Tonie Carroll

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Tonie Carroll
fullname = Tonie Carroll
nickname = The Jaw, Tunsa


imagesize = 113px
caption = Carroll in 2008
country = AUS
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1976|2|17|df=yes
placeofbirth = Christchurch
countryofbirth = New Zealand
height = 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
weight = 101 kg (15 st 12 lb)
position = rlp|CE|LK
retired = yes
club1 = leagueicon|Brisbane|16 Brisbane Broncos
year1start = 1996
year1end = 2000
appearances1 = 89
tries1 = 29
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 116
club2 = leagueicon|Leeds|16 Leeds Rhinos
year2start = 2001
year2end = 2002
appearances2 = 42
tries2 = 30
goals2 = 0
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 120
club3 = leagueicon|Brisbane|16 Brisbane Broncos
year3start = 2003
year3end = 2008
appearances3 = 118
tries3 = 26
goals3 = 0
fieldgoals3 = 0
points3 = 104
teamA = leagueicon|Queensland|16 Queensland (SL)
yearAstart = 1997
yearAend =
appearancesA = 2
triesA = 1
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 4
teamB = leagueicon|Queensland|16 Queensland
yearBstart = 1998
yearBend = 2007
appearancesB = 18
triesB = 1
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 4
teamC = leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16 New Zealand
yearCstart = 2000
yearCend =
appearancesC = 3
triesC = 0
goalsC = 0
fieldgoalsC = 0
pointsC = 0
teamD = leagueicon|Australia|16 Australia
yearDstart = 2004
yearDend = 2005
appearancesD = 7
triesD = 2
goalsD = 0
fieldgoalsD = 0
pointsD = 8
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=10010 NRL Stats]

Tonie Carroll (born 17 February, 1976 in Christchurch, New Zealand) is an Australian/New Zealand professional rugby league player. He plays at Lock/Second Row and previously at Centre for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League competition and frequently represents Queensland in the State of Origin.

While attending Beenleigh High, Carroll played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1993. [cite web |title=SportingPulse Homepage for Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424 |accessdate=2008-10-10 | publisher="SportingPulse"]

Nicknamed 'Tunza', he started his Australian club career with Brisbane's Easts Tigers team before moving on to the Broncos. He won the Broncos' rookie of the year award in 1996. Best known for his devastating defensive hits, he created controversy when, after representing New Zealand in the 2000 World Cup, he played for the Australian side, due to his having played State of Origin. When selected for the Kangaroos in 2004s Tri-Nations competition, Carroll became the first player in 90 years (since Bill Kelly in 1914) to play for both New Zealand and Australia.

Carroll traveled to England to play with the Leeds Rhinos at the end of the 2000 season.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/2104600.stm|title=Carroll confirms departure|publisher=BBC|date=2002-07-06|accessdate=2008-02-20] He finished his first season in Super League as top try-scorer for his club with 23 tries in 28 games, including hat-tricks in consecutive games. This earned him a place in the centres in 2001's Super League Dream Team. The following year was a frustrating one for Carroll as he struggled with injury, however he still managed 22 appearances, scoring eight tries. After two seasons at the Rhinos he returned to the Broncos.

Carroll's leg was injured in the 2006 grand final against Melbourne. Despite limping, he refused to leave the field and ended up playing solid football later in the game.

In 2007, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett pulled a surprise selection by naming Carroll at five-eighth left vacant due to the season ending knee injury to captain Darren Lockyer, a position he has only played for 50 minutes in his entire career, opting for Carroll ahead of other options such as, Joel Moon, Karmichael Hunt, Shane Perry and Greg Eastwood.

The 2008 NRL season will be his last of professional rugby league, although recently he and Brisbane Broncos played their last game at Suncorp Stadium a loss to Melbourne Storm 16 points to 14

He retired following the conclusion of the 2008 season.cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-04]

* "First Grade Debut" - Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys, ANZ Stadium, April 21, 1996

References

External links

*
*StateofOrigin player|298
* [http://leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk/leedsrhinos/pastplayers/squad-page.asp?ID=103 Leeds profile]
*FOGS player|113