Chris McKenna (rugby league) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chris McKenna

Personal information
Born	(1974-10-29) 29 October 1974 (age 50) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Position	Centre, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1993–94 Brisbane Broncos 13 4 0 0 16 1993–94 Sheffield Eagles 4 1 0 0 4 1995–96 London Broncos 29 3 0 0 12 1996 South Qld Crushers 29 3 0 0 12 1997–02 Cronulla Sharks 118 29 0 0 116 2003–05 Leeds Rhinos 80 24 0 0 96 2006–07 Bradford Bulls 52 7 0 0 28 2008 Doncaster RLFC 9 0 0 0 0 Total 334 71 0 0 284 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1997 Queensland (SL) 1 0 0 0 0 1999–02 Queensland 7 0 0 0 0 2000–02 Australia 2 2 0 0 8

Chris McKenna, born on October 29, 1974, is a former professional rugby league player from Australia. He played as a second row forward and sometimes as a centre.

He played for several teams in Australia, including the Brisbane Broncos, South Queensland Crushers, and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Later in his career, he moved to England. There he played for the Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, and Doncaster. Chris also represented his home state, Queensland, and his country, Australia, in international matches.

Chris McKenna's Early Life

Chris McKenna was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His family has a diverse background. His father was born in Ireland, and his mother was born in Guyana. Chris is one of 11 children in his family. He grew up in the Wynnum-Manly area of Brisbane.

Chris McKenna's Rugby League Career

Starting Out: 1993-1996

Chris McKenna started his professional rugby league career in 1993. He made his first-grade debut for the Brisbane Broncos. In the same year, he also played for the Sheffield Eagles in Europe.

In 1994, while playing for the Brisbane Broncos, Chris was part of the team that played against the British champions, Wigan. This big game was called the 1994 World Club Challenge. From 1994 to 1996, Chris continued to play in both Australia and Europe. He played for the Sheffield Eagles and the London Broncos in European competitions. In Australia, he played for the South Queensland Crushers.

Playing for the Cronulla Sharks: 1997-2002

From 1997 to 2002, Chris McKenna played as a centre for the Cronulla Sharks. In 1997, he played in the only Australian Super League Grand Final with the Sharks.

In 2002, Chris had a standout performance. He was named the man of the match in the second game of the 2002 State of Origin series. After the 2002 season, he decided to move to England. He joined the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He was the only player from the 2002 Australian Test team to move to the Super League that year.

Success with the Leeds Rhinos: 2003-2005

Chris McKenna joined the Leeds Rhinos in 2003. He made a strong start but then got an injury that kept him out for a month. He worked hard to get back to his best form later in 2003. During this time, he also started playing more in the forward pack.

In 2004, Chris played a key role in the Rhinos' successful season. He scored 9 tries in 23 games. He scored two tries in a big win against Bradford at Headingley. He was also named man of the match in that game. Chris played as a second-row forward when the Leeds Rhinos won the 2004 Super League Grand Final against the Bradford Bulls.

As champions, the Rhinos then played against the Australian champions, the Bulldogs, in the 2005 World Club Challenge. Chris played in the second row as Leeds won this exciting match. In 2005, Chris also played in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final for Leeds, but they lost to Hull FC. He scored 9 tries in 29 games that year. In total, he played 80 games for Leeds and scored 24 tries. He left Leeds at the end of 2005.

Later Career: 2006-2008

After leaving Leeds, Chris McKenna joined the Bradford Bulls for the 2006 season. He played for them until the end of the 2007 season. In September 2007, it was announced that he would leave Bradford.

He then signed a two-year part-time contract with Doncaster. He started playing for them in 2008.

Playing for State and Country

Chris McKenna also had a strong career representing his state and country.

• State of Origin: He played 7 games in total for the Queensland team.
• International: He played 2 Test matches for Australia in 2000 and 2002.