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| Full name | Jason Nightingale | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1986-09-20)20 September 1986 (age 38) Paddington, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14 st 5 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jason Nightingale (born 20 September 1986) is a formerNew Zealand internationalrugby league footballer who played as awinger andfullback for theSt. George Illawarra Dragons in theNRL.
He primarily played on the wing and as a fullback, but off the bench he's played as a centre, lock, second row and even prop. Nightingale spent his entire career with the Dragons,[2] with whom he won the2010 NRL Premiership. Nightingale was also a member of theNew Zealand national rugby league team that beatAustralia in the2008 Rugby League World Cup Final.
Born in theSydney suburb ofPaddington, New South Wales, Australia to New Zealand parents, Nightingale is ofMāori descent (specifically theWaikato TainuiIwi). He moved toMount Maunganui in New Zealand at the age of six months, returned to Australia, then moved back to New Zealand toMorrinsville for two years, before settling in Australia at age 13. In Sydney, he played his junior rugby league for Renown United.[3][4][5] Nightingale played for theSt George Illawarra DragonsJersey Flegg Cup team.
In round 8, Nightingale made hisNRL debut forSt. George Illawarra against thePenrith Panthers, playing on the wing and scoring a try on debut in the 28–16 win atJubilee Oval.[6] He finished his debut season with 7 tries from 16 matches.
Nightingale was selected for New Zealand for the2008 Centenary Test against Australia, making his international debut for New Zealand on the wing in the Kiwis 28–12 loss at theSCG.[7][8] Nightingale finished the2008 NRL season playing in 24 matches and scoring 13 tries for St. George Illawarra. In August 2008, Nightingale was chosen for theNew Zealand training squad for the2008 Rugby League World Cup.[9] Nightingale originally missed out of the final 24-manKiwis squad for the World Cup, but was chosen as a replacement for the injuredBrent Webb.[10] Nightingale only played in one match in the World Cup, playing againstEngland and scored a try in the Kiwis 36–24 win atHunter Stadium.[11]
In 2009, Nightingale was selected for St. George Illawarra's feeder sideShellharbour Dragons for some matches during the season after being stuck behindBrett Morris andWendell Sailor on the wing. Nightingale was selected on the interchange bench for the Kiwis2008 Anzac Test in the 38–10 loss against Australia atSuncorp Stadium.[12] Nightingale played in 18 matches and scored three tries for St. George Illawarra in the2009 NRL season.
In 2010, after the retirement of Wendell Sailor, Nightingale returned to the starting lineup on the wing. For the2010 Anzac Test, Nightingale was selected to play for New Zealand on the wing, scoring a try in their 12–8 loss against Australia atAAMI Park.[13] On 3 October 2010, in St. George Illawarra's2010 NRL Grand Final against theSydney Roosters, Nightingale played on the wing and scored two second-half tries to help the club to achieve the 32–8 victory.[14] Nightingale played in 26 matches and scored 16 tries in St. George Illawarra's successful2010 NRL season.
Nightingale was chosen in the New Zealand Kiwis2010 Rugby League Four Nations squad, scoring three tries in four games, including a 71st minute try in the final at Suncorp Stadium.[15] Nightingale's fine late season form saw him earning a place inRugby League World's team of the year on the wing.[16]
On 9 March 2011, Nightingale extended his contract with St. George Illawarra for a further four years until the end of the 2015 season.[17] Nightingale was selected for the Kiwis for the2011 Anzac Test against Australia on the wing in the Kiwis 20–10 loss atCbus Super Stadium.[18] In round 19, against theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Nightingale played his 100th National Rugby League career match in St. George Illawarra's 38–8 win atJubilee Oval.[19] Nightingale was named the Dragons 'Player of the Year' for the2011 NRL season, playing in 25 matches and scoring 10 tries for the Dragons. Nightingale was selected for theNew Zealand national rugby league team2011 Rugby League Four Nations squad, playing in 4 matches and scoring three tries.
On 4 February 2012, Nightingale was selected for theNRL All Stars team against theIndigenous All Stars playing on the wing in the 36–28 win at Cbus Super Stadium.[20]
Nightingale was selected for the Kiwis for the2012 Anzac Test against Australia on the wing in the Kiwis 20–12 loss atEden Park.[21]
Nightingale played in all of St. George's 24 matches and scored seven tries in the2012 NRL season.
Nightingale was selected for the Kiwis for the2013 Anzac Test against Australia on the wing in the Kiwis 32–12 loss atCanberra Stadium.[22]
In round 20, against the Canberra Raiders, Nightingale played his 150th NRL career match in St. George's 22–18 loss at Canberra Stadium.[23][24] Nightingale played in all of St. George Illawarra's 24 matches and scored nine tries in the2013 NRL season.
Nightingale played for the Kiwis in the2013 Rugby League World Cup. Nightingale was selected in the New Zealand 2013 World Cup squad, playing in 2 matches.[25]
In February 2014, Nightingale was selected for St. George Illawarra's inaugural2014 Auckland Nines squad.[26] On 2 May 2014, Nightingale was selected for the Kiwis for theAnzac test against Australia on the wing in the Kiwis 30–18 loss at theSFS.[27] Nightingale finished off the2014 NRL season as St. George Illawarra's highest tryscorer with 16 tries in 22 matches.
On 7 October 2014, Nightingale was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis final 24-man squad for the2014 Four Nations series.[28] Nightingale played on the wing and scored a try in the Kiwis 22-18 Four Nations final win over Australia atWestpac Stadium.[29] Nightingale finished as the tournament's top try scorer with five tries after 4 games.
On 21 January 2015, Nightingale was named in St. George Illawarra's2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[30] On 3 May 2015, Nightingale was selected for the Kiwis for the2015 Anzac Test against Australia on the wing in the Kiwis 26–12 win at Suncorp Stadium.[31] On 19 June 2015, Nightingale re-signed with St. George Illawarra on a two-year contract until the end of the 2017 season after attracting offers from theNew Zealand Warriors and theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[32][33] Nightingale finished the2015 NRL season playing in 17 matches and scoring 5 tries for the Dragons.
On 8 October 2015, Nightingale was selected in the 23-man New Zealand squad to tourEngland.[34] Nightingale played in all 3 matches againstEngland on the wing and scored a try in the Kiwis' 2-1Baskerville Shield series loss.[35]
In round 3, against theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs, Nightingale played his 200th NRL career match, scoring a try in St. George Illawarra's 8–6 win at theSydney Cricket Ground.[36][37] On 6 May 2016, Nightingale played for the New Zealand Kiwis against Australia, playing on the wing in the 16–0 loss atHunter Stadium.[38]
Nightingale was one of five players to have played all 24 games for theSt. George Illawarra Dragons in 2017 and for the third season, was the club's top tryscorer (with 16). Overall, Nightingale finished equal sixth for tries scored in the2017 NRL season. In Round 16 againstNewcastle, Nightingale scored his 100th try in a winning effort of 32–28 in a second-half comeback.
On 9 August 2018, it was reported that Nightingale had announced his retirement from rugby league, effective at the end of 2018.[39][40]
In 2024, Nightingale was made a life member of the St. George Illawarra
In 2019, Nightingale opened a coffee shop inKogarah
Dragons]].[41]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)