Chris Melling (rugby league) explained

Chris Melling
Fullname:Christopher Melling
Birth Date:21 September 1984
Birth Place:Ashton-in-Makerfield, England
Height:5feet
Weight:14st [1]
Club1:Wigan Warriors
Year1start:2004
Year1end:06
Appearances1:13
Tries1:3
Goals1:17
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:46
Club2:Harlequins RL
Year2start:2007
Year2end:13
Appearances2:163
Tries2:43
Goals2:10
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:192
Teama:Great Britain
Yearastart:2007
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Retired:yes
Source:[2]

Christopher Melling (born 21 September 1984) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for England (Under-16s, and Under-18s), and as a for Great Britain, and at club level for Ashton Bears ARLFC (Under-15), Hindley ARLFC (16+), and in the Super League for the Wigan Warriors and Harlequins RL (renamed as the London Broncos in 2012), as a or, consequently he was considered a utility player.

Early life

Melling was born in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England. He was a pupil at Byrchall High School.

played junior rugby league for the Ashton and Hindley junior clubs.[3] Melling is a youth level international for England, touring Australia and New Zealand with England Under 16s in 2001 and also representing England's U18 Academy.[3] [4]

Playing career

Wigan Warriors

Melling is a former Wigan Senior Academy captain who made several appearance for the Wigan first team.

In 2004's Super League IX it had seemed that Melling's career was in doubt following a serious knee injury suffered playing for Wigan against Leeds at Headingley.[5] Melling had been seen as a future star before having his season ended by a cruciate ligament injury.[6]

Upon his return to first team action in 2005's Super League X Chris made a further 10 first-grade appearances for the Wigan Warriors before picking up another knee injury requiring further surgery.[7]

Melling returned to full fitness in 2006, but found first team opportunities limited, due to the emergence of Chris Ashton at the club.[8] Chris Melling moved to in Wigan's academy, impressing enough to be voted as the Under-21s Academy 'Player of the Year' for 2006.[9]

He left Wigan to pursue regular first team rugby league.

Harlequins RL

Melling was initially signed as a back-up to Chad Randall,[10] however the Great Britain international made the position his own. He has been compared to Wade McKinnon with the youngster being defensively solid and dependable, with an eye for a gap bringing the ball out in attack.[11] His move to Harlequins was to have seen the youngster undergo a positional change with a move to hooker.[12] He had been previously employed throughout the backline, with most of his first team appearances coming as an outside back.

Melling impressed in 2007,[13] starting games at and throughout the backline and scoring four tries. In May 2007 Melling agreed to a new two-year deal with Harlequins Rugby League, midway through his first season at the Twickenham Stoop.[14] This will keep Melling in the capital until 2009.[15] He is seen as the emerging star at the Harlequins, with Harlequins RL investing in young British talent.[16]

Representative football

In June 2007 Melling was called up to the Great Britain squad,[2] [17] [18] [19] and was in the Test match against France.[20] He was joined in the Great Britain Test side by Harlequins teammate Paul Sykes.[21] Melling made his Great Britain début in the 42-14 victory over the French on 22 June 2007, despite carrying an injury.[22] [23] [24]

Physiotherapy career

Melling became a qualified physiotherapist after studying at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston,[25] graduating in June 2006.[26] He hoped to set up his own physiotherapy practise in the future.[26]

After retiring as a player in 2013, Melling joined Warrington Wolves as a rehab specialist and academy physiotherapist,[27] and later worked as a physio at Oldham and Halifax.[28] [29] Melling became head physio at Leigh Leopards in December 2022.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harlequins Rugby League. 2011. web page. Harlequins Rugby League. 13 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20101204013052/http://www.league.quins.co.uk/squad/squad.php?player=81355&includeref=dynamic. 4 December 2010. dead. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Chris Melling. Quins. 2010-04-19.
  4. Web site: Langley Leads GB to Victory. Bradford. 2002-12-09. 2007-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930160132/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_news_full.asp?newsid=430. 30 September 2007. dead. dmy-all.
  5. News: Leeds 36-24 Wigan. BBC. 2004-03-19. 2007-05-29.
  6. News: Wigan duo agree fresh deals. BBC. 2004-08-25. 2007-07-13.
  7. Web site: Chris Melling. Quins. 2007-07-22. 2007-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224745/http://www.quins.co.uk/PlayerDisplayRL.ink?skip=11&season=2006%2F2007&Playertype=s. 30 September 2007. dead. dmy.
  8. News: Melling ready to make Wigan pay again for mistake. Independent. 2007-06-08. 2007-07-22. London. Dave. Hadfield. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930171029/http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_league/article2631116.ece. 30 September 2007. dead. dmy-all.
  9. Web site: League Playing squad 2006/2007. Quins. 2007-07-22. 2007-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224745/http://www.quins.co.uk/PlayerDisplayRL.ink?skip=11&season=2006%2F2007&Playertype=s. 30 September 2007. dead. dmy-all.
  10. News: Harlequins swoop for British trio. BBC. 2006-09-21. 2007-06-13.
  11. Web site: Sykes and Melling make the GB squad. Quins. 2007-06-20. 2007-06-21. 30 September 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224446/http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37449&newstype=z&matchid=&storytype=RL=. dead.
  12. Web site: Quins land young British trio. Quins RL. 2006-09-21. 2007-06-13. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224530/http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=32597&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL. 30 September 2007. dmy-all.
  13. News: Melling call-up a sign of the times. BBC. 2007-06-15. 2007-06-15. Phil. Gordos.
  14. Web site: New deal for Melling. Quins.co.uk. 2007-05-29. 2007-05-29. 30 September 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224150/http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37376&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL&Refid=. dead.
  15. Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to two stars who are particularly familiar with today's opposition…", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wigan Warriors, p41, 2 June 2007
  16. Web site: Club-by-club guide: Harlequins. Sportinglife. 2007-07-22. 2007-07-22. 30 September 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930042724/http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague%2F07%2F01%2F24%2Fmanual_160552.html. dead.
  17. News: Eight new faces in Lions squad. BBC. 2007-06-12. 2007-06-12.
  18. Web site: Melling and Sykes named in GB squad. Quins RL. 2007-06-13. 2007-06-13. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224114/http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37438&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL&Refid=. 30 September 2007. dmy.
  19. Web site: What our GB player has to say. Quins RL. 2007-06-13. 2007-06-13. 28 September 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928015910/http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37445&newstype=z&matchid=&storytype=RL. dead.
  20. News: New-look GB select five new caps. BBC. 2007-06-20. 2007-06-20.
  21. Web site: Melling and Sykes to play at Headingley. Quins. 2007-06-20. 2007-06-20. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224312/http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37475&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL&Refid=. 30 September 2007. dmy.
  22. News: Great Britain 42-14 France. BBC. 2007-06-22. 2007-06-24.
  23. Web site: Hungry Lions Please Smith. SportingLife. 2007-06-22. 2007-06-24. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930050258/http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague%2F07%2F06%2F22%2FRUGBYL_Great_Britain_Quotes.html. 30 September 2007. dmy.
  24. News: Morley finally gets on scoresheet as Smith's new-look turn up trumps. Guardian. 2007-06-23. 2007-07-21. London. Andy. Wilson.
  25. Web site: Wigan Player Profile. Wigan. 2007-07-22. 2007-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213459/http://www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMember.asp?teamid=1&id=80. 27 September 2007. dead. dmy.
  26. Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to full back and budding physiotherapist Chris Melling", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wakefield, p41, 14 April 2007
  27. Web site: Warrington Wolves make youth appointments, Ben Lazenby is promoted and Gary Chambers returns . Warrington Guardian . 14 April 2024 . 21 November 2013.
  28. Web site: Getting to know you, getting to know all about you . Oldham RLFC . 14 April 2024 . 22 January 2020.
  29. Web site: Halifax Panthers overhaul backroom staff with Finn and Grix appointments . Halifax Courier . 14 April 2024 . 11 November 2021.

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