Wade McKinnon

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Wade McKinnon
fullname = Wade McKinnon
nickname = Wadeo


caption =
country =
position = Fullback
currentclub = leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|size=16 New Zealand Warriors
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|02|12
placeofbirth = Sydney, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
weight = 14 st 2 lbs (90 kg)
club1 = leagueicon|Souths|16 South Sydney
year1start = 2002
year1end = 2003
appearances1 = 26
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 36
club2 = leagueicon|Parramatta|16 Parramatta Eels
year2start = 2004
year2end = 2006
appearances2 = 51
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 60
club3 = leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|size=16 New Zealand Warriors
year3start = 2007
year3end =
appearances3 = 27
tries3 =
goals3 =
fieldgoals3 =
points3 = 48
updated =
source =
new = yes

Wade McKinnon is a rugby league player in the NRL. He is currently playing for the New Zealand Warriors after having spent three seasons playing for the Parramatta Eels following two seasons with the South Sydney Rabbitohs with whom he made his NRL debut in 2002.

outh Sydney Football Club

He made his NRL debut with the Rabbitohs in 2002 following them being readmitted into the competition.

Parramatta Eels

In 2004 while at the Parramatta Eels he won the Jack Gibson Award which was awarded by the coach for a first grade player along with the Ron Lynch Media Award in the same season.

New Zealand Warriors

With the Eels making it clear that they preferred Luke Burt ahead of the off-contract McKinnon, McKinnon often found it tough to make the first-grade team when the Eels were at full-strength. Consequently he signed a three-year deal with the Warriors, filling in the void that was to be left by the departing Brent Webb. McKinnon sighted the Warriors' style of play as being conducive to the game. ABC commentator Ray Warren once described McKinnon as 'the best support player in the NRL.'

He became the 132nd first grade player for the Warriors when he made his debut against the Eels, his former club, at Mt Smart Stadium in Round 1. Since arriving at the Warriors, McKinnon has impressed, scoring 9 tries in his first season whilst looking dangerous in attack.

McKinnon was involved in several incidents however. In the Round 19 match against the Wests Tigers (a game won comfortably by the Warriors 28-16), McKinnon was sent off by referee Paul Simpkins in the final minute of play for allegedly kneeing Taniela Tuiaki. The replay, however, suggested there was no contact or intent, and consequently he was not cited after the match. [cite news|url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/mckinnon-in-the-clear/2007/07/23/1185043004892.html | title=McKinnon in the clear |publisher=Fairfax Digital |date=2007-07-23 |accessdate=2007-07-24]

McKinnon's individual try against the Penrith Panthers in round fifteen was voted as the greatest of the year by NRL.com.

McKinnon was ruled out of most, if not all of the 2008 NRL Season after an injury in the Warriors first trial game against the Newcastle Knights left him requiring a knee reconstruction. [cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1591111 | title=McKinnon set to miss 2008 season |publisher=ONE Sport |date=2008-02-20 |accessdate=2008-02-22] Slowly but surely, however, a determined McKinnon slashed his return date, ultimately making his return from injury against the Broncos in Round 22. He celebrated this game by scoring a try in a 16-12 Warriors win.

McKinnon was suspended in Round 25 for three matches after allegedly spitting at touch-judge Brett Suttor after Penrith had been awarded a try for a blatant forward pass. Suttor said that the spit landed 30 centimetres away from him, but the judiciary said that as McKinnon was at least six metres away from him, it was not possible for his spit to travel that far. However, as McKinnon was clearly spitting at the head of Suttor, the intent was there, leading to a suspension. There has been controversy in McKinnon's suspension, as A-League footballers Dino Djulbic (Perth Glory) and Ney Fabiano (Melbourne Victory) have received longer suspensions for evident spitting incidents, whilst McKinnon's case had relatively little evidence.

The Warriors in the absence of McKinnon qualified for the finals in Round 26, the final round of the regular season, when they beat the Eels 28-6 in Sydney. They then shocked the Melbourne Storm 18-15 and then finished off the Roosters 30-13 a week later to set up a preliminary final against the Manly Sea Eagles. McKinnon has been named to start at fullback, with replacement fullback Lance Hohaia moving back to the bench to accommodate McKinnon

Career highlights

*"First Grade Record:" 104 appearances scoring 36 tries

References

External links

* [http://www.warriors.co.nz/page/player_wade_mckinnon.html Warriors Player Profile: Wade McKinnon]