Tyson Frizell


Tyson Lomano David Frizell is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL. He has played for Wales and Australia at international level.
Frizell previously played for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League, NSW Country Origin, New South Wales in the State of Origin series and the Prime Minister's XIII. He has also represented Wales in the 2011 Four Nations and 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Background

Frizell was born in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia to a Welsh father and Tongan mother, Tyson's brother Shannon is a rugby union player for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and the All Blacks internationally.

Playing career

He played his junior rugby league with the Corrimal Cougars, while also playing his junior rugby union with the Woonona Shamrocks club. Frizell attended the Illawarra Sports High School in Wollongong on the NSW South Coast. In 2009 he was selected as a centre for the Australian Rugby Union Schoolboys Tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Shortly after returning from the tour, Frizell announced that he would be joining the Cronulla Sharks NYC squad for the 2010 season. In the 2010/11 season Frizell played 42 NYC games with the Sharks. While in his second NYC year, Frizell made his NRL début for the Sharks on 29 July 2011 against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, following up with a second NRL appearance in 2011 against the Sydney Roosters. At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Frizell joined the Welsh Rugby League team, and played 2 tests in the Gillette Four Nations Series.
In his first full NRL season in 2012, Frizell played 10 games for the Sharks but despite some good performances, failed to hold down a regular back-row spot in the starting 17.
On 12 April 2012, Frizell announced he would joining the St George Illawarra Dragons on a two-year deal beginning November 2012.
His début for the club occurred on 10 March 2013 against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park, Melbourne. In the 2013 season Frizell played 22 games for the Dragons and was credited as being one of the few shining lights in a Dragons side that endured a very poor season.
At the conclusion of the 2013 NRL season, Frizell re-joined the Welsh team and played another 3 tests in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup held in the United Kingdom.
Upon returning from World Cup duties, the Dragons announced on 11 December 2013 that Frizell had re-signed with the club at least until the end of the 2017 season.
Frizell enjoyed a breakout season in 2016 earning both a State of Origin début and an Australian début. Frizell was selected in The Australian side for The 2017 rugby league world cup. Frizell came off the bench in Australia's 6-0 victory over England in the final.
In 2018, Frizell was selected to play for New South Wales in the 2018 State of Origin series. Frizell played in all 3 games as The Blues won the series 2-1.
Frizell was part of the St George side which qualified for the finals in 2018. In week one, St George upset Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium winning the match 48-18. The following week, St George were eliminated from the finals series losing 13-12 to South Sydney.
In Round 1 2019, Frizell suffered a freak injury in St George's defeat against the North Queensland Cowboys. Frizell had attempted to tackle North Queensland player Jordan Kahu but suffered a ruptured testicle after being hit in the groin by accident. Frizell later underwent surgery and was ruled out for 4-6 weeks.
Frizell was selected to play in the 2019 State of Origin series and featured in all 3 matches as New South Wales won the series 2-1. It was the first time since 2005 that New South Wales had won back to back series.
Frizell made a total of 21 appearances for St George in the 2019 NRL season as the club endured one of their worst ever seasons finishing in 15th place just above the last placed Gold Coast.
On 30 September 2019, Frizell was named at second row in the Australia PM XIII side. On 7 October, Frizell was named in the Australian side for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s and the upcoming Oceania Cup fixtures.
In March 2020, it was revealed that Frizell had accepted a 3-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2021, however the contract has not yet been registered by the NRL due to the ongoing uncertainty around the competition during the COVID-19 pandemic.