# Danny Wicks > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Danny_Wicks > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Danny_Wicks.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Wicks > Source revision: 1350664278 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer (born 1985)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Danny Wicks |image = Danny Wicks.jpg |imagesize = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|12|5}} |birth_place = [Grafton, New South Wales](/source/Grafton%2C_New_South_Wales), Australia |height = {{convert|189|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|PR}} |club1 = [St. George Illawarra](/source/St._George_Illawarra_Dragons) |year1start = 2006 |year1end = 07 |appearances1 = 29 |tries1 = 2 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 8 |club2 = [Newcastle Knights](/source/Newcastle_Knights) |year2start = 2008 |year2end = 09 |appearances2 = 40 |tries2 = 4 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 16 |club3 = [Parramatta Eels](/source/Parramatta_Eels) |year3start = 2015 |year3end = 16 |appearances3 = 35 |tries3 = 3 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 12 |retired = yes |updated = 8 November 2016 |source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/danny-wicks/summary.html|title=Danny Wicks - Career Stats & Summary|publisher=Rugby League Project|accessdate=2016-03-12}} }} '''Danny Wicks''' (born 5 December 1985) is an Australian former professional [rugby league](/source/rugby_league) footballer who played as a {{rlp|pr}} in the [NRL](/source/National_Rugby_League) for the [St. George Illawarra Dragons](/source/St._George_Illawarra_Dragons), [Newcastle Knights](/source/Newcastle_Knights) and the [Parramatta Eels](/source/Parramatta_Eels). From September 2011 to March 2013, Wicks served an eighteen-month prison sentence for trafficking drugs. ==Early life== {{unreferencedsect|date=July 2025}} Born in [Grafton, New South Wales](/source/Grafton%2C_New_South_Wales), Wicks played his junior football for the [Grafton Ghosts](/source/Grafton_Ghosts), before being signed by the [St. George Illawarra Dragons](/source/St._George_Illawarra_Dragons). ==Playing career== ===Early career=== In 2006, Wicks played for the [St. George Illawarra Dragons](/source/St._George_Illawarra_Dragons) [NSW Cup](/source/NSW_Cup) team.{{cite web |url=http://rleague.com/players/Danny-Wicks_1168/Stats/ |title=Danny Wicks Player |website=rleague.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928204329/http://rleague.com/players/Danny-Wicks_1168/Stats/ |archive-date=28 September 2013}} ===2006=== In round 10 of the [2006 NRL season](/source/2006_NRL_season), Wicks made his [NRL](/source/National_Rugby_League) debut for [St. George Illawarra](/source/St._George_Illawarra) against the [New Zealand Warriors](/source/New_Zealand_Warriors). Wicks made 17 appearances in his debut season including the preliminary final defeat against [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne_Storm).{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2006/round-10/st-george-illawarra-vs-warriors/summary.html|title=NRL 2006 – Round 10|publisher=Rugby League Project|accessdate=2015-03-13}} He scored a try on debut. ===2007=== thumb|right|Wicks playing for the Newcastle Knights In 2007, Wicks signed a three-year contract with the [Newcastle Knights](/source/Newcastle_Knights) starting in 2008, following [Brian Smith's](/source/Brian_Smith_(rugby_league%2C_born_1954)) clean out of the club.{{cite news|format=fee required|author=Coomber, John|publisher=AAP Sports News|title=Running aground in the Hunter|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-143453399.html|accessdate=2008-01-02|date=2007-09-06}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In a 2008 interview, Smith referred to Wicks as "Wicksy".{{cite web|last=Dillon|first=Robert|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/487618/brian-smith-props-up-beleaguered-danny-wicks/|title=Brian Smith props up beleaguered Danny Wicks|work=Newcastle Herald|date=2008-08-21|access-date=2015-03-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091226/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/487618/brian-smith-props-up-beleaguered-danny-wicks/|archive-date=2015-04-02}} ===2009=== In December 2009, Wicks was arrested for supplying prohibited drugs and possession of prohibited drugs. After being released on bail, he quit the Knights "so the club can move forward".{{cite news|first=Brett|last=Keeble|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/wicks-walked-away-without-a-cent-manager-20091223-lddx.html|title=Wicks walked away without a cent: manager|date=24 December 2009|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2015-03-13}} ===2010=== In 2010, Wicks played for the Grafton Ghosts while his matter was in the courts,{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/danny-wicks-makes-bush-footy-return-for-50/story-e6frexnr-1225846622811?from=public_rss|title=Danny Wicks Makes Bush Footy Return for 50|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=Sydney |accessdate=2015-03-13}} eventually being sentenced to eighteen months in prison. ===2014=== In May 2014, Wicks' agent started approaching clubs about the possibility of signing him to a contract for 2015, with his four-year [WADA](/source/World_Anti-Doping_Agency) suspension for drugs ending in September 2014. During his stay in prison, Wicks lost 20 kilograms to get back to his old playing weight of 106 kilograms.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/danny-wicks-pleads-for-nrl-clubs-to-resurrect-his-league-career/story-fni3fbgz-1226904297551|title=Danny Wicks Pleads for NRL CLubs to Resurrect his League Career|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=Sydney |accessdate=2015-03-13}} On 30 October 2014, he signed a 1-year contract with the [Parramatta Eels](/source/Parramatta_Eels) starting in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2014/10/30/eels_announce_five_signings_for_2015.html|title=Eels Announce Five Signings For 2015 – Eels|date=30 October 2014|publisher=Parraeels.com.au|accessdate=2015-03-13}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/FOXSportsNews/status/509321149516234753|title=FOX SPORTS News on Twitter: ".@TheParraEels coach Brad Arthur confirms club has signed former Newcastle Prop Danny Wicks #NRL"|via=Twitter|date=2014-09-09|accessdate=2015-03-13}} He made his return to the [NRL](/source/NRL) in round 2 of the [2015 NRL season](/source/2015_NRL_season) against the [Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs](/source/Canterbury-Bankstown_Bulldogs).{{cite web|url=http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2015/03/13/late_mail_nrl_round_.html|title=Late Mail: NRL Round Two – Eels|date=13 March 2015|publisher=Parraeels.com.au|accessdate=2015-03-13}} On 11 April 2015, he re-signed with the Eels on a one-year contract.{{cite web|publisher=National Rugby League|url=http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2015/04/11/eels_extend_wicks_co.html|title=Eels Extend Wicks Contract – Eels|date=11 April 2015|accessdate=2016-03-12}} ===2016=== In November 2016, Wicks announced his immediate retirement from professional rugby league despite signing a two-year contract extension with the [Parramatta Eels](/source/Parramatta_Eels) earlier that year.{{cite news|title=Wicks walks out on Eels and rugby league|newspaper=Courier Mail|date=7 November 2016|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/wicks-walks-out-on-eels-and-rugby-league-24405/|access-date=7 November 2016|archive-date=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107221727/http://www.zerotackle.com/wicks-walks-out-on-eels-and-rugby-league-24405/|url-status=dead}} ===2017=== On 13 July 2017 it was revealed that Wicks had resumed playing on the NSW Mid North Coast with [Group 2](/source/Group_2_Rugby_League) side the Grafton Ghosts.[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-bad-boy-paul-carter-to-take-on-exeels-star-danny-wicks-in-group-2/news-story/c14b839118d45add03424818a33cbfad ''Daily Telegraph''] {{subscription required}} He captain-coached the team to win both a premiership and the NSW Country Rugby League's [Clayton Cup](/source/Clayton_Cup).{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/rolling-coverage-live-coverage-group-2-grand-final/3219512/|title=GRAND FINAL: Grafton Ghosts score spirited grand final win|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|date=3 September 2017|access-date=14 April 2020|last1=Potter|first1=Jarrard}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/ghosts-claim-crls-clayton-cup/3230244/|title=Ghosts claim CRL's Clayton Cup|last=Potter|first=Jarrard|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|date=3 October 2017|access-date=14 April 2020}} ==Drug conviction== On 16 December 2009, Wicks was arrested and charged with eight drug related offences, including six counts of supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing a prohibited drug. Police said that ''Strike Force Welham'' had been set up to investigate the supply of [amphetamine](/source/amphetamine), [cocaine](/source/cocaine) and [ecstasy](/source/MDMA) in the [Clarence Valley](/source/Clarence_Valley_Council) region. Wicks was arrested as he drove his car along Brunker Road, [Adamstown](/source/Adamstown%2C_New_South_Wales) at around 6:30am, as part of coordinated police raids in four locations.{{cite news|title=Newcastle Knights star Danny Wicks charged by police|newspaper=[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)|date=16 December 2009|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/newcastle-knights-star-danny-wicks-charged-by-police-20091216-kvts.html }} In September 2011, he was sentenced to a maximum of three years in jail after being found guilty of trafficking drugs.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/wicks-has-devastated-family-father-20110930-1l0ob.html|title=Wicks has devastated family: father|date=30 September 2011|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=30 September 2011}} He was released on 29 March 2013 after serving eighteen months of a three-year sentence at [Glen Innes Correctional Centre](/source/Glen_Innes_Correctional_Centre).{{cite news|last=Rothfield|first=Phil|title=EXCLUSIVE: Former NRL star Danny Wicks has been released from jail and opens up on life behind bars|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/exclusive-former-nrl-star-danny-wicks-has-been-released-from-jail-and-opens-up-on-life-behind-bars/story-e6frexnr-1226609066503|accessdate=29 March 2013|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|date=29 March 2013}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20141204180233/http://www.parraeels.com.au/team/profiles/danny_wicks.html 2015 Parramatta Eels profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160410044129/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/9/playerid/7045/seasonid/44/default.aspx NRL profile] {{DEFAULTSORT:Wicks, Danny}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Australian criminals Category:Australian drug traffickers Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Criminals from New South Wales Category:Kurri Kurri Bulldogs players Category:Newcastle Knights players Category:Parramatta Eels players Category:Rugby league players from Grafton, New South Wales Category:Rugby league props Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players Category:Wentworthville Magpies players Category:Australian sportspeople convicted of crimes Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Danny Wicks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Wicks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Wicks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.