Matt Gillett

In 2016, former Queensland captain Gorden Tallis rated Matt Gillett the best forward in the world, a man with a tireless work ethic, who wore the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australian jerseys with great pride.

Gillett was born at Macksville on the North Coast of New South Wales, but his family moved to Queensland when he was just three.

He's one of those guys with a team-first mentality. Players enjoyed playing with him - they wanted him in the side.

Kevin Walters FOG #63

He played soccer at first, before switching to rugby league as a 10-year-old, playing with Bribie Island Warrigals, and later with Redcliffe Colts, where he was a prolific try-scoring winger.

In 2008, he played six National Youth Competition matches for the Broncos, who were coached by Anthony Griffin.

Gillett was invited to play in the finals series, but remained loyal to his team mates at Wests Arana Hills where he had played most of the 2008 season. He returned to Arana and helped them to win a premiership in their division.

In 2009, Gillett played with Norths Devils and was named the Intrust Super Cup's Rookie of the Year.

The Broncos and Sydney Roosters made him offers at the end of the season, and Gillett opted to remain in Queensland. He made his NRL debut for the Broncos in Round 1, 2010, against North Queensland Cowboys.

Gillett quickly became one of the premium 'edge' forwards in the competition, and was named 2010 Dally M Rookie of the Year.

He made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in Game I of the 2012 series and became a mainstay of the Maroons' pack, a man renowned for his rock-solid defence and agile running.

Gillett went on to play 20 matches for Queensland and was part of five series wins.

He made his Test debut in 2014 and represented his country 12 times, one of the highlights Australia's successful 2017 World Cup campaign.

Gillett was player of the match in the 2017 Anzac Test in Canberra.

He suffered a neck fracture in Round 1, 2018, and played for another four weeks, before scans showed the extent of the injury, forcing him to sit out the rest of the season.

He returned to football in 2019 and played two more State of Origin matches for Queensland, as well as helping the Broncos to the NRL finals.

In October, 2019, Gillett announced his retirement from rugby league, due to ongoing injuries.

He finished with 200 NRL games to his credit, and 58 tries.

He was Dally M Second Rower of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

In December, 2021, he joined the Broncos game development staff.