{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Travis Waddell |fullname = |image = Travis Waddell.jpg |imagesize = 200px |caption = <small>Waddell playing for the Knights in 2014.</small> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|07|11}} |birth_place = Proserpine, Queensland, Australia |height = {{convert|178|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|91|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|HK}} |club1 = Canberra Raiders |year1start = 2009 |year1end = 12 |appearances1 = 53 |tries1 = 3 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 12 |club2 = Newcastle Knights |year2start = 2013 |year2end = 14 |appearances2 = 20 |tries2 = 1 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 4 |club3 = Brisbane Broncos |year3start = 2016 |year3end = 17 |appearances3 = 5 |tries3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 0 |teamA = Indigenous All Stars |yearAstart = 2010 |yearAend = 13 |appearancesA = 4 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 | teamB = {{nowrap|Queensland Residents}} | yearBstart = 2011 | yearBend = | appearancesB = 1 | triesB = 0 | goalsB = 0 | fieldgoalsB = 0 | pointsB = 0 |retired = |source = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/travis-waddell/summary.html|title=Travis Waddell – Career Stats & Summary|publisher=Rugby League Project|accessdate=2016-05-14}}</ref> |updated = 22 February 2025 | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = | mother = | spouse = | education = | alma_mater = | relatives = Dane Gagai (cousin)<br>Jacob Gagai (cousin)<br>Josh Hoffman (cousin)<br>Daniel Motlop (cousin) <br>Steven Motlop (cousin)<br>Shannon Motlop (cousin)<br>Marlon Motlop (cousin) }} }}
'''Travis Waddell''' (born 11 July 1989) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who most recently played for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Intrust Super Cup. He plays as a {{rlp|hk}}. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights and most recently the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League.
==Background== Born in Proserpine, Queensland, Waddell played his junior football for the Proserpine Brahmans, before being signed by the Souths Logan Magpies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Waddell adds to family star list|url=http://www.nrl.com/waddell-adds-to-family-star-list/tabid/10976/newsid/65635/default.aspx|accessdate=10 January 2012| publisher=National Rugby League}}</ref>
==Playing career== thumb|right|Waddell playing for the Raiders
===Canberra=== After a year with the Souths Logan Magpies, Waddell signed a contract with the Canberra Raiders. He played for Canberra's NYC team in 2008 and 2009, scoring 15 tries in 39 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com//db/player/w/waddell_travis/index.php|title=Grandstand Forums|publisher=rleague.com|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref>
In Round 3 of the 2009 NRL season, Waddell made his NRL debut for the Canberra side against Parramatta. At the end of 2009, Waddell was named at {{rlp|hk}} in the NYC Team of the Year. In 2010, Waddell was selected in the inaugural Indigenous All Stars team to play the NRL All Stars at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Queensland. He was again selected in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Waddell was a regular in the Canberra team in 2010, despite being off the field for ten weeks with a broken jaw.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Waddell blow tough to take|first=Brad|last=Walter|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/waddell-blow-tough-to-take-20100329-r8dp.html|accessdate=10 January 2012|date=30 March 2010}}</ref>
Waddell started 2011 again as a regular, but was demoted from the first-grade team as the capital club struggled, and joined feeder club Souths Logan Magpies for the remainder of the year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Raiders Year in Review|url=http://www.raiders.com.au/?s=article-display&id=44572|accessdate=10 January 2012| website=raiders.com.au}}</ref> Waddell played 21 games for the Canberra outfit in 2012. At the end of the year he was released.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jon|last=Tuxworth|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/canberra-raiders/former-raider-travis-waddell-makes-indigenous-all-stars-team-20130116-2ctae.html|title=Former Raider Travis Waddell makes Indigenous All Stars team|publisher=Canberratimes.com.au|date=2013-01-16|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref>
===Newcastle=== In 2013, Waddell returned to the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup. However, in January, Newcastle coach, Wayne Bennett asked Waddell to come and train with the NRL team a week each month while still playing for Souths Logan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/travis-waddell-playing-for-in-nrl-all-stars-game-in-bid-to-win-a-contract-with-the-newcastle-knights/story-e6frexnr-1226559597049|title=Travis Waddell to play in NRL All Stars game in bid to win a contract with the Newcastle Knights|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|date=2013-01-23|accessdate=2016-05-14}}</ref> with Newcastle CEO Matthew Gidley revealing that Waddell would train with the team in case he was needed during the season for the Novocastrians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Travis%20Waddell%20trains%20with%20Knights/67475|title=Travis Waddell trains with Knights|publisher=Newcastle Knights|date=2013-01-22|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/willie-mason-and-travis-waddell-score-shock-selection-to-nrl-all-stars-squads/story-fndujljl-1226555420569|title=Willie Mason and Travis Waddell score shock selection to NRL All Stars squads|publisher=News.com.au|date=2013-01-17|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tuxworth|first=Jon|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/1240358/knights-poised-to-sign-raiders-hooker/?cs=303|title=Knights poised to sign Raiders hooker|publisher=Theherald.com.au|date=2013-01-16|access-date=2013-07-02}}</ref>
On 4 March 2013, Waddell signed a two-year contract with the Newcastle Knights, three days before the start of the 2013 NRL season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights-sign-Travis-Waddell/69196|title=Knights sign Travis Waddell|publisher=Newcastle Knights|date=2013-03-04|accessdate=2013-07-02|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722093921/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights-sign-Travis-Waddell/69196|archivedate=22 July 2013}}</ref> In June 2013, the Newcastle side released Waddell back to the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup for the remainder of the 2013 season but he returned to the club in 2014 on a full-time deal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Keeble|first=Brett|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/1609864/surplus-waddell-back-to-qld-cup/?cs=306|title=Surplus Waddell back to Qld Cup|date=July 2013 |publisher=Theherald.com.au|access-date=2013-07-02}}</ref>
===Brisbane=== In September 2014, Newcastle Knights coach Wayne Bennett revealed that Waddell would be following him to the Brisbane Broncos in 2015 on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Dillon|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/2540810/unwanted-waddell-goes-with-bennett/?cs=4173|title=Unwanted Waddell goes with Bennett|work=Newcastle Herald|date=2014-09-05|access-date=2016-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/TelstraPremiership/NewsVideo/2015PlayerTransfers/tabid/10248/Default.aspx|title=2016 NRL player transfers|publisher=National Rugby League|accessdate=2016-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/waddell-buoyed-by-bennett-call/2398648/|title=Waddell buoyed by Bennett call|work=Mackay Daily Mercury|date=2014-09-25|accessdate=2016-05-14}}</ref> In 2021, Waddell signed with the Goondiwindi Boars as captain coach in the Toowoomba Rugby League competition. He led Goondiwindi to a Grand Final win that year. He was captain coach of Goondiwindi again in 2022.
== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- |2009 | rowspan="4" |{{Leagueicon|Canberra}} Canberra Raiders |11 |1 |4 |- |2010 |17 |1 |4 |- |2011 |5 | | |- |2012 |21 |1 |4 |- |2013 | rowspan="2" |{{Leagueicon|Newcastle}} Newcastle Knights |10 | | |- |2014 |10 |1 |4 |- |2016 | rowspan="2" |{{Leagueicon|Brisbane}} Brisbane Broncos |4 | | |- |2017 |1 | | |- | |Totals |78 |4 |16 |}
==Personal life== Waddell's mother is from Badu Island in the Torres Strait, his father is, Aboriginal and from Darwin, Northern Territory. He is also of Vanuatuan descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypost.vu/content/vanuatu-rugby-league-announces-national-team|title=Vanuatu Rugby League announces national team|publisher=Dailypost.vu|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref>
Waddell is related to Newcastle Knights player Dane Gagai, Gold Coast Titans player Josh Hoffman and AFL players Daniel, Steven, Shannon and Marlon Motlop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/repgames/allstars/video/tabid/11095/contentid/413311/default.aspx|title=Video|publisher=National Rugby League|date=2012-01-07|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.broncos.com.au/team/profiles/travis_waddell.html Brisbane Broncos profile] *[http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/2/playerid/787/seasonid/10/default.aspx NRL profile]
{{Canberra Raiders squad - 2008 NYC premiers}} {{2009 National Youth Competition Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waddell, Travis}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian people of Vanuatuan descent Category:Brisbane Broncos players Category:Canberra Raiders players Category:Indigenous All Stars players Category:Mount Pritchard Mounties players Category:Newcastle Knights players Category:Newcastle Yowies players Category:People from Proserpine, Queensland Category:Queensland Residents rugby league team players Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league players from Queensland Category:Souths Logan Magpies players Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen