Chris Melling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Melling | |
| Date of birth | September 21, 1984 | |
| Place of birth | Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England | |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |
| Weight | 14 st 2 lbs (90 kg) | |
| Nickname(s) | Utility, Mello, Curtis, Harry Potter | |
| Club information | ||
| Position(s) | Full-back / Wing / Centre | |
| Current club | Harlequins RL | |
| Number | 15 | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| Years | Club | |
| Ashton, Hindley | ||
| Senior clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (points) |
| 2004 ‐ 06 2007 ‐ |
Wigan Warriors Harlequins RL |
13 (46) 20 (16) |
| Representative teams | ||
| 2007 ‐ | Great Britain | 1 (0) |
|
* Professional club appearances and points |
||
Chris Melling, born 21st September, 1984 in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, is an English rugby league player.
Melling plays for Harlequins RL in the European Super League.
Chris Melling's position of choice is as a full-back. He can also operate on the wing, in the centres or at hooker.
Melling is a Great Britain international.
Contents |
[edit] Wigan Warriors
Melling is a former Wigan Senior Academy captain who made several appearance for the Wigan first team.
In Super League 2004 it had seemed that Melling's career was in doubt following a serious knee injury suffered playing for Wigan against Leeds at Headingley.[1] Melling had been seen as a future star before having his season ended by a cruciate ligament injury.[2]
Upon his return to first team action in 2005 Chris made a further 10 first grade appearances for the JJB club before picking up another knee injury requiring further surgery.[3]
Melling returned to full fitness in 2006, but found first team opportunities limited, due to the emergence of Chris Ashton at the club.[4]
Chris Melling moved into the hooking role in Wigan's academy, impressing enough to be voted as the U'21 Academy 'Player of the Year' for 2006.[5]
He left Wigan to pursue regular first team football.
[edit] Harlequins RL
Melling was initially signed as a back-up hooker to Chad Randall[6], however the Great Britain international has made full back position his own. He has been compared to Wade McKinnon with the youngster being defensively solid and dependable, with an eye for a gap bringing the ball out in attack.[7]
His move to Harlequins RL was to have seen the youngster undergo a positional change with a move to hooker.[8] He had been previously employed throughout the backline, with most of his first team appearances coming as an outside back.
Melling has impressed in 2007[9], starting games at full-back and throughout the backline and scoring four tries.
In May 2007 Chris Melling agreed to a new two-year deal with Harlequins Rugby League, midway through his first season at the Twickenham Stoop.[10] This will keep Melling in the capital until 2009.[11]
He is seen as the emerging star at the London club, with Harlequins RL investing in young British talent.[12]
[edit] Representative Football
In June 2007 Melling was called up to the Great Britain squad[13][14][15] and wore the number 1 shirt in the Test match against France.[16]
Melling was joined in the Great Britain Test side by Quins teammate Paul Sykes.[17]
Melling made his Great Britain debut in the 42-14 victory over the French on June 22nd 2007, despite carrying an injury.[18][19][20]
Melling is also a youth level international for England.[21]
[edit] Away from football
Melling is a qualified Physiotherapist after studying at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston,[22] graduating in June 2006.[23] Melling hopes to set up his own physiotherapy practise in the future.[24]
[edit] References
- ^ Leeds 36-24 Wigan. BBC (2004-03-19). Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
- ^ Wigan duo agree fresh deals. BBC (2004-08-25). Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
- ^ Chris Melling. Quins (2007-07-22). Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ Melling ready to make Wigan pay again for mistake. Independent (2007-06-08). Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ League Playing squad 2006/2007. Quins (2007-07-22). Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ Harlequins swoop for British trio. BBC (2006-09-21). Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ Sykes and Melling make the GB squad. Quins (2007-06-20). Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
- ^ Quins land young British trio. Quins RL (2006-09-21). Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ Melling call-up a sign of the times. BBC (2007-06-15). Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
- ^ New deal for Melling. Quins.co.uk (2007-05-29). Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
- ^ Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to two stars who are particularly familiar with today's opposition...", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wigan Warriors, p41, 2nd June 2007
- ^ Club-by-club guide: Harlequins. Sportinglife (2007-07-22). Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ Eight new faces in Lions squad. BBC (2007-06-12). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
- ^ Melling and Sykes named in GB squad. Quins RL (2007-06-13). Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ What our GB player has to say. Quins RL (2007-06-13). Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ New-look GB select five new caps. BBC (2007-06-20). Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
- ^ Melling and Sykes to play at Headingley. Quins (2007-06-20). Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
- ^ Great Britain 42-14 France. BBC (2007-06-22). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Hungry Lions Please Smith. SportingLife (2007-06-22). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Morley finally gets on scoresheet as Smith's new-look turn up trumps. Guardian (2007-06-23). Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ Langley Leads GB to Victory. Bradford (2002-12-09). Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ Wigan Player Profile. Wigan (2007-07-22). Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to full back and budding physiotherapist Chris Melling", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wakefield, p41, 14th April 2007
- ^ Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to full back and budding physiotherapist Chris Melling", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wakefield, p41, 14th April 2007
[edit] External links
- Quins RL profile
- Always seems to be a lot of movement for the London club
- Wigan Player Profile
- Quins land young British trio
- Melling Kicks 10 goals
- Carney praises Wigan's young guns
- Wigan profile
|
|||||
|
|||||
