Oldest debut player in NRL?

[JamesBrandy]

Does anybody have any idea who the oldest player to debut in the NRL and actually make something of themselves would be? I'm not talking about playing 1 game and never being seen again. I'm talking about who has cemented a place in the side or played rep footy.

 

[brock0brien]

Darren Porter for the Raiders in 2001 or Mark Taylor for Illawarra in 1994.

 

[MrAnonymous]

Oldest I can think of recently was Anthony Don (26) at the titans.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Brian Fletcher was quite old when he debut from memory. Not sure what age he was though.

 

[derp]

Luke Stuart?

 

[gUt]

Shane Perry? He was at least 28 when he turned out for Brisbane in our premiership year of 2006.

 

[umina panther]

Scott Minto surely

 

[umina panther]

That winger for the Knights who's a gun goalkicker? This year or last and he plays for Wyong

 

[typicalfan]

George Carmont was in his mid twenties and has played a pretty lengthy career.

 

[derp]

My bad ..
Luke Stuart was the oldest NRL player to make their representative debut, a record previously held by Scott Sattler

 

[typicalfan]

Jason Bulgarelli debuted I think 26 or 27 and played a full season.

 

[typicalfan]

And last one Brenton Lawrence. He started at 26 but took till this year...28 to be a consistent starter.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

NRL debut and Rugby League first grade debut are two different things so guys who have played ESL and then come over late (thinking Brian Carney here) would be a strong candidate.

Jason Bulgarelli immediately comes to mind. Would've been 26-27 when making his debut. Was rookie of the year (for Raiders) in 2003, capping it off by dropping the Raiders season over the try line against the Warriors.

 

[MrAnonymous]

Shane Perry? He was at least 28 when he turned out for Brisbane in our premiership year of 2006.

Pretty sure he played for Wests in the 90s

 

[derp]

Pretty sure he played for Wests in the 90s

Yep 1999

 

[snogard6]

Darren Porter was 28-29

 

[Cheops]

Aaron Heremaia was 27 think when he made his debut

 

[eozsmiles]

NRL debut and Rugby League first grade debut are two different things so guys who have played ESL and then come over late (thinking Brian Carney here) would be a strong candidate.

Jason Bulgarelli immediately comes to mind. Would've been 26-27 when making his debut. Was rookie of the year (for Raiders) in 2003, capping it off by dropping the Raiders season over the try line against the Warriors.

I'm mates with a player from that Raiders team. He mentions it at least 3 times a year. Poor merkin.

 

[Sir Biffo]

Mick Roberts for the Broncos had played about 6000 games for the Redcliffe Dolphins before he cracked the NRL, played off the bench for about half a season or so. He must have been pushing 30 when he debuted.

 

[Paullyboy]

There's a couple of Broncos players who forged solid careers in the Qld Cup before making the grade. Not many of them hung around long enough for them to be considered regular first graders though.