Product Code Database
Cameron King (born 17 September 1991) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a in the 2010s.
He made his debut for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL in 2010 with whom he won the 2011 World Club Challenge. He also played for the North Queensland Cowboys and the Parramatta Eels as well as Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship.
After moving to Sydney in 2005, he began playing in the St. George Junior Rugby League Football Competition for Hurstville United Junior Rugby League Football Club.
He attended and graduated from Endeavour Sports High School in Taren Point, New South Wales, where he captained the senior team and received the Endeavour Sports High School 'Player of the Year Award' in 2009.
King's form resulted in him becoming a member of the St. George Illawarra Dragons under-20's Toyota Cup team in 2008. He debuted in round 19 against Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park Stadium on 21 July 2008.
That same year he also captained the New South Wales under-18s side which beat Queensland's under-18s 26–6. In an interview with The Leader after winning, he said that he, "actually learnt to hate Queensland."
In July, he represented NSWCHS (NSW Combined High Schools) in the under-18's division. He won the 'man of the match' in one game and was named MVP for the series.
In December, he won the Val Lembit Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding sportsman in NSW, awarded by the Combined High Schools. He also received the 'DAU Medal', a medal in recognition of an individual, who has made the most outstanding on and off field contribution to the rugby league program at Endeavour Sports High School.
Brad Kelly, a teacher at the school, said "2009 was a pretty stellar year for him, he has probably achieved more this year than any other student who has gone through our rugby league program."
King was selected to play for the 2010 Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis. The match was held at Westpac Stadium on 23 October. Australia won 24–16. King scored 1 try and kicked 2 goals. He then played in the second game of the series at Rotorua International Stadium on 31 October 2010. King converted two tries, scoring a total of 4 points. Australia lost 20–36.
King was given the opportunity to start at for the annual Charity Shield match, against South Sydney, that was held at Stadium Australia on 13 February 2011, due to the absence of hooker Dean Young to injury and with Nathan Fien filling in at five eighth for Jamie Soward who was on representative duty for the annual All Stars Match.
On 22 February 2011, it was confirmed that King had re-signed with St. George for a further two years. In an interview with The Leader upon re-signing, King said "I'm happy here...It's a good club to be at and I didn't feel the need to look anywhere else."
King was selected to play in the 2011 World Club Challenge on 27 February 2011 at DW Stadium against the 2010 Super League premiers, Wigan Warriors. He came off the bench and in the 55th minute managed to dummy his marker from a metre out of the try line before barging over to score his first try for the Red V and one that would prove to be the game winner. St. George went on to win the game 21–15 in front of 24,268 fans. He left the field shortly after scoring his try when he ruptured his pectoral muscle trying to tackle New Zealand Warriors Sam Tomkins.
On 5 August 2011, King made a successful comeback from the injury sustained during the World Cup Challenge by coming off the bench with a strong 50-minute performance in St. George's under-20s 28–0 win against Wests Tigers at the Sydney Football Stadium in round 22. He went on to play the last 5 games of the season.
On 16 October 2011, King played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis, at Ausgrid Stadium.
On 11 March 2012, the day after St. George Illawarra player Beau Scott had signed with the Newcastle Knights, it was reported by the media that ex Dragons coach Wayne Bennett was also attempting to poach King to Newcastle. As Wayne Bennett got off the Newcastle team bus at Shark Park before the Newcastle side were due to play Cronulla, an irate Saints fan let him know what she thought of his poaching of Beau Scott and speculation that rookie hooker Cameron King may also be Newcastle-bound. "Don't you take Cameron King off us," the woman screamed as she poked her finger in Bennett's face. "You've taken Beau Scott and Darius Boyd and all those others, but don't you take Cameron King."
On 12 April 2012, it was confirmed that King had re-signed with the St. George club for a further two years which would have seen him stay at the club until at least the end of the 2014 season. Upon re-signing, King said "It's good. I'm really happy. I didn't really want to leave and I'm happy to be here for another two years,’’ he said. ‘'It was the best thing for me and my family at the moment. I've got a lot of family in Sydney and to move anywhere else would have been hard." "I'm really excited to have re-signed with the Dragons. We are a very proud club, I really enjoy being here and they have been great to me. We have a lot of young talented guys coming through the ranks and a great group of established senior players. I believe the club has a big future and I want to be a part of it."
On 4 July 2012, King along with teammates David Gower, Michael Lett and Jack Stockwell played for the NSW Cup Representative side against the Queensland Residents at Lang Park. The match was a curtain raiser to the 2012 State of Origin game III decider.
Cameron debuted for North Queensland in their round 9 win over arch-rivals the Brisbane Broncos.
In the round 10 match against the Sydney Roosters, while attempting to make a tackle, King ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left-knee four-minutes from full-time. "King's been a turning point for us," said teammate Brent Tate, "so it's really disappointing."
In November, it was announced by the Parramatta club that King was re-signed for a further year.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph in December, King thanked his friendship to former NRL player Kyle Stanley for his career and the help he was given during every injury set-back. "He was just so inspirational,’’ King said. "We have been best mates since we were 15 and I have never met a tougher man. What I was going through was nothing compared to what he had copped and he really put it into perspective.'’ "He will be on the field with me every game I ever play,’’ King said. "I have made a promise to write his name on my wrist every time I take the field.'’
On 14 November, King took to Twitter in a desperate attempt to find a new club to play for in 2019. King posted "Cameron King, Hooker, 90 kg, All round good guy, Enjoys hard work and winning, looking for a club, please RETWEET to raise awareness".
On 29 October 2019, it was revealed that King had been released by Featherstone. King spoke to the media saying "Things are probably taking a little longer than I'd hoped, But I do have options back in the UK and in Australia. It's good to get back home and be talking to people and figure out what I want to do. I've been around friends and family and had a mental break from footy, but I've been assessing the options for next year, whether that be the Championship again, stepping up to Super League or coming back to Australia".
On 2 December 2019, King signed a contract to join Cronulla-Sutherland for the 2020 NRL season.
In February 2020, King was taken from the field during Cronulla's trial game against Canterbury-Bankstown with a suspected knee injury. It was later revealed that King had suffered a season ending ACL injury. King posted on Twitter saying "It's still sinking in that my season is over. It's been hard to accept what's happened and I'd be lying if I said I'm ok. I'm taking things 1 day at a time and determined to not let this defeat me physically or mentally. Thank you all for the support".
On 15 October 2020, King announced his retirement from the NRL.
His father, Stephen King played lower grades at the Penrith Panthers in the 1970s. He later went on to play in country towns Wellington, Coonamble, Condobolin, Mudgee before taking up a captain/coaching role for Brothers and Turvey Park in the local Wagga Rugby League Competition Group 9 Rugby League and Group 13 Rugby League respectively.
NYC Debut: – Round 19, St. George Illawarra Dragons v Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park Stadium, 21 July 2008
ARL Schoolboy Cup Member
New South Wales Under-18s Captain
New South Wales CHS Under-18s Captain
Minor Premiership won
Australian Junior Kangaroos member
World Club Challenge victory
Australian Junior Kangaroos member
New South Wales Cup Debut: – Round 1, Illawarra Cutters v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, 3 March 2012
New South Wales Cup Origin Representative
North Queensland Cowboys Debut: – Round 9, North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos at Willows Sports Complex, 9 May 2014
2016 Geoff Gerard NSW Cup Coaches' Award
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Parramatta Eels Profile
|
|
