Matt Adamson

Taree junior started his career as a lanky fullback with P’matta but the turning point in his career was his move to the forwards at the direction of coach Royce Simmons at Penrith. A considerably bigger and more committed Adamson forged a reputation as a pacy, tough back-rower and duly represented NSW and Australia during Super League’s 1997 breakaway season. Subsequent injuries denied him the chance to further his rep career in the reunified NRL competition but Penrith’s visit to the semi-finals in 2000 saw him considered a shadow contender for the World Cup squad. His effort to make the NSW State of Origin team during the Panthers’ troubled 2001 season was a reflection of his good personal form but he erred late in the season when publicly critical of coach Royce Simmons. Despite Simmons’ sacking, Adamson chose to leave the club at the end of the year and make a fresh start in English club football with Leeds. After playing in the Challenge Club Final in 2003 Adamson returned to Australia in 2005 to play for Canberra. Following his retirement, Adamson returned to Penrith as an assistant to new coach Matthew Elliott in 2007.