{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Nathan Stapleton |image = NATHAN STAPLETON.jpg |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|12|1}} |birth_place = Deepwater, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|WG|FB|CE}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Cronulla Sharks}} |year1start = 2009 |year1end = 14 |appearances1 = 61 |tries1 = 17 |goals1 = 18 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 104 |club2 = London Broncos |year2start = 2016 |year2end = |appearances2 = 2 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |teamA = {{nowrap|Prime Minister's XIII}} |yearAstart = 2012 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 | teamB = {{nowrap|NSW Residents}} | yearBstart = 2014 | yearBend = | appearancesB = 1 | triesB = 0 | goalsB = 2 | fieldgoalsB = 0 | pointsB = 4 |retired = yes |source = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Nathan-Stapleton/|title=loverugbyleague|accessdate=4 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/nathan-stapleton/summary.html|title=Nathan Stapleton - Playing Career - RLP|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=4 December 2023}}</ref> |updated = 9 January 2024 }}
'''Nathan Stapleton''' (born 1 December 1989) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played for the London Broncos in the Kingstone Press Championship. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League. He primarily played as a {{rlp|wg|fb}} and {{rlp|ce}}.
==Playing career== Born in Deepwater, New South Wales, Stapleton played his junior football for Glen Innes Magpies before being signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He played for Cronulla's NYC team in 2008 and 2009.<ref>[http://rleague.com/players/Nathan-Stapleton_1890/Stats/ Stats] rleague.com</ref>
In Round 11 of the 2009 NRL season, Stapleton made his NRL debut for Cronulla against rivals St. George Illawarra.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2009/round-11/cronulla-vs-st-george-illawarra/summary.html|title = NRL 2009 - Round 11 - Rugby League Project}}</ref>
In round 5 of the 2014 NRL season, Stapleton scored 4 tries for Cronulla as they defeated the New Zealand Warriors 37–6 at Shark Park.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-05/sharks-thump-warriors-for-first-win-of-season/5369882/|title=Nathan Stapleton scores four tries as Cronulla Sharks thump New Zealand Warriors 37-6|newspaper=ABC News|date=5 April 2014}}</ref>
On 30 June 2014, Stapleton signed with Sydney Roosters mid-season for the remainder of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roosters.com.au/news/2014/06/30/roosters_sign_dureau_stapleton_for_remainder_of_2014.html|title = Roosters sign Dureau & Stapleton for remainder of 2014|date = 30 June 2014}}</ref>
On 6 August 2015, Stapleton signed with English franchise London Broncos on a one-year deal beginning in 2016.<ref>{{cite news | title = Broncos sign Nathan Stapleton for 2016 | publisher = Total Rugby League | date = 6 August 2015 | url = http://www.totalrl.com/broncos-sign-nathan-stapleton-for-2016/ | accessdate = 12 September 2015}}</ref>
==Representative career== In 2012, Stapleton played for the Prime Minister's XIII.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/stapleton-resigns-sharks-2013-7586/ |title=Stapleton re-signs with Sharks for 2013 {{!}} NRL {{!}} Zero Tackle |website=www.zerotackle.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916232804/http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/stapleton-resigns-sharks-2013-7586/ |archive-date=2012-09-16}}</ref>
==Personal life== Stapleton is the younger brother of former rugby union player Brett Stapleton.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/a-stapleton-diet-of-hard-knocks-20091123-j052.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227194019/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/a-stapleton-diet-of-hard-knocks-20091123-j052.html| archive-date = 2014-02-27| title = A Stapleton diet of hard knocks}}</ref>
Stapleton's mother died of cancer in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1487849/cancer-battle-awareness-hits-hard-sharks-mates-mourn-another-loss/|title=Cancer battle awareness hits hard - Sharks mates mourn another loss|date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
In 2022, Stapleton was taken to hospital after sustaining a neck injury in a rugby union match. He was left paralysed from the shoulders down.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=2022-04-22 |title=Nathan Stapleton: on-field injury leaves former NRL player a quadriplegic |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/apr/22/nathan-stapleton-on-field-injury-leaves-former-nrl-player-a-quadriplegic |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.roosters.com.au/team/profiles/nathan_stapleton.html 2014 Sydney Roosters profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stapleton, Nathan}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players Category:London Broncos players Category:New South Wales Residents rugby league team players Category:Prime Minister's XIII players Category:Rugby league fullbacks Category:Rugby league wingers Category:Rugby league centres Category:Rugby league players from New South Wales Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen