Bailey Simonsson

Bailey Simonsson
Personal information
Full nameBailey George Simonsson
Born (1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 26)
Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight97 kg (15 st 4 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–21 Canberra Raiders 45 16 0 0 64
2022– Parramatta Eels 50 16 0 0 64
Total 95 32 0 0 128
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021 Māori All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 30 May 2024

Bailey George Simonsson[2] (born 18 February 1998) is a New Zealand Māori international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).

He previously played for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.

Background

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Simonsson was born in Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Māori heritage through his father and European heritage through his mother.[3][4] He attended Marist College Canberra, Knox Grammar School and Newington College in Sydney as a school student.[5]

Playing career

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Early career

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Simonsson played for the Canberra Raiders in the Harold Matthews Cup (under 16s), later joining the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to play S. G. Ball Cup (under 18s) and NYC (under 20s) until 2017.[6][7]

Switch to rugby union

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In 2018, Simonsson represented the New Zealand rugby 7s team at the tournaments in Hong Kong, London, and Paris.

Return to rugby league

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Simonsson signed with the Canberra Raiders in December 2018.[6][7] He made his first grade debut in Round 1 of the 2019 NRL season against the Gold Coast Titans scoring a try in a 21-0 victory.[8][9] In Round 20 against the New Zealand Warriors, Simonsson scored 2 tries as Canberra won the match 46-12 at Mount Smart Stadium.[10]

In the 2019 qualifying final, Simonsson scored a try as Canberra staged a shock 12-10 victory over minor premiers Melbourne at AAMI Park to secure a home preliminary final.[11] Simonsson played from the bench in the 2019 NRL Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters in which Canberra were defeated 14-8 at ANZ Stadium. It was Canberra's first grand final appearance in 25 years.[12][13][14]

Simonsson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against Melbourne at GIO Stadium in round 9 of the 2020 NRL season after which he underwent surgery and spent the rest of the season in rehabilitation.

In round 22 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored a hat-trick in Canberra's 26-16 loss against Melbourne.[15] On 10 December 2021, Simonsson signed a three-year deal to join Parramatta starting in the 2022 NRL season.[16] In round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, he made his club debut for Parramatta in their 32-28 victory over the Gold Coast.[17] In round 12 of the 2022 NRL season, he scored two tries for Parramatta in their 28-20 victory over his former side Canberra.[18] Simonsson played for Parramatta in their 28-12 Grand Final loss to Penrith. In the second half of the match, Simonsson made a break down the left hand side of the field but was tackled into touch by Dylan Edwards. Simonsson injured his shoulder during the tackle and was taken from the field with his arm being held in a sling.[19]

In round 5 of the 2023 NRL season, Simonsson was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Sydney Roosters player James Tedesco. Simonsson later scored a try in Parramatta's 28-20 loss.[20] In round 12 of the 2023 NRL season, Simonsson scored two tries for Parramatta in their 36-16 upset victory over South Sydney.[21] Simonsson played a total of 20 matches for Parramatta in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 10th and missed the finals.[22]

On 3 June 2024, it was announced that Simonsson would miss the rest of the 2024 NRL season with an ACL injury. Simonsson had been one of the standout players in a struggling Parramatta side prior to the injury.[23]

Simonsson re-signed with Parramatta until the end of 2027.[24]

Statistics

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Year Team Games Tries Pts
2019 Canberra Raiders 21 8 32
2020 7 2 8
2021 17 6 24
2022 Parramatta Eels 20 3 12
2023 20 9 36
2024 10 4 16
Totals 95 32 128

References

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  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ White, Peter (26 October 2017). "Rugby: Bailey Simonsson has strong BOP ties". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. ^ Rugby: Bailey Simonsson has strong BOP ties Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ^ Newington prodigy making waves across the ditch Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  5. ^ Rugby: Bailey Simonsson has strong BOP ties Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b Polkinghorne, David (20 December 2018). "Canberra Raiders sign former All Blacks sevens player Bailey Simonsson". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Former All Black's son signs for Canberra Raiders after NZ sevens stint". stuff. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Round 1 NRL team lists". NRL.com. 12 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Canberra Raiders sink Gold Coast Titans in wet". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Raiders run riot as Warriors crumble at home". NRL. 2 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Raiders upset Storm to advance to NRL preliminary final". The Guardian. 14 September 2019.
  12. ^ "NRL grand final player ratings: Roosters and Raiders hits and misses". SMH. 6 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders to win NRL Grand Final". BBC Sport.
  14. ^ "How Ricky Stuart reacted to grand final 'six-again' refereeing shocker". WWOS.
  15. ^ Gould, Joel (12 August 2021). "Melbourne Storm keep winning streak alive despite Raiders scare". News.com.au.
  16. ^ "Hodgson, Simonsson ink deals with Eels". www.nrl.com. 9 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Eels win thriller with Titans, lose hat-trick hero Russell". www.espn.com.au.
  18. ^ "Parramatta Eels edge Canberra Raiders 28-20, Dragons beat Bulldogs 34-24". www.abc.net.au.
  19. ^ "'Parra are our sons': Panther's cheeky Eels sledge as stars run riot, Luai has another dig". www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. ^ "'Ropeable at the time': Eels flyer slapped with hefty ban for ugly Tedesco hit". www.foxsports.com.au.
  21. ^ "Eels upset Rabbitohs 36-16 to snap losing NRL run, Dragons snatch 24-22 victory over Roosters". www.abc.net.au.
  22. ^ "NRL 2023: Parramatta Eels season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  23. ^ "Eels' dual blow amid flyer's season-ending blow and enforcer's concussion issues: Casualty Ward". www.foxsports.com.au.
  24. ^ "Eels extend Bailey Simonsson". Parramatta Eels. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
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