Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1971-12-07)7 December 1971 (age 53) Wigan,Lancashire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 15 st 2 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop, Second-row, Loose forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chris Joynt (born 7 December 1971) is a former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. AGreat Britain international representativeprop, second-row andloose forward, he played his club football withSt Helens, with whom he won numerous titles, as well asOldham and a stint in Australia with theNewcastle Knights.[3] He lifted many trophies throughout a glitteringKnowsley Road career, including consecutive Super League championships in 1999 and 2000.
Born on 7 December 1971, Joynt grew up in Beech Hill,Wigan,Lancashire.[4] He attendedSt John Fisher Catholic High School.[5] He played juniorrugby league forWigan St Judes before joiningWigan St Patricks at the age of 14.[6]
After leaving school, and prior to becoming a full-time professional in rugby league, Joynt worked as a plasterer.[7]
Joynt signed withOldham in April 1989, and made his first team debut a year later, in April 1990.[8] In 1991, Joynt spent the English off-season in Australia, playing for NSWGroup 20 club, Yenda Blueheelers.[9] After spending two years mostly in the 'A' team, he became a regular in the Oldham first team during the1991–92 season. He played for the club in the1991–92 Divisional Premiership final at the end of the season atOld Trafford, but were defeated bySheffield Eagles.
He was sold toSt Helens in September 1992 in exchange for Sean Devine, Paul Jones and a fee of £50,000.[10][11]
Joynt played atsecond-row inSt Helens 4–5 defeat byWigan in the1992–93 Lancashire Cup Final during the1992–93 season atKnowsley Road,St Helens on Sunday 18 October 1992.[12] Joynt won his first silverware later that season in the1992–93 Premiership final, with St Helens this time winning 10–4 over Wigan.[13]
Joynt played left-second-row inSt Helens' 16–25 defeat byWigan in the1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the1995–96 atAlfred McAlpine Stadium,Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.[14]
Joynt played forSt Helens atsecond-row in their1996 Challenge Cup Final victory overBradford Bulls.[15] He took over as captain of the club in 1997, and held the position until 2003.[16] Joynt played forSt Helens atloose forward in their1999 Super League Grand Final victory overBradford Bulls.
Having won the 1999 Championship,St. Helens contested in the2000 World Club Challenge againstNational Rugby League Premiers theMelbourne Storm, with Joynt playing atsecond-row in the loss. Joynt is probably best remembered as the scorer of theWide to West try in the Super League Final Eliminator in 2000, which won the match for St. Helens. He played atsecond-row and scored twotries in the subsequent2000 Super League Grand Final victory over theWigan Warriors, and being awarded theHarry Sunderland Trophy. AsSuper League V champions, St. Helens played against2000 NRL Premiers, theBrisbane Broncos in the2001 World Club Challenge. Joynt was thecaptain, played as asecond-row and scored atry in St. Helens' victory.
In 2002, Joynt was at the centre of controversy when he seemingly performed a 'voluntary tackle' with seconds remaining in the2002 Super League Grand Final. St. Helens had just kicked adrop-goal to take a one-point lead in the match, and the penalty from the voluntary tackle would have given theBradford Bulls a chance to kick at goal and win the match. However, the referee dismissed wild protests from the Bradford Bulls players and the final hooter went, with St. Helens winning 19–18.[17] Having wonSuper League VI, St. Helens contested the2003 World Club Challenge against 2002 NRL Premiers, theSydney Roosters. Joynt captained St. Helens as asecond-row in their 0-38 defeat. Joynt relinquished captaincy of St. Helens toPaul Sculthorpe at the end of 2003'sSuper League VIII, and retired from rugby league following the 2004'sSuper League IX.[18]
Joynt representedEngland at the1995 Rugby League World Cup. He was selected to play forEngland in the1995 World Cup Final on the reserve bench butAustralia won the match and retained the Cup.
Joynt was aGreat Britain international with 25 caps. In the 1997 post season, Joynt was selected to play forGreat Britain atsecond-row in all three matches of theSuper League Test series againstAustralia.
Joynt was eligible to play forIreland through his Irish grandmother,[19] and represented the team at the2000 Rugby League World Cup.
Joynt also representedLancashire in theOrigin Series.