Nathan Fien

Nathan Fien played his junior rugby league with Mount Isa Brothers, before being recruited by the North Queensland Cowboys as a member of their inaugural Youth Development Squad, in 1995. 

Fien made his NRL debut for the club in 2000, playing 16 games and scoring two tries that season. The following year, the fiery utility star was selected to make his State of Origin debut for Queensland, as an interchange player for Game II.

That was his only match in Maroon, with Fien pledging his allegiance to New Zealand, after signing with the Auckland based Warriors in 2005. He went on to play 22 Tests for the Kiwis, after an initial eligibility hurdle was overcome. 

Fien, a player equally at home at halfback or hooker, signed with St George Illawarra in 2009, and won a NRL premiership with the Dragons in 2010, coming off the bench in the grand final win over the Roosters, and scoring a try.

I feel really fortunate to have had the career and opportunities that rugby league has presented me with.

Nathan Fien FOG #126

That same year also brought one of his finest moments in international football when he scored the winning try for the Kiwis against Australia in the Four Nations final at Lang Park. He was halfback in 2008 when the Kiwis beat Australia in the World Cup Final, also at Lang Park. 

Fien retired at the end of the 2013 season, having played 279 NRL games. He works in the finance sector, and has maintained his links with rugby league through coaching at the Collegians club in Wollongong.