Royce Simmons

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Royce Simmons
fullname = Royce Simmons


caption = Australian national rugby league player
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1960|02|05|df=yes
placeofbirth = Gooloogong, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|173|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|86|kg|stlb|abbr=on
position = Rlp|HK
club1 = Penrith
year1start = 1980
year1end = 1991
appearances1 = 233
tries1 = 15
goals1 = 1
fieldgoals1 = 3
points1 = 61
teamA = New South Wales
yearAstart = 1984
yearAend = 1988
appearancesA = 10
triesA = 1
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 4
teamB = Australia
yearBstart = 1986
yearBend = 1987
appearancesB = 10
triesB = 0
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 0
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=7494 NRL Stats] , [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Royce_Simmons.html RLP]

Royce Simmons (born 2 May, 1960 in Gooloogong, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league test hooker, New South Wales representative, long-serving Penrith Panthers player in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, and coach.

Biography

Playing career

After trialling with both St. George and Souths, Simmons was eventually given a contract in 1980 with Penrith. Simmons played much of his first year at lock but was moved to hooker late in the 1981 season.

In 1983, Simmons was appointed captain of the team, a position he retained until 1990 when he captained the Panthers in the 1990 Grand Final loss to the Canberra Raiders, and despite struggling with injuries, memorably scored two tries in the 1991 Grand Final against the same opponents. The Panthers won their first premiership, and Simmons retired.

Representative career

Simmons was first selected to represent New South Wales as a hooker for games II and IIIof the 1984 State of Origin series, replacing Rex Wright who had been chosen for game I.

A successful 1986 series against Queensland, including a Man of the Match in game I, secured Simmons a place as the first Penrith player to represent Australia. He made his debut against New Zealand in July 1986 and played in ten international games over the next year. Simmons' final test appearance came in Australia at Lang Park against New Zealand, losing 6–13.

Simmons was selected for all games of the 1987 State of Origin series, including the fourth game held in Philadelphia. His last appearance in a New South Wales jersey was in game I of the 1988 series, losing 18–26.

Coaching career

Simmons went on to become Panthers coach in the closing stages of the 1994 season after Phil Gould was dismissed, and served until he was himself sacked from the position after the 2001 season, when the Panthers won the wooden spoon. [cite news|Format=fee required|publisher="AAP Sports News (Australia)"|title=Simmons sacked as Penrith coach |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-46846160.html |accessdate=2008-02-03|date=2001-11-09] The Panthers made the finals twice under Simmons' tenure, in the 1997 Super League finals and National Rugby League season 2000 finals.

Since 2003, Simmons has served as the assistant coach at the Wests Tigers under his former coach Tim Sheens. [cite news|Format=fee required|publisher="AAP Sports News (Australia)"|title=Simmons ready to return a better coach |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-55742669.html |accessdate=2008-02-03|date=2002-08-27] Huddersfield giants seem the likely club to sign him back as a 1st team coach.

In October 2004, Simmons was named at hooker in the Panthers' "Team of Legends". [cite web|publisher="Penrith Panthers"|title=Team of Legends |url=http://penrith.panthers.com.au/default.aspx?id=448 |accessdate=2008-02-03]

References

* cite book | last=Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen |title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players |year=2007
publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd" |location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales |isbn=9781877082931 |pages=609
* cite book | author=Gary Lester (editor) |title=The Sun Book of Rugby League - 1983 |year=1983
publisher="John Fairfax Marketing" |location=Sydney, New South Wales |isbn=0909558833 |pages=page 72

Footnotes

External links

* [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Royce_Simmons.html Royce Simmons at the "Rugby League Project"]
* [http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=304 Royce Simmons (player) at "NRL Stats"]
* [http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/coaches.cfm?CoachID=212 Royce Simmons (coach) at "NRL Stats"]