Chris Melling (rugby league)

For the pool player, see Chris Melling (pool player).

Chris Melling
Personal information
Full nameChristopher Melling
Born (1984-09-21) 21 September 1984 (age 40)
Ashton-in-Makerfield, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight14 st 7 lb (92 kg) [1]
PositionWing, Fullback, Second-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004–06 Wigan Warriors 13 3 17 0 46
2007–13 Harlequins RL 163 43 10 0 192
Total 176 46 27 0 238
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Christopher Melling (born 21 September 1984) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for England (Under-16s, and Under-18s), and as a fullback for Great Britain, and at club level for Ashton Bears ARLFC (Under-15), Hindley ARLFC (16+), and in the Super League for the Wigan Warriors and Harlequins RL (renamed as the London Broncos in 2012), as a fullback, wing, second-row or loose forward, consequently he was considered a utility player.

Early life

Melling was born in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England. He was a pupil at Byrchall High School.

Melling was a youth level international for England, touring Australia and New Zealand with England Under 16s in 2001 and also representing England's U18 Academy.[4][5]

Playing career

Wigan Warriors

Melling is a former Wigan Senior Academy captain who made several appearance for the Wigan first team.

In 2004's Super League IX it had seemed that Melling's career was in doubt following a serious knee injury suffered playing for Wigan against Leeds at Headingley.[6] Melling had been seen as a future star before having his season ended by a cruciate ligament injury.[7]

Upon his return to first team action in 2005's Super League X Chris made a further 10 first-grade appearances for the Wigan Warriors before picking up another knee injury requiring further surgery.[8]

Melling returned to full fitness in 2006, but found first team opportunities limited, due to the emergence of Chris Ashton at the club.[9] Chris Melling moved to hooker in Wigan's academy, impressing enough to be voted as the Under-21s Academy 'Player of the Year' for 2006.[10]

He left Wigan to pursue regular first team rugby league.

Harlequins RL

Melling in action for Harlequins RL

Melling was initially signed as a back-up hooker to Chad Randall,[11] however the Great Britain international made the fullback position his own. He has been compared to Wade McKinnon with the youngster being defensively solid and dependable, with an eye for a gap bringing the ball out in attack.[12] His move to Harlequins was to have seen the youngster undergo a positional change with a move to hooker.[13] He had been previously employed throughout the backline, with most of his first team appearances coming as an outside back.

Melling impressed in 2007,[14] starting games at fullback and throughout the backline and scoring four tries. In May 2007 Melling agreed to a new two-year deal with Harlequins Rugby League, midway through his first season at the Twickenham Stoop.[15] This will keep Melling in the capital until 2009.[16] He is seen as the emerging star at the Harlequins, with Harlequins RL investing in young British talent.[17]

Representative football

In June 2007 Melling was called up to the Great Britain squad,[3][18][19][20] and was fullback in the Test match against France.[21] He was joined in the Great Britain Test side by Harlequins teammate Paul Sykes.[22] Melling made his Great Britain début in the 42-14 victory over the French on 22 June 2007, despite carrying an injury.[23][24][25]

Physiotherapy career

Melling became a qualified physiotherapist after studying at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston,[26] graduating in June 2006.[27] He hoped to set up his own physiotherapy practise in the future.[27]

After retiring as a player in 2013, Melling joined Warrington Wolves as a rehab specialist and academy physiotherapist,[28] and later worked as a physio at Oldham and Halifax.[29][30] Melling became head physio at Leigh Leopards in December 2022.

References

  1. ^ "Harlequins Rugby League". web page. Harlequins Rugby League. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Player Summary: Chris Melling". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Chris Melling". Quins. Retrieved 19 April 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Langley Leads GB to Victory". Bradford. 9 December 2002. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  6. ^ "Leeds 36-24 Wigan". BBC. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2007.
  7. ^ "Wigan duo agree fresh deals". BBC. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  8. ^ "Chris Melling". Quins. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
  9. ^ Hadfield, Dave (8 June 2007). "Melling ready to make Wigan pay again for mistake". London: Independent. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  10. ^ "League Playing squad 2006/2007". Quins. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  11. ^ "Harlequins swoop for British trio". BBC. 21 September 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  12. ^ "Sykes and Melling make the GB squad". Quins. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
  13. ^ "Quins land young British trio". Quins RL. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  14. ^ Gordos, Phil (15 June 2007). "Melling call-up a sign of the times". BBC. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  15. ^ "New deal for Melling". Quins.co.uk. 29 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2007.
  16. ^ Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to two stars who are particularly familiar with today's opposition…", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wigan Warriors, p41, 2 June 2007
  17. ^ "Club-by-club guide: Harlequins". Sportinglife. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  18. ^ "Eight new faces in Lions squad". BBC. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  19. ^ "Melling and Sykes named in GB squad". Quins RL. 13 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  20. ^ "What our GB player has to say". Quins RL. 13 June 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  21. ^ "New-look GB select five new caps". BBC. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  22. ^ "Melling and Sykes to play at Headingley". Quins. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  23. ^ "Great Britain 42-14 France". BBC. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  24. ^ "Hungry Lions Please Smith". SportingLife. 22 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  25. ^ Wilson, Andy (23 June 2007). "Morley finally gets on scoresheet as Smith's new-look turn up trumps". London: Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  26. ^ "Wigan Player Profile". Wigan. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
  27. ^ a b Lester, Joanna: "Joanna Lester chats to full back and budding physiotherapist Chris Melling", game on!, Harlequins RL v Wakefield, p41, 14 April 2007
  28. ^ "Warrington Wolves make youth appointments, Ben Lazenby is promoted and Gary Chambers returns". Warrington Guardian. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you". Oldham RLFC. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Halifax Panthers overhaul backroom staff with Finn and Grix appointments". Halifax Courier. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
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