Jarrod Sammut

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Jarrod Sammut
fullname = Jarrod Sammut
nickname = Jazz


caption =
country =
position = Fullback/ Five-Eighth/ Halfback/ Wing
currentclub = Penrith Panthers
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|2|15|df=yes
placeofbirth = Blacktown
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|169|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|75|kg|stlb|abbr=on
club1 = leagueicon|Penrith|size=16 Penrith Panthers
year1start = 2007
year1end = present
appearances1 = 17
tries1 = 3
goals1 = 32
fieldgoals1 = 2
points1 = 78
teamA = Malta
yearAstart =
yearAend =
appearancesA =
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA =
updated = 14:13, 8 September 2008 (UTC)
source =

Jarrod Sammut (born 15 February 1987) is an Australian rugby league player who plays for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Sammut is one of the smallest players in the NRL. He played school football for St Patricks College in Blacktown. Sammut has also represented for the Malta national rugby league team.

Early Career

Jarrod Sammut was born in Blacktown and played his junior football for Doonside. He was a member of the 2006 Penrith Panthers Jersey Flegg squad that defeated the Newcastle Knights in the grand final. When the team was trailing 22-20 with a few minutes to go, Sammut put in a chip kick to be dived onto by Werimu Weepu who scored the premiership-winning try.

eason 2007

Jarrod Sammut made his debut in late 2007 against the Rabbitohs filling in for the injured Rhys Wesser. He continued to take his place at fullback for the remainder of the season.

eason 2008

In the off-season trial matches, both regular halfbacks Joe Williams and Josh McCrone were unavailable due to injury, and as a result Sammut was given the halfback spot. In Round 1, Sammut played off the interchange bench against the Brisbane Broncos. After a poor performnce by Joe Williams in the 48-12 loss, Sammut was handed the halfback jumper for Round 2.

In Round 7's match against the Cronulla Sharks away from home, there was barely any time left on the clock and Sammut was converting a try scored right on the sideline. Despite the loud boos from the crowd, Sammut managed to convert the try to take the game into golden point extra time. After Brett Kimmorley narrowly missed a field goal attempt after just one minute of golden point, three minutes into the first half of extra time Sammut kicked the successful field goal that handed the win to the Penrith Panthers.

Sammut was controversially dropped in Round 9 via a text message from coach Matthew Elliott, in favour of regular centre Luke Lewis playing at halfback. The next round, Elliott re-instated Sammut back into the team- at the unfavoured position of Wing, a position Sammut has had minimum experience in.

Sammut hit right back, again producing a match-winning field goal in golden point in the Round 12 match against the North Queensland Cowboys. After 88 tiring minutes which involved the sending-off of Cowboys' lock Luke O'Donnell, Sammut, who was playing on the wing, kicked the match winning field goal from about 15 metres out, which hit the upright but was successful nevertheless.

Despite his two match-winning effotrs, Sammut was still dropped in Round 15 and played for the Windsor Wolves in the reserve grade NSW Cup. In Round 16, the Penrith Panthers were yet again involved in a third golden point match against the Brisbane Broncos. The Panthers were unbale to successfully win the game, which resulted in a draw as a result of Sammut's absence. Rookie sensation Lachlan Coote missed five attempts to hand the Panthers the victory in his debut match.

Two weeks later Sammut featured on Rugby League Week magazine, in which Luke Lewis commented on Sammut's absence as a factor in their draw against the Broncos, claiming that that Panthes had missed his proven golden-point ability.

Sammut then injured his ankle whilst playing reserve grade two weeks later. The Panthers were in turmoil after fans repeatedly critised coach Matthew Elliott for the non-selection of Sammut. This culminated in the 74-12 point loss against the Canberra Raiders in Round 23. Elliott's coaching job was in jeopardy unless he took desicive action to turn around the club's fortunes.

Sammut was finally re-instated after his injury in the final two rounds of the competition. Despite going down to Manly in Round 26, Sammut was one of the Panthers' best on-field, including one try assist for hooker Paul Aiton.

Personal Life and other Trivia

Sammut appeared in Round 7's Little League magazine being interviewed by editor Footy Head about his bizarre hairstyle, which Sammut claims was for charity. Sammut also featured in Big League magazine in Round 8 (after his golden point performance) and in Round 18 (an editorial from Panthers legend Greg Alexander demanding Sammut's re-call.

His girlfriend is the sister of team-mate Luke Lewis

References

External links

* [http://www.panthers.com.au/default.aspx?id=619 Sammut, J - Penrith Panthers official Website]
* [http://www.rleague.com/db/player/s/sammut_jarrod/index.php Sammut at Rleague.com]