom and wit of nicknames". FairfaxDigital.
- ^ "Dragons survive Sharks scare". ABC.
- ^ "2010 PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Newcastle Knights". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Hilder, Tahu, Quinn and Newton for 2014 - Newcastle Knights". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ^ "Hilder has an impact in milestone match".
- ^ "Matt Hilder - Knights". Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
- ^ "In the sheds: Hilder and Redman - Knights".
- ^ "VB NSW Cup Rep Squad named - NSWRL". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "NRL's Hilder fined $1,000 over assault" (fee required). The Age. 1 November 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2007.
- ^ "NRL's Hilder fined $1,000 over assault". Sydney Morning Herald.