.jpg) Kemp playing for Brisbane Broncos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Denan Kemp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1987-05-11)11 May 1987 (age 37) Gold Coast,Queensland,Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (14 st 7 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:[2] As of 14 Sep 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Denan Kemp is an Australian former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s in theNational Rugby League (NRL) and a current online sports content creator. Kemp played in the NRL for theBrisbane Broncos and theNew Zealand Warriors, usually on thewing. He also had a brief stint inrugby union in 2011, playing forSouthern Districts in theShute Shield competition.
Post football Kemp launched his own podcast and beer company, which has seen him described as "one of the most influential, Rugby League online content creators."[3]
Kemp attended St Michael's College, Merrimac. Kemp went on to play rugby league with theBrisbane Wests in theQueensland Cup before joining Brisbane Broncos feeder club, theToowoomba Clydesdales where he played on the wing in their 2006 Queensland Cup Grand Final defeat.[4] He then was transferred to theAspley Broncos in 2007 by the Brisbane Broncos.[5][6]
Kemp made hisfirst grade debut for the Broncos in round 10 of the2007 NRL season, against theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles. During the game Kemp scored an individual 75 metre try. This try was voted as the third best of the2007 NRL season by NRL.com.[7]
In 2008, Kemp started the season strongly coming up with four tries in his first three games. He went on to play 24 games for the club in 2008. In round 12 he scored 4 tries while playing against theParramatta Eels, placing him equal second on most tries scored in a game for the club.[8] The record came just hours after he had announced that he was joining theNew Zealand Warriors for the 2009 season. When not selected for the first grade side, Kemp turned out for theNorths Devils in theQueensland Cup.[9]
Kemp was Brisbane's top try-scorer in 2008 and was named the club's rookie of the year.[10]
On 28 May 2008, theNew Zealand Warriors announced that they had signed Kemp for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.[11][12] Whilst at the Warriors he took on goal-kicking responsibilities for the club for the first half of the 2009 season.
In round 2 of the 2009 season, Kemp kicked the match winning conversion from the sideline to defeat theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles with 28 seconds left. However, for much of the season Kemp could not break into the first grade side, instead he was assigned toOtahuhu and played for theAuckland Vulcans in theNSW Cup. Near the end of the season he asked for a release so he could return to Queensland to rebuild his National Rugby League career.[13][14] Kemp played in eleven games for the Warriors, scoring 46 points. 2009 was also the first year Kemp was featured on NRL cards, featuring in both Select & Daily Telegraph sets.
On 16 September 2009, Kemp announced that he re-signed with theBrisbane Broncos for the2010 NRL season, after being granted an early release from the final year of his contract with the Warriors.[15] An injury prevented him from claiming a full-time spot in the first grade side. In round 1 2010, against theNorth Queensland Cowboys, he scored the final try which won the game for the Broncos 30-24. He played for theWynnum Manly Seagulls in the 2011Queensland Cup, before joining theAustralian Rugby Union in April 2011.[16][17]
In April 2011 Kemp signed a contract with theAustralian Rugby Union and was a part of theAustralian Sevens squad that traveled to London for theIRB Sevens.
Kemp turned out during the 2011 season for theSouthern Districts Rugby Club side in Sydney'sShute Shield.[17]
On 20 November 2011, Kemp signed for one year with theSt George Illawarra Dragons in 2012.[17]Kemp played in the2012 Charity Shield game for the Dragons, but never took the field in a first-grade game, as he was mainly relegated to the club'sNSW Cup side, theIllawarra Cutters.
On 18 January 2013, Kemp signed a one-year deal to return to the Broncos in hopes of another revival of his career. However, he failed to play a single game for the Broncos throughout the entire2013 NRL season, and was released at the season's end.[18]
Since Kemp's retirement from Rugby League at the end of 2013, he has built a popular Rugby League Facebook Page and Podcast known as 'The Locker Room'. Kemp launched 'The Locker Room' podcast on 9 June 2015 with popular rugby league starBeau Ryan.[19] Kemp has also launched a beer brand 'Bloke in a Bar' across Australia which was successfully launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]