Shane Webcke

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Shane Webcke
fullname = Shane Webcke
nickname = Warhorse

---

caption =
position = rlp|PR
currentclub =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|9|28|df=yes
placeofbirth = Toowoomba
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
weight = 118 kg (18 st 7 lb)
club1 = leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|16 Brisbane Broncos
year1start = 1995
year1end = 2006
appearances1 = 254
tries1 = 18
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 72
teamA = leagueicon|Queensland|16 Queensland
yearAstart = 1998
yearAend = 2004
appearancesA = 21
triesA = 1
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 4
teamB = leagueicon|Australia|16 Australia
yearBstart = 1998
yearBend = 2004
appearancesB = 20
triesB = 1
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 4
retired = yes
source = [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Shane_Webcke.html Rugby League Project]

Shane Webcke (born 28 September 1974 in Toowoomba, Queensland) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, who spent his entire top-grade career playing for the Brisbane Broncos. His position of choice was at prop forward and at his peak he was renowned as the best front rower in the world. Webcke represented Queensland in the State of Origin on twenty-one separate occasions and has also captained the side. He also made eighteen test appearances for the Australian national side. Alongside Glenn Lazarus and Arthur Beetson, Webcke is considered by many to have been one of the finest post-war front-rowers to play the game.

Originally from Clifton, Queensland and having played for Toowoomba, Webcke made his debut for the Queensland Maroons in the first game of the 1998 State of Origin series and was named man-of-the-match in the third and deciding game that year. From his debut until his retirement from representative football following Game III in 2004, no other player wore the number 8 for Queensland.

Webcke was a member of the Australian world champion team that won the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. In 2000 Shane was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league. He won the Broncos' best player award for the 2001 and 2005 National Rugby League seasons.

, days after his 32nd birthday.

Post-football, Webcke has gone on to release his successful auto-biography, "Warhorse" and is now venturing into media with the Seven Network in Australia. Webcke's pub at Leyburn, Queensland - the Royal Hotel - is the longest, continuously licensed premises in Queensland [http://www.broncos.com.au/index.cfm?TopMenuID=266&MenuID=277&CompetitorID=39] .

In February 2008, Webcke was named in the list of Australia's "100 Greatest Players" (1908-2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. [cite news|author=Peter Cassidy |publisher="Macquarie National News"|title=Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players |url=http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players |accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23] [cite web|publisher="NRL & ARL"|title=Centenary of Rugby League - The Players |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23]

A few months later the Brisbane Broncos appointed Shane Webcke, along with Allan Langer as full-time assistant coaches to work alongside new head coach Ivan Henjak from the 2009 season. He was also hired by Channel Seven to provide perspectives on Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans feature matches. He also occasionally fills-in as a Sports Presenter on the Brisbane edition of Seven News.

Career highlights

*"Junior Club:" Clifton Wattles
*"First Grade Debut:" Round 10, Brisbane v. Norths at North Sydney, May 19, 1995
*"First Grade Premierships:" 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2006 with Brisbane Broncos (played 2000 Grand Final with broken arm)
*"Career Stats:" 254 career appearances with 18 tries
*"State of Origin:" 21 games for Queensland between 1998 and 2004
*"International:" 18 tests for Australia

External links

*Broncos player|39
*StateofOrigin player|420
*FOGS player|107
* [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Shane_Webcke.html Shane Webcke stats at rugbyleagueproject.com]
* [http://www.qrl.com.au/qrl_history/qld_rep_w.php Queensland representatives at qrl.com.au]

Footnotes