Rod Wishart

Gerringong winger/centre, coached by Mick Cronin before joining the Steelers in 1989, became the greatest point-scorer in the club’s history. A winger with the strength of an extra forward, Wishart burst onto the State of Origin scene in 1990 and would have toured with the Kangaroos that year but was injured. The following year he became the Steelers' first Test player when chosen in the first match of the Trans Tasman series. In the Second Test Wishart suffered an eye socket injury after being kneed as he scored a try but recovered to tour Papua New Guinea at the end of the year. Wishart scored three tries in Australia's 58-2 First Test win in Goroka and followed with another try in the Second Test in Port Moresby. In 1992 he was chosen for the First Test against Great Britain but was dropped following Australia's shock 33-10 loss in the Second Test of the series. Later that year it was Wishart's converted try against Manly in the final match of the season that clinched the club's first semi-final berth but a hamstring injury kept him out of Australia's World Cup squad at year’s end. Despite good performances for I’warra and NSW in 1993 he could not break back into Test football. Surpassing John Dorahy's career points total for the club, his value as a deadly accurate goal-kicker and determined runner earned him one of the four wing spots on the 1994 Kangaroo Tour. In England Wishart was selected in Australia's Second Test team and he responded with 7 goals from 9 attempts in the vital 38-8 win in Manchester. In the decider at Elland Road Wishart contributed a try and three goals in Australia's 23-4 win and backed this up with a 26 point-haul (1t, 11g) against France to finish as the leading point-scorer on tour. During the ensuing Super League war Wishart continued his rep career for NSW and Australia and played in matches against NZ (1995), Fiji and Papua New Guinea (both 1996). A serious shoulder injury sidelined him for most of the 1997 season but by the time I’warra merged with St George at the end of 1998 season Wishart held club records for most career points, most career tries, most points in a season (176pts in 1995) and most points in a match (22pts scored on four separate occasions). Originally missing out on a place in the Dragons’ first grade team he was used as an interchange player in the club’s shattering grand final loss to Melbourne in 1999. Wishart originally contemplated a move to rugby union with the ACT Brumbies but when the deal fell through he announced his retirement.