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 forward, often in the second row position, and also as a centre.

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

Early Life and Family

Chris McKenna was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His family background is quite interesting! His father was born in Ireland, and his mother was born in Guyana. This means Chris has both Irish and Guyanese heritage. He grew up in a big family with 11 children in Wynnum-Manly, a suburb of Brisbane.

Rugby League Career Highlights

Chris McKenna had a long and successful career in rugby league, playing for many different clubs and representing his state and country.

Starting His Professional Journey

First Games in 1993

Chris McKenna started his professional rugby league career in 1993. He made his first appearance for the Brisbane Broncos, a well-known team in Australia. In the same year, he also played for the Sheffield Eagles in England.

World Club Challenge

In 1994, while playing for the Brisbane Broncos, Chris was part of a special game called the 1994 World Club Challenge. This was a match between the Australian champions, Brisbane, and the British champions, Wigan. Chris played from the bench in this exciting game.

Playing in Australia and Europe

Moving Between Teams (1994–1996)

After his time with the Brisbane Broncos, Chris continued to play for both Australian and European teams. He made appearances for the Sheffield Eagles and the London Broncos in Europe. At the same time, he also played for the South Queensland Crushers in Australia.

Success with Cronulla Sharks

Grand Final and State of Origin (1997–2002)

From 1997 to 2002, Chris McKenna played as a centre for the Cronulla Sharks. He was a key player for them and even played in the only Australian Super League Grand Final in 1997.

In 2002, Chris had a standout performance in the second game of the 2002 State of Origin series. He was named man of the match for his excellent play. After this successful period, he decided to move to England to join the Leeds Rhinos. He was the only Australian Test player from 2002 to move to the Super League in England.

Time with Leeds Rhinos

Joining the Rhinos (2003)

Chris McKenna joined the Leeds Rhinos in 2003. He made a strong start with the team. During his first season, he scored six tries in 25 games.

Winning the Super League (2004)

In 2004, Chris helped the Leeds Rhinos win the Super League IX Grand Final. He played as a second-row forward in their victory against the Bradford Bulls. He scored nine tries in 23 games that season, including two tries in a big win over Bradford.

World Club Challenge Victory (2005)

As champions of the Super League, the Leeds Rhinos played against the Australian champions, the Bulldogs, in the 2005 World Club Challenge. Chris played as a second-row forward in this match, helping Leeds win 39–32. Later in 2005, he also played in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final, where Leeds lost to Hull FC.

Leaving Leeds

Chris left Leeds at the end of the 2005 season. In total, he played 80 games for Leeds and scored 24 tries. He scored a try in his final home game for the Rhinos.

Later Career and Retirement

Playing for Bradford and Doncaster (2006–2008)

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

In 2008, Chris signed a two-year contract to play part-time for Doncaster RLFC. He played nine games for Doncaster before retiring from professional rugby league.

Representing State and Country

Chris McKenna also had the honor of playing for his state and country:

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