Jonathan Docking

Jonathan Docking is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jonathan Docking
Personal information
Full nameJonathan Docking
Born (1964-01-21) 21 January 1964
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight75.5 kg (11 st 12 lb)
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1984–91 Cronulla-Sutherland 161 57 0 0 228
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1987–89 NSW City 3 1 0 0 4
1987–88 New South Wales 2 1 0 0 4

Playing career

A Cronulla junior, Docking played for the Sharks for eight seasons between 1984 and 1991, debuting as a 20-year-old.[1] He played over 160 first grade games and scored 57 first grade tries during his career.

Docking played his junior career as a halfback,[2] where he was given a scholaship to the Sharks as a schooboy in 1982. However, Docking was soon shifted by Cronulla to the fullback position where he would develop into one of the club’s mainstays from the day he led Cronulla to a victory over three-time premiers Parramatta in his fourth appearance in first grade.[3] Docking was alongside Gary Belcher and Garry Jack the best broken-field runner in the Winfield Cup for most of his career,[4] with a highlight being his brilliant display against the Brisbane Broncos in a play-off for fifth in 1989.[5]

Docking was chosen to represent New South Wales in one match during each of the State of Origin series of 1987 and 1988. However, at the close of the 1991 season, Docking was told by the Sharks that his services were no longer required due to the club’s financial problems,[6] and although he was only 28, no other Winfield Cup club sought Docking’s services for 1992.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Clarkson, Alan; ‘Young Turks Blitz Bulldogs’; Sun-Herald, 29 July 1984, p. 68
  3. Fishman, Roland; ‘Sharks Learn About Mind Over Matter’; Sydney Morning Herald, 11 June 1984, p. 33
  4. Middleton, David (editor); Rugby League 1989-90, p. 114 ISBN 0949853321
  5. Middleton (editor); Rugby League 1989-90, p. 96
  6. Weidler, Danny; ‘Troubled Cronulla Dump Players’, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 August 1991, p. 61
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