David Gower (rugby league)

David Neil Gower (born 30 September 1985) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop, second-row and lock for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL competition.

David Gower
Personal information
Full nameDavid Neil Gower[1]
Born (1985-09-30) 30 September 1985
Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Lock, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–07 Salford City Reds 18 0 0 0 0
2009 Wests Tigers 1 0 0 0 0
2011–12 St. George Illawarra 7 0 0 0 0
2013 Manly Sea Eagles 12 0 0 0 0
2014–20 Parramatta Eels 101 6 0 0 24
Total 139 6 0 0 24
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017 NSW City 1 1 0 0 4
As of 19 November 2020
Source: [2]

He previously played for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League[3] and the Wests Tigers, St. George Illawarra Dragons,[4] and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL. He played for NSW City in 2017.

Background

Gower was born in Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.

Gower played his junior football for the Holy Cross Rhinos before moving to England to play for the Salford Red Devils.

Playing career

2006–07: Salford City Reds

Between 2006 and 2007 he played in the Super League for the Salford City Reds.

2009–10: Career with Wests Tigers

In 2009, Gower joined the Wests Tigers. In round 26 of the 2009 NRL season, he made his NRL debut against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at the Sydney Football Stadium. At the end of the 2009 NRL season, Gower won the New South Wales Cup Player of the Year award.

Gower playing for the Illawarra Cutters in 2012

At the end of 2010, after making the New South Wales Cup Team of the Year, Gower signed a 1-year contract with 2010 NRL Premiership-winning team, St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in the 2011 season.[5]

2011–12: Career with St. George Illawarra

After playing in five NRL matches for St. George Illawarra, his contract was extended at the end of the year.[6]

At the end of the 2012 NRL season, Gower was named in the 2012 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year and also won the Illawarra Cutters' New South Wales Cup Player of the Year award, before signing a one-year contract with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

2013: Career with Manly-Warringah

Gower played off the bench in Manly-Warringah's 2013 NRL Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters.[7]

2014–present: Career with Parramatta

On 18 November 2013, Gower signed a one-year contract with the Parramatta Eels. After a successful season, Gower was rewarded with a 2-year extension with the Eels until 2016. In 2017 whilst playing for Parramatta, Gower was selected to play for the City representative side in the annual and last ever City vs Country Origin match.[8] On 2 June 2017, Gower broke his hand in Parramatta's 32–24 victory over The Auckland Warriors.[9] On 13 September 2017, it was announced that Gower had signed a one-year contract extension to stay at Parramatta.[10] In 2018, Gower made 16 appearances for Parramatta and scored 1 try as the club endured a horrid season on and off the field and claimed its 14th wooden spoon.[11][12] On 30 October 2018, Gower signed a one-year contract extension keeping him at the club until the end of the 2019 NRL season.[13]

In round 14 of the 2019 NRL season, Gower scored his first try of the season as Parramatta defeated Brisbane 38–10 at the new Western Sydney Stadium.[14]

Gower made 16 appearances for Parramatta in the 2019 NRL season which he announced would be his last. Gower's final game as a player was for Parramatta's feeder club the Wentworthville Magpies in the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW grand final which Wentworthville lost 20–15 against Newtown at Bankwest Stadium.[15][16]

On 4 November 2019, it was announced that Gower had overturned his decision to retire and signed a one-year deal with Parramatta for the 2020 NRL season.[17]

In round 9 of the 2020 NRL season, Gower made his 100th appearance for Parramatta against Newcastle. Parramatta would go on to win the match 10–4 at McDonald Jones Stadium.[18]

Gower made three appearances for Parramatta in the 2020 NRL season. On 12 October, Gower was released by the club as a player and took up a role with Parramatta in their educational and well-being team.[19]

References
  1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/the-players-the-dragons-call-up-to-fill-the-gaps-come-state-of-origin-time/story-e6frepbx-1226072714356
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. GOWER SIGNS FOR SALFORD| Sporting Life – Rugby League News| Super League, Ian Millward tips. Sporting Life. Retrieved on 2011-06-10.
  4. David Gower set to sparkle for Dragons – New South Wales Rugby League Archived 15 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Nswrl.com.au (2010-12-16). Retrieved on 2011-06-10.
  5. "Rate The 2011 Player Transfers". Fox Sports. 29 January 2011.
  6. "Dragons Re-Sign Trio". www.dragons.com.au. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  7. "David Gower to play in grand final for Manly". www.smh.com.au.
  8. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/david-gower-drops-fbomb-on-live-tv-during-city-vs-country-match/news-story/975c6ec52a5a2bb42e2db8b2ade1eb27
  9. http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/eels-pull-off-gutsy-win-over-warriors/news-story/33d358e69e3f3e6257b52c17924d1435
  10. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-market-watch-cost-of-james-grahams-dragons-move-chris-heighingtons-future/news-story/66add9309e249204aaf01e85449ff2df
  11. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/Ny0xNzE3LTQtLS0tLS01NDY1LS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLQ==
  12. https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/12/parramatta-eels-2018-season-review/
  13. https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/parramatta-eels-contract-extensions-david-gower-peni-terepo-george-jennings-kaysa-pritchard/1e9l5u9vefeo8zk3hcp4frdi4
  14. "Parramatta crushes Brisbane 38–10, Melbourne beats Newcastle 34–4, Penrith defeats Souths 19–18". ABC.
  15. "Newtown reign supreme in epic decider". NSWRL.
  16. "Eels veteran David Gower's plan to curb NRL bad behaviour and inspire rising stars". Fox Sports.
  17. "Parramatta Eels re-sign five players as rumours of Ryan Matterson joining grow louder". Sporting News.
  18. "Eels rookie in hot water over potential breach". www.foxsports.com.au.
  19. "Parramatta Eels farewell 11 players in mass exodus following disappointing finals exit". www.sportingnews.com.
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