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Matthew GIDLEY [Player Stats]

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Gidley's big shoes to fill
Fri January 5, 2007
by Matthew O'Neill
Former Newcastle and International centre Matthew Gidley has arrived in England and knows he has the massive task ahead of him taking over from Jamie Lyon as the St Helens right centre and the big Australian import.

Lyon has been the most successful Australian player to hear the famous St Helens jersey since former Kangaroo legend Mal Meninga wreaked havoc in his stint at Knowsley Road during the 1984/85 season.

With Lyon heading back to Australia where he signed up with the Manly-Warringah club, the Saints went on the lookout for a right centre, which is where Lyon played all except two games in a very successful stint. Gidley who was off contract at Newcastle and a wealth of Test and State of Origin experience was the player earmarked by the Saints to fill the void.

When thinking of making the switch to Super League, Gidley admitted that Knights team-mate Brian Carney suggested that it would be a great thing for him and also spoke highly of St Helens despite playing for the Saints bitter arch-rivals Wigan.

Gidley, 29, spoke of filling Lyon's shoes and the impact of Carney said, "We are similar types of player. Jamie is a world-class player and he was wonderful for St Helens.

"I am hoping to be able to contribute to the team in some shape or form.

:Brian is a close friend of mine and he was the one I spoke to initiall. He said it was probably just what I needed if I was looking for another challenge. He spoke highly of Super League and St Helens.

"I have a good relationship with Jamie and I spoke to him before I came over. He said the atmosphere at the games was fantastic and that the fans were most probably the best he has come across. He didn't have a bad word to say about the club or the town.

Gidley continued to say, "I feel very privileged to be able to come into such a wonderful team. I'm very grateful that the club has given me this opportunity.

"To come to Super League was something I'd always dreamed of. I watched a lot of the games with my Dad growing up. I had a wonderful career at Newcastle and I needed a new challenge.

"Hopefully, if we can remain pretty healthy this year, we can be thereabouts for the big games again. From watching the club play, it was obvious they are a class outfit and I've witnessed that this week.

"Even the younger guys have impressed me with the way they've been training."

St Helens start their Super League defence in the opening Super League match of the season against Huddersfield on Sunday 4th February, which is a Round 3 match brought forward by three weeks to accomodate the World Club Challenge when the Saints take on NRL premiers Brisbane Broncos at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on Friday 23rd February.

Gidley played 221 matches for the Newcastle Knights between 1996-2006 and represented Australia in 11 Tests, New South Wales in 11 matches and was a member of Australia's successful 2000 World Cup campaign. Gidley missed Newcastle's 1997 Grand Final triumph through injury but was there when the Knights toppled Parramatta 30-24 in 2001.

Newcastle farewells Gidley
Tue August 22, 2006
Source: www.newcastleknights.com.au

Sentimental favourite, Matthew Gidley will say goodbye to his Newcastle supporters this weekend when the Knights host the Panthers at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

After a decade of loyal service, Gidley's 219th appearance in the Blue and Red will be his final regular club game before he departs for English Super League Club, St Helens.

"It's going to be an emotional day for me. I've been at the Knights since I was a junior and the club has been such a big part of my life for so long," Gidley said.

Meanwhile, the Knights continue their hunt for a home semi final following last week's victory against the Cowboys.

Coach Michael Hagan announced an unchanged 18 man squad today, with Jarrod Mullen retaining the half back spot after leading the Knights to victory at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

"The team played well against the Cowboys but we need a back up performance to silence our critics," said Hagan.

"Our forwards were exceptional last weekend, especially Josh Perry, Danny Buderus and Steve Simpson, and I expect them to stand up again on Saturday and lead from the front."

The final home game of the year traditionally attracts a bumper crowd to EnergyAustralia Stadium and with a home semi final up for grabs; Novocastrians are expected to turn out in force.

"We're in the Top Eight and stand a very good chance of making the Top Four," Knights CEO Ken Conway said.

"Finals football is all about teams who believe they can win, and with a Newcastle crowd behind them the Knights are capable of almost anything.

"We can't urge people enough to get in and buy tickets early because we are expecting a big crowd to farewell the likes of Matt Gidley."

The last home game of the season also coincides with the Knights Old Boys annual reunion day when past players parade in a lap of honour of the ground.

Special presentations will also be made to Anthony Quinn who reached his 100 game milestone last weekend and Craig Smith who recently played his 150th NRL match.

KNIGHTS v PANTHERS
EnergyAustralia Stadium
Round 25
7.30pm, Saturday 26 August, 2006

FIRST GRADE
Coach: Michael Hagan

1. Milton Thaiday
2. Brian Carney
3. Matthew Gidley
4. George Carmont
5. Anthony Quinn
6. Kurt Gidley
7. Jarrod Mullen
8. Josh Perry
9. Danny Buderus (c)
10. Adam Woolnough
11. Steve Simpson
12. Clint Newton
13. Kirk Reynoldson

Interchange:
14. Luke Davico
15. Reegan Tanner
16. Todd Lowrie
17. Riley Brown
18. Daniel Abraham
(one to be omitted)

News sent by: www.newcastleknights.com.au

Fri July 21, 2006

Mad Dog back, Quigley stays and Gidley leaves the Knights for 2007

Fri May 5, 2006

Gidley retires from Rep Football

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2008 engage English Super League

St Helens 
17 games; 4 tries, 1 goals, 18 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [10 Feb 08] L 22-24 v Hull KR (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 2 [15 Feb 08] W 30-22 v Warrington (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 3 [22 Feb 08] W 22-16 v Bradford (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 4 [02 Mar 08] W 34-30 v Wakefield (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 5 [07 Mar 08] W 30-29 v Hull FC (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 6 [15 Mar 08] L 10-24 v Les Catalans (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 7 [21 Mar 08] W 46-10 v Wigan (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [24 Mar 08] L 26-28 v Huddersfield (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 9 [28 Mar 08] L 10-14 v Leeds (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 10 [06 Apr 08] L 24-30 v Castleford (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 11 [11 Apr 08] W 58-12 v Harlequins (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 12 [25 Apr 08] W 30-22 v Warrington (A). [FB] 
[View] Round 13 [04 May 08] W 57-16 v Wigan. [CT] 2 Pts; 1g
[View] Round 14 [17 May 08] W 28-10 v Les Catalans (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 15 [25 May 08] W 16-8 v Hull FC (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 16 [06 Jun 08] W 52-10 v Hull KR (H). [CT] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 18 [20 Jun 08] W 26-12 v Leeds (A). [CT] 
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2007 World Club Challenge

St Helens 
1 games; [View] WCC [23 Feb 07] W 18-14 v Broncos (H). [CT]
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2007 engage English Super League

St Helens 
16 games; 12 tries, 48 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [09 Feb 07] L 6-14 v Harlequins (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [18 Feb 07] L 22-29 v Wakefield (A). [CT]
[View] Round 3 [04 Feb 07] W 18-10 v Huddersfield (A). [CT]
[View] Round 4 [02 Mar 07] W 34-22 v Bradford (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 5 [09 Mar 07] W 48-12 v Warrington (A). [CT] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Round 6 [17 Mar 07] L 12-24 v Hull FC (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 7 [23 Mar 07] W 42-14 v Hull KR (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [06 Apr 07] W 32-14 v Wigan (A). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 12 [29 Apr 07] W 44-6 v Harlequins (A). [CT] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 14 [18 May 07] W 34-14 v Wakefield (H). [CT] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 17 [17 Jun 07] W 40-0 v Hull KR (A). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 21 [20 Jul 07] W 19-12 v Wigan (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 23 [11 Aug 07] L 0-21 v Les Catalans (A). [CT] 
[View] Round 24 [17 Aug 07] W 32-20 v Salford City (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 27 [14 Sep 07] L 12-20 v Wigan (A). [CT] 
[View] Finals Week 2 [28 Sep 07] W 10-8 v Leeds (H). [CT] 
======================================================================================================

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership

Newcastle Knights 
26 games; 9 tries, 36 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [11 Mar 06] W 25-6 v Eels (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 06] W 70-32 v Raiders (A). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t (62nd)
[View] Round 3 [24 Mar 06] W 46-22 v Bulldogs (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 06] L 22-26 v Warriors (H). [CT] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 5 [08 Apr 06] W 54-6 v Dragons (A). [CT]
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 06] L 16-18 v Cowboys (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 7 [22 Apr 06] L 6-52 v Storm (A). [CT]
[View] Round 8 [30 Apr 06] W 24-18 v Rabbitohs (A). [CT]
[View] Round 9 [07 May 06] W 32-30 v Broncos (H). [CT]
[View] Round 10 [14 May 06] W 18-16 v Tigers (A). [CT]
[View] Round 11 [20 May 06] W 22-12 v Raiders (H). [CT]
[View] Round 12 [26 May 06] L 12-38 v Dragons (H). [CT]
[View] Round 13 [03 Jun 06] L 22-38 v Bulldogs (A). [CT]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] L 18-30 v Warriors (A). [CT]
[View] Round 16 [24 Jun 06] L 16-26 v Sharks (H). [CT]
[View] Round 17 [30 Jun 06] W 26-12 v Sea Eagles (A). [CT]
[View] Round 18 [08 Jul 06] L 12-46 v Eels (A). [CT]
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 06] L 16-24 v Storm (H). [CT]
[View] Round 20 [22 Jul 06] W 24-18 v Rabbitohs (H). [CT]
[View] Round 21 [28 Jul 06] W 22-18 v Sharks (A). [CT]
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 06] W 32-18 v Roosters (A). [CT]
[View] Round 23 [11 Aug 06] L 14-16 v Sea Eagles (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] W 19-12 v Cowboys (A). [CT]
[View] Round 25 [26 Aug 06] W 40-4 v Panthers (H). [CT] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Finals Week One [08 Sep 06] W 25-18 v Sea Eagles (H). [CT]
[View] Finals Week Two [16 Sep 06] L 6-50 v Broncos (H). [CT]
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2005 NRL Telstra Premiership

Newcastle Knights 
12 games; 2 tries, 8 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [13 Mar 05] L 10-48 v Storm (A). [CT]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 05] L 14-39 v Raiders (A). [CT]
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 05] L 18-52 v Cowboys (A). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t (28th)
[View] Round 5 [10 Apr 05] L 12-37 v Souths (A). [CT]
[View] Round 6 [17 Apr 05] L 26-30 v Warriors (H). [CT]
[View] Round 7 [24 Apr 05] L 20-24 v Bulldogs (H). [CT]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 05] L 10-14 v Raiders (H). [CT]
[View] Round 10 [15 May 05] L 16-32 v Tigers (H). [CT]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 05] L 16-18 v Dragons (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t (65th)
[View] Round 13 [05 Jun 05] L 16-34 v Broncos (H). [CT]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 05] W 37-18 v Storm (H). [CT]
[View] Round 23 [14 Aug 05] W 22-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [CT]
======================================================================================================

2004 NRL Telstra Premiership

Newcastle Knights 
1 games; [View] Round 1 [12 Mar 04] W 20-14 v Panthers (A). [CT]
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Gidley, Matthew

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