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| Full name | Mark Robert Riddell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1980-12-09)9 December 1980 (age 44) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 109 kg (17 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | HookerSecond-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mark Robert Riddell (born 9 December 1980) is an Australianrugby league commentator and former professional player who played as ahooker in the 2000s and 2010s. ACity New South Wales representative goal-kicker, he played in theNational Rugby League for theSt. George Illawarra Dragons,Parramatta Eels and theSydney Roosters, and in theSuper League with theWigan Warriors.
Riddell eventually made the transition into first grade while playing with his new club side at St George, making his début against local rivals theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks during round one of the 2001 season. During the season he became a regulargoal-kicker for the club where he developed a distinctive 'raised arm' motion before he would take the kick. Fans in the crowd would mimic this action. Riddell had an impressive début season in first grade withSt. George Illawarra finishing the season as the club's top scorer with 130 points[citation needed] and cemented his position in the side as hooker.
During his second season withSt. George Illawarra, Riddell would again have a good season not only impressing club staff and fans with his quickly evolving running game fromdummy half, goal kicking and strength close to the try line ultimately earning himself a call up to the 2002 internationalAustralian Kangaroos 'train-on' squad but was not selected in the final touring side. He finished the season again as the club's top scorer with 129 points to his name even though he was sidelined during several games in the season throughsuspension after being sent off twice during the regular season.[2]
At the start of the2003 NRL season, Riddell was criticised amongst some media circles for being slow, out of shape and overweight along with negative talk about discipline problems, however nothing eventuated and he went on to play all twenty-four games of the regular season again finishing as the club's top point scorer with an individual record high of 166 points. In the final round, the injury-ravaged St. George club upset the finals-boundBrisbane Broncos 26–25 with Riddell scoring 18 points of his own, including a last-minute pressure penalty goal 41 metres out from the try line and 10 metres in from touch. This was the two points that won the Dragons the game after having fallen behind through aDarren Lockyer field goal five minutes beforehand.[3]
2004 was again another season of consistent performances for Riddell and several media pundits began speculating on his chances of representingNew South Wales in the annualState of Origin, however he was left out of the side but still tasted his first representative experience playing for the City origin side in the annualCity vs Country Origin fixture.Salary cap restraints on the club at the conclusion of the season along with several lucrative offers eventuated in a move from the Dragons. Riddell signed with theParramatta Eels for the2005 NRL season.
He leftSt. George Illawarra as the club's highest ever point scorer.[4]
Riddell began the2005 NRL season with theParramatta Eels in his regular role of hooker. He had his worst season in regards to point scoring after having to share the goal kicking duties with teammateLuke Burt, finishing the season with only 50 points[citation needed] but ultimately helping his side to theMinor Premiership.
Riddell was in the Parramatta side which made it to the preliminary final as favorites againstNorth Queensland Cowboys. In a game that they were expected to win, Parramatta were beaten 29–0 in one of the biggest upsets of the season. In 2017, Riddell spoke of the disappointment to miss out on qualifying for the grand final in 2005 by saying "The worst thing was that we had watched St George lose toWests Tigers the night before and we had comfortably beat Wests twice that year and thought we were morals for the premiership".[5][6]
On 17 May 2006, Riddell was dropped from the Parramatta first grade side and fined a total of $5,000 for failing to show up to a recovery session on a Monday morning following a regular season fixture, he later admitted the reason he had failed to show up to the session was because he wasintoxicated.[7] His axing, along with that of Tim Smith's, was the first piece of action taken byJason Taylor who just moments earlier was appointed caretaker coach following long-serving coachBrian Smith's dismissal.[8][9]
In the2007 NRL season, Riddell made 23 appearances for Parramatta as the club made the preliminary final but fell short of a grand final appearance losing to Melbourne 26–10.[10]
Riddell stayed with at Parramatta through the2008 NRL season, playing a total of 86 games for Parramatta.
Riddell signed a three-year deal with theWigan Warriors starting from 2009.[11]
Riddell played for Wigan for two years of his three-year contract. In 2010, Riddell was part of the Warriors side that won the League Leaders' Shield.
He played in the2010 Super League Grand Final victory overSt. Helens atOld Trafford, adding his name to the Grand Final score sheet by successfully kicking a penalty goal.[12]
After the 2010 season, Riddell was released from the last year of his contract so that he could return to Australia to tend to his ill mother.[13]
After his release from Wigan in 2010, Riddell made his return to NRL for the 2011 season, this time with theSydney Roosters, the club he had represented at a junior level in the SG Ball and Presidents Cup competitions.[14] Riddell was poised to sign with theWests Tigers, however Tigers coachTim Sheens made it clear that Riddell was unlikely to get much game time with the first grade side, barring injury, rep duties or suspension of star hookerRobbie Farah. Linking to the Roosters ensured Riddell would reunite with Brian Smith, whom he played under at the Eels for one and a half seasons.[15]
Also in 2011, Riddell was recruited by theSydney Morning Herald to write a weekly column. It was published for that year only.[citation needed]
Riddell announced his retirement in June 2011.[citation needed]
In 2012, Riddell was simultaneously coach of the Australian women's team and theSydney RoostersSG Ball Cup side. He was also playing forThe Oaks in theGroup 6 country competition.[16]
Riddell is currently a commentator for Sydney radio station2GB[17] as well as co-hosting Macquarie Sports Radio breakfast show with fellow 2GB commentator Mark Levy.
Riddell is married to Carly and has 3 children.[17]