Anthony Don

Anthony Don
Personal information
Born (1987-09-21) 21 September 1987 (age 37)
Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–21 Gold Coast Titans 152 85 0 0 340
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017 NSW Country 1 1 0 0 4
Source: [1]
As of 4 June 2021
RelativesRon Willey (grandfather)

Anthony Don (born 21 September 1987) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played on the wing for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL.

He played for Country NSW in 2017.

Background

Don was born in Manly, New South Wales, Australia.

He played his junior football for the Grafton Ghosts before being signed by the Gold Coast Titans on a two-year contract starting in 2013.[2]

Playing career

He played for the Titans' Queensland Cup team, Burleigh Bears in 2013.

In round six of the 2013 NRL season, Don made his NRL debut for the Gold Coast against the Parramatta Eels. He finished his debut year playing 13 games and scoring seven tries for the Gold Coast as the club finished 9th on the table.[3][4]

On 13 June 2014, Don re-signed with the Gold Coast on a two-year contract. He finished the 2014 NRL season as the Gold Coast's top try scorer despite only playing 15 games.[5]

In the 2017 NRL season, Don finished as the Gold Coast's top try scorer with 12 tries. The club suffered greatly on and off the field in 2017 as they finished 15th on the table.[6][7][8]

In round 15 of the 2018 NRL season, Don played his 100th NRL games in the Titans' 32–10 win at Belmore Sports Ground, scoring a try. Don finished as the club's top try scorer in the 2018 season as the Gold Coast finished 14th on the table.[9]

In the 2019 NRL season Don, became the Gold Coast's all-time leading try scorer surpassing David Mead. Don played 17 games for the Gold Coast and scored eight tries as the club endured a horror year on and off the field finishing last.[10][11][12]

On 10 August 2021, Don announced his retirement from rugby league at the end of the 2021 NRL season.[13]

Representative career

Don has played in the Australian Universities Tour, playing in England, South Africa and France.[14]

Personal life

Don is the grandson of Ron Willey, a 1950s representative Fullback who coached Manly Warringah to premiership success in 1972 and 1973, before going onto a successful stint as New South Wales State of Origin coach. Willey was the first Origin coach to win a series 3-0 when he led NSW to victory over Queensland in the 1986 State of Origin series.[15]

He is married to former lifesaver Samantha Don & has 1 Daughter.

References

  1. ^ "Anthony Don - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Titans deal don | Grafton Daily Examiner". Dailyexaminer.com.au. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Late Mail: Titans v Eels – iSelect Gold Coast Titans". Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Anthony Don player results, scores, news and statistics". Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  5. ^ NRL. "Anthony Don re-signs". Titans. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Hayne wins out as Neil Henry sacked". Sporting News.
  7. ^ "NRL coach Neil Henry sacked by Gold Coast Titans". The Guardian.
  8. ^ "Gold Coast Titans announce sacking of Neil Henry". Fox Sports.
  9. ^ "Gold Coast Titans 2018 season review". NRL.
  10. ^ "Melbourne Storm defeat Gold Coast Titans after scare". News.com.au.
  11. ^ "Not good enough blasts Arthur despite comfortable win". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. ^ "Proctor's apology to Titans fans". NRL.
  13. ^ "Gold Coast Titans cult hero Anthony Don announces retirement after 152 NRL games". sportingnews.com.
  14. ^ Webeck, Tony (15 May 2014). "Covell's shock at NSW call-up". nrl.com. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  15. ^ Travis Meyn (13 April 2013). "Gold Coast Debutant Anthony Don Brings A Top Rugby League Pedigree to the Game". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 14 April 2013.