Matt Shipway

{{short description|RL coach and former United States international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Matt Shipway |fullname = Matthew Shipway<ref name="rugbyleagueplanet.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/2013-rugby-league-world-cup/1220-united-states-name-24-man-2013-rlwc-squad|title=Rugby League Planet - United States name 24 man 2013 RLWC Squad|website=Rugbyleagueplanet.com|accessdate=2 October 2017}}</ref> |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|9|11}} |birth_place = Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|97|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|SR}} |club1 = Macquarie Scorpions |year1start = 2008 |year1end = 10 |appearances1 = |tries1 = |goals1 = |fieldgoals1 = |points1 = |club2 = {{nowrap|South Newcastle Lions}} |year2start = 2010 |year2end = 14 |appearances2 = |tries2 = |goals2 = |fieldgoals2 = |points2 = |club3 = Boston Thirteens |year3start = 2014 |year3end = |appearances3 = |tries3 = |goals3 = |fieldgoals3 = |points3 = |teamA = United States |yearAstart = 2013 |yearAend = 17 |appearancesA = 6 |triesA = 1 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 4 |teamB = Newcastle Rebels |yearBstart = 2013 |yearBend = |appearancesB = |triesB = |goalsB = |fieldgoalsB = |pointsB = |coachteam1 = {{nowrap|Port Macquarie Sharks}} |coachyear1start = 2015 |coachyear1end = |coachgames1 = |coachwins1 = |coachdraws1 = |coachlosses1 = |retired = |source = <ref>[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/matt-shipway/summary.html RLP]</ref> |updated = 29 January 2021 }}

'''Matt Shipway''' (born 11 September 1985) is a United States international rugby league footballer and coach of the Port Macquarie Sharks. He primarily plays as a {{rlp|sr}}.

==Background== Shipway was born in Newcastle, New South Wales.<ref name="boston13s.com">{{cite web|url=http://boston13s.com/world-cup-star-arrives-in-boston/|title=World Cup Star Arrives In Boston|date=29 May 2014|website=Boston13s.com|accessdate=2 October 2017}}</ref> He is of American descent through his grandparents.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/government-to-recognise-south-african-rugby-leagues-status-20131020-2vuqz.html#ixzz2iQOhaXoz|title=Government to recognise South African rugby league's status|first=Steve|last=Mascord|date=20 October 2013|accessdate=2 October 2017|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

==Playing career== In 2006, Shipway captained the Port Macquarie Sharks to a premiership, before moving back to Newcastle two years later.<ref name="portnews.com.au">{{cite web|url=https://www.portnews.com.au/story/1812697/matt-shipways-footy-safari/|title=Matt Shipway's footy safari|first=Chris|last=Ward|date=2 October 2013|website=Portnews.com.au|accessdate=2 October 2017}}</ref>

After moving to Newcastle, Shipway signed to play for The Entrance Tigers,<ref name=smh>[https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/government-to-recognise-south-african-rugby-leagues-status-20131020-2vuqz.html#ixzz2iQOhaXoz Government to recognise South African rugby league's status] ''smh.com.au'', 20 October 2013</ref> only for the team to fold before he could play a game.<ref name="portnews.com.au"/>

In 2008, Shipway joined the Macquarie Scorpions in the Newcastle Rugby League.<ref name="portnews.com.au"/>

In 2010, Shipway signed with the South Newcastle Lions, taking on the captain-coach role in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/1722238/mates-leaving-lions-with-feeling-of-pride/|title=Mates leaving Lions with feeling of pride|first=JOSH|last=LEESON|date=22 August 2013|website=Theherald.com.au|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/269797/lions-ready-to-roar-into-finals/|title=Lions ready to roar into finals|first=JOSH|last=LEESON|date=24 August 2012|website=Theherald.com.au|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref>

In 2012, Shipway was on standby for various games for the Newcastle Knights' New South Wales Cup team, as a possible fill-in for injuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/312916/knights-nsw-cup-campaign/|title=Knights NSW Cup campaign|first=Australian Community Media - Fairfax|last=Media|date=9 September 2012|website=Theherald.com.au|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref>

In 2013, Shipway gave up the coaching side of his captain-coach role to concentrate more on his game.<ref name="portnews.com.au"/>

In June 2013, Shipway played for the Newcastle Rebels representative team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastlerugbyleague.com.au/senior-rebels-side-announced/|title=senior rebels side announced. - Newcastle Rugby League|date=20 May 2013|website=Newcastlerugbyleague.com.au|accessdate=2 October 2017}}</ref>

In October 2013, Shipway was named in the New South Wales Country Residents team to tour South Africa.<ref name=smh/> Before the tournament, he credited his selection in the team to his decision to give up the coaching role at South Newcastle that year to concentrate on his game saying, ''"I think I still played pretty good footy as the captain-coach, but the move allowed me to concentrate more on my game and the biggest thing was not having to worry about anyone else. As the captain-coach I'd have to turn up and watch the first two games and talk to the other coaches then go in the sheds and try and get everyone else ready for the game as well."''<ref name="portnews.com.au"/> He eventually had to leave the team mid-tour on 10 October 2013, as he was named in the United States 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad.<ref name="rugbyleagueplanet.com"/>

Shipway played in the United States 22-18 warm up game win over France where he scored a try, before playing 4 games in the World Cup tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/wolves/10749454.USA_Tomahawks_team_to_face_France_tonight_includes_former_Wolves_player/|title=USA Tomahawks team to face France tonight includes former Wolves player|website=Warrington Guardian|accessdate=2 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/usa-shock-france-in-cup-warm-up/tabid/10874/newsid/75101/default.aspx|title=USA shock France in Cup warm-up|website=Nrl.com|date=18 October 2013|accessdate=2 October 2017}}</ref> His tour helped him develop a cult following back in Port Macquarie, where his friend Joe Cudmore started the Facebook page "The red-headed Sonny Bill Williams".<ref>[https://www.portnews.com.au/story/1931696/matt-shipway-the-red-headed-sonny-bill-williams/?cs=257 Matt Shipway, the red-headed Sonny Bill Williams], by Chris Ward, dated 27 November 2013.</ref>

In 2014, Shipway joined the Boston Thirteens in the USA Rugby League.<ref name="boston13s.com"/>

In 2015, Shipway became the coach of the Port Macquarie Sharks.

In 2018, Shipway coached and played in Port Macquarie's first premiership win in 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portnews.com.au/story/5601889/how-sweet-it-is-sharks-complete-fairytale-group-3-season/?cs=260#slide=1|title=How sweet it is: Sharks complete fairytale Group 3 season|date=26 August 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20131105170951/http://www.rlwc2013.com/player/461 2013 Rugby League World Cup profile]}} *[http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=386#Matt-Shipway 2017 RLWC profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114145353/http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=386#Matt-Shipway |date=14 November 2017 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shipway, Matt}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Australian people of American descent Category:Australian rugby league coaches Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Boston Bears (rugby league) players Category:Macquarie Scorpions players Category:Newcastle rugby league team players Category:Rugby league players from Newcastle, New South Wales Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:South Newcastle Lions players Category:United States national rugby league team players Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen