Clinton Schifcofske

Clinton Schifcofske

Personal information
Full name	Clinton Schifcofske
Nickname	Choka, Jock, Brains
Born	10 November 1975 (1975-11-10) (age 35) Moranbah, Queensland, Australia
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb) [1]
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1996–1997	South Queensland	23	7	40	0	108
1998–2000	Parramatta Eels	72	21	180	0	444
2001–2006	Canberra Raiders	139	44	432	12	1052
2010–11	Crusaders	47	6	121	0	266
	Total	281	78	773	12	1870
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2002–2006	Queensland	2	0	2	0	4
Rugby union
Position	Fullback, Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–2008	Queensland Reds	10				104
2008–2010	Ulster	30	1	22	0	65
	Total	40	1	22	0	169
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007	Australia A	5				61
As of 01 April 2010
Source: RLP

Clinton Schifcofske (born 10 November 1975 in Moranbah, Queensland) is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Crusaders in the European Super League.^[2][3] He has previously played for Irish rugby union club Ulster in the Magners League competition and also he spent a year with Queensland Reds in the Super 14. Clinton previously played rugby league for the South Queensland Crushers, Parramatta Eels and the Canberra Raiders prior to his move to Rugby Union. His position of choice is at fullback. He is of Polish descent.^[4]

Rugby league

In 2001 and 2004 Schifcofske was named the Canberra Raiders' player of the year. In 2006 he was made captain of the club. In the same year, due to an injury incurred by Karmichael Hunt, Schifcofske was chosen in the Queensland Maroons side for the 2006 State of Origin decider. He was the Maroons' third fullback for the series after Matt Bowen was dropped after Game One. During the middle of the 2006 season he made the decision to switch codes from Rugby League to Rugby Union signing a two year deal with the Queensland Reds for the 2007 season.

During the 2006 season, one of Schifcofske's penalty goal attempts in a match against the Wests Tigers was the subject of Ray Warren's commentary; as he was taking the shot, Warren called the words: "Eddie Jones (who was at the time the coach of the Queensland Reds), if you're watching..." and Schifcofske nailed the shot. In the same match, he nailed a field goal in golden point to win Canberra the match. He had the best goal kicking success rate in the NRL ahead of both Andrew Johns and Hazem El Masri. His final NRL match was played at Telstra Stadium on the 9th of September 2006 against the Canterbury Bulldogs where the Raiders were knocked out of the finals race. He finished the 2006 season as the Raiders' top point-scorer.

Schifcoske's 1,604 points in first grade places him 9th in Australian rugby league's all time top point scoring list.

Rugby union

Schifcoske's Rugby Union career started when the Queensland Reds took on Japan with Schifcoske having a sound performance in his first game and then playing for an invitational World XV side against The Springboks. After being planned to be used as a goal-kicking winger by Eddie Jones the season ending injury to Reds and Wallabies Fullback Chris Latham, Schifcoske was selected to play in his preferred position of Fullback. In 2007 he represented Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup in all 5 games. Australia finished runners up to the Junior All Blacks.

Schifcofske is weighing up a two-year offer from the Reds as well as interest from five other clubs, including a large deal from Ulster Rugby. It's understood two are from league, an unnamed NRL club and Perpignan-based Super League franchise Catalans Dragons, while other interest comes from rugby union clubs in England and Japan.^[5]

It has since been confirmed that he will be leaving the Reds at the end of the 2008 Super 14 season, and joining the Irish province Ulster for three seasons.

Return to rugby league

Mid-way through the 2010 Super League XV season, Schifcofske signed with the Crusaders, returning to rugby league. After Michael Witt suffered a season-ending knee injury, Schifcofske became the team's primary goal kicker. In 20 appearances for the Crusaders in 2010, he scored a team-high 120 points.

Awards and honors

• State of Origin: Played 2 games in total for Queensland (2002 & 2006)
• 2006 Dally M Fullback of the Year.

References

1. ^ "Crusaders Rugby League". web page. Crusaders Rugby League Club. http://www.crusadersrfl.com/teammember.php?id=718. Retrieved 7 August 2011. 
2. ^ "SCHIFCOFSKE JOINS CRUSADERS". Sportinglife. 01-04-2010. http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/04/01/RUGBYL_Crusaders.html. Retrieved 01-04-2010. 
3. ^ "Schifcofske seals Crusaders move". Crusaders. 01-04-2010. http://www.crusadersrfl.com/article.php?id=17187. Retrieved 01-04-2010. 
4. ^ http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/mar06/artid5138.html
5. ^ "Schifcofske in high demand". Fox Sports. 2008-04-23. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23588003-23217,00.html. Retrieved 2008-04-23. 

External links

• Ulster profile
• Clinton Schifcofske at the State of Origin official website.
• Clinton Schifcofske at the Former Origin Greats website.
• Clinton Schifcofske - Rugby League Tables
• Clinton Schifcofske QLD Reds Player Profile
• Clinton Schifcofske Raiders Player Profile

Sporting positions
Preceded by Simon Woolford	Canberra Raiders captain 2006	Succeeded by Alan Tongue

Persondata
Name	Schifcofske, Clinton
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	10 November 1975
Place of birth	Moranbah, Queensland
Date of death
Place of death