Dale Shearer facts for kids

Dale Shearer (born 25 July 1965), also known as "Rowdy", is a famous Australian former professional rugby league player. He played in the 1980s and 1990s. Dale was a top player for Queensland in the State of Origin series and for the Australian national team. He is of Aboriginal heritage.

Dale played for many clubs in Queensland, New South Wales, and England. He helped the Manly-Warringah team win the NSWRL Premiership in 1987. He also won the Rugby League World Cup Final in 1988 with Australia. Even ten years after he stopped playing, Dale was still the player who scored the most tries in State of Origin history. He was also chosen for the Indigenous Australian Team of the Century.

Today, Dale Shearer is a speaker. He shares stories about his time as a professional athlete. He also talks about challenges he has faced and how to overcome difficulties. Dale is a strong supporter of cancer awareness.

Dale Shearer: Rugby League Star

Dale Shearer was born in St George, Queensland. He grew up to become one of rugby league's most exciting players.

Early Playing Career

Rising Through the Ranks

When Dale was 18, he started to get noticed. He played for the Sarina Crocodiles in Queensland. His great performances caught the eye of many rugby league fans. In 1984, Dale played for the North Queensland Marlins. He even played against the touring Great Britain Lions team. He also helped his local Mackay team win the Foley Shield. That same year, he played for Queensland against New Zealand.

Joining Manly-Warringah

The famous coach Bob Fulton quickly signed Dale to play for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Dale was only 19 years old. He made his first game for Manly in 1985. In the same year, he played his first State of Origin game for Queensland. Dale usually played on the wing or in the centres. He played 22 games in his first year with Manly, scoring 8 tries. This was the most club games he played in one season during his 14-year career.

Playing for Australia

International Debut

In 1986, Dale made his first game for Australia. He played on the wing against New Zealand in Auckland. He scored a try in his very first international game! Later that year, he was chosen for the 1986 Kangaroo Tour. On this tour, he played 13 games. This included two important matches against Great Britain and two against France. He scored 12 tries during the tour. In one game against France, he scored a record four tries.

Grand Final Success

In 1987, Dale helped Queensland win the State of Origin shield back from New South Wales. He was also the starting fullback for Manly in their big Grand Final win. Manly beat the Canberra Raiders 18-8. This game was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Manly had a fantastic season, winning 20 games and only losing 5. Dale played 20 games and scored 13 tries, making him Manly's top try scorer that year. After winning the Grand Final, he traveled to England with Manly. They played against the English champions, Wigan, in the 1987 World Club Challenge.

Time in England

After the 1987 season, Dale also played in England. He joined the Widnes team for 14 games. Widnes won the championship during the 1987–88 RFL season. Dale continued to play for Manly until 1989.

Later Club Career

Moving to New Clubs

In the 1990s, Dale joined the Brisbane Broncos. He played for Queensland in all three games of the 1990 State of Origin series. He was also the main goal kicker for the Broncos in 1990. Dale was chosen for the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France. He continued to play for Queensland and Australia in 1991.

Later, Dale played for the Gold Coast Seagulls. He was the fullback for Queensland in all three games of the 1992 State of Origin series. He also played for Australia as fullback and goal kicker in 1993. This was his last year playing for Australia. After the Seagulls, Dale joined the South Queensland Crushers. He played his last game for Queensland in 1996. He then played for the Sydney Roosters. His final season was in 1998 with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Life After Rugby League

Awards and Recognition

In 2000, Dale Shearer received the Australian Sports Medal. This award recognized his amazing achievements in rugby league. In 2008, Dale was honored as a wing player in the Indigenous Team of the Century. This team included many other rugby league legends.

Overcoming Challenges

Dale has faced some tough times in his life. He is now a professional speaker. He talks about his experiences as an athlete and the challenges he has overcome. He also speaks about mental health and how to deal with personal difficulties. Dale is a strong supporter of cancer awareness.