Gavin Lester facts for kids

Gavin Lester (born 5 January 1977) is an Australian former professional rugby league player. He played as a winger, which is a fast player on the side of the field. Gavin played for two well-known teams: the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters. He was active in the 1990s and 2000s.

Early Life and Start in Rugby

Gavin Lester was born in Sydney, Australia. Like many rugby players, he started playing the sport when he was young. His first team was a junior rugby league club called La Perouse United. This is where he learned the basics of the game.

Playing for the Bulldogs

Gavin began his professional career in 1998 with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. His first game was in Round 4 against the Balmain Tigers. Even though his team lost, Gavin scored a try in his very first match!

That year, the Bulldogs had an amazing season. They finished 9th in the league but still made it to the finals. They won four tough elimination games in a row. One of these wins was a famous comeback against the Parramatta Eels. The Bulldogs were far behind but managed to score many points quickly to win in extra time.

Gavin Lester played on the wing in the 1998 NRL Grand Final. This was a huge game, but the Bulldogs lost to the Brisbane Broncos. Even so, reaching the Grand Final was a big achievement for the team and for Gavin in his first year.

Time with the Roosters

After playing for the Bulldogs, Gavin Lester joined the Sydney Roosters for the 2004 NRL season. He played 10 matches for the Roosters and scored 3 tries during his time with the team.