Damian Gibson

Damian Gibson (born 14 May 1975) is a former Wales international rugby league footballer. Primarily a , Gibson was the North Queensland Cowboys first ever try scorer.

Early life Gibson was born and raised in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

He attended Emmaus College before being signed by the Newcastle Knights.

Playing career After spending 1994 with the Newcastle Knights, where he represented the NSW City under-19 side, Gibson signed with the newly established North Queensland Cowboys. In Round 1 of the 1995 ARL season, Gibson made his first grade début as a 19-year-old in the North Queensland Cowboys first ever game. He scored the club's first ever try in the 16–32 loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and was named in the Norwich Rising Star Team of 95. He spent two seasons with the Cowboys, scoring 7 tries in 31 games and was the North Queensland Cowboys Top Tryscorer in 1996.

In 1997, Gibson joined the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, scoring three tries and being named their Player of the Year. He re-joined Halifax in November 2004 after being released by the Castleford Tigers following their relegation from Super League and went on to score 15 tries in 30 appearances in 2005. After four more seasons at Halifax, Gibson joined the Sheffield Eagles in 2009, retiring at the end of the season.

Statistics ARL SeasonTeamMatchesTGGK %F/GPts 1995 North Queensland 20 3 1 100.0 0 14 1996 North Queensland 11 3 0 — 0 16 Career totals 31 7 1 100.0 0 30

Super League SeasonTeamMatchesTGGK %F/GPts 1997 Leeds - 3 0 — 0 12 1998 Halifax 25 6 0 — 0 24 1999 Halifax 31 11 0 — 0 44 2000 Halifax 28 10 0 — 0 40 2001 Halifax 29 13 0 — 0 52 2002 Salford 29 3 0 — 0 12 2003 Castleford 23 3 0 — 0 12 2004 Castleford 23 3 0 — 0 12 Career totals 188 52 0 — 0 208

Post-playing career Following his retirement, Gibson served as an assistant coach for the Exiles rugby league team, Leeds Rhinos, Welsh national team, and the Dewsbury Rams. While at the Rhinos, he coached the club's under-18 and under-20 sides and was on the coaching staff for their 2011 Super League Grand Final winning season.