View source for Martin Gleeson (rugby league)

{{Short description|Former GB & England international rugby league footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Martin Gleeson
|fullname       = Martin Gleeson
|image          = Martin Gleeson Warrington.jpg
|position       = {{rlp|CE}}
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|5|25}}
|birth_place    = [[Wigan]], [[Greater Manchester, England]]
|height         = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|14|st|13|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hullfc.com/personnel.aspx?pr=219180|title=Statistics at hullfc.com|publisher=hullfc.com|date=17 August 2011|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref>
|club1          = [[Swinton Lions]]
|year1start     = 1999
|year1end       =
|appearances1   = 1
|tries1         = 0
|goals1         = 0
|fieldgoals1    = 0
|points1        = 0
|club2          = {{nowrap|[[Huddersfield Giants]]}}
|year2start     = 1999
|year2end       = 01
|appearances2   = 60
|tries2         = 18
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 0
|points2        = 72
|club3          = [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|year3start     = 2002
|year3end       = 04
|appearances3   = 69
|tries3         = 31
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 124
|club4          = [[Warrington Wolves]]
|year4start     = 2005
|year4end       = 09
|appearances4   = 117
|tries4         = 48
|goals4         = 0
|fieldgoals4    = 0
|points4        = 192
|club5          = [[Wigan Warriors]]
|year5start     = 2009
|year5end       = 11
|appearances5   = 54
|tries5         = 22
|goals5         = 0
|fieldgoals5    = 0
|points5        = 88
|club6          = [[Hull F.C.]]
|year6start     = 2011
|year6end       = 
|appearances6   = 7
|tries6         = 5
|goals6         = 0
|fieldgoals6    = 0
|points6        = 20
|club7          = [[Salford Red Devils|Salford City Reds]]
|year7start     = 2013
|year7end       = 14
|appearances7   = 30
|tries7         = 4
|goals7         = 0
|fieldgoals7    = 0
|points7        = 16
|teamA          = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
|yearAstart     = 2002
|yearAend       = 07
|appearancesA   = 20
|triesA         = 3
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 0
|pointsA        = 12
|teamB          = [[England national rugby league team|England]]
|yearBstart     = 2008
|yearBend       = 
|appearancesB   = 6
|triesB         = 8
|goalsB         = 0
|fieldgoalsB    = 0
|pointsB        = 32
|teamC          = [[Lancashire rugby league team|Lancashire]]
|yearCstart     = 2002
|yearCend       = 03
|appearancesC   = 2
|triesC         = 0
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 0
|retired        = yes
|source         = <ref name="Profiles">{{cite web |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Martin-Gleeson |title=Martin Gleeson |website=Love Rugby League |date=31 December 2017 |access-date=1 January 2018}}{{dead link|date=June 2023}}<br>- {{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Martin-Gleeson/summary.html |title=Martin Gleeson Playing Career |website=Rugby League Project |date=31 December 2017 |access-date=1 January 2018}}<br>- {{cite web |url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Gleeson&submit=Go&c=England |title=England international stats |publisher=England Rugby League |date=31 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200756/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Gleeson&submit=Go&c=England |access-date=1 January 2018 |archive-date=16 April 2018}}<br>- {{cite web |url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Gleeson&submit=Go&c=GB |title=Great Britain international stats |publisher=England Rugby League |date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200624/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Gleeson&submit=Go&c=GB |access-date=1 January 2018 |archive-date=16 April 2018}}</ref>
|updated        = 7 April 2023
| module       = {{infobox person
| embed        = yes
| father       = 
| mother       = 
| spouse       = 
| education    = 
| alma_mater   = 
| relatives    = [[Mark Gleeson]] (brother)<br>[[Sean Gleeson (rugby league)|Sean Gleeson]] (cousin)
}}
}}

'''Martin Gleeson''' (born 25 May 1980) is an English [[rugby league]] [[Coach (sport)|coach]] and former professional player. He represented both [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] and [[England national rugby league team|England]] internationally as a {{rlp|ce}}. His clubs as a player include the [[Huddersfield Giants]], [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]], the [[Warrington Wolves]], the [[Wigan Warriors]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1822 |title=Heritage Numbers - In Debut Order |website=Cherry and White |date=31 December 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404020507/http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1822 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Hull F.C.]] and the [[Salford Red Devils|Salford City Reds]].<ref name="Profiles"/> His honours include winning the [[Super League]] in 2002 and 2010 and the [[Challenge Cup]] in 2004.

Gleeson was banned for three years (with half being suspended) in 2011 for failing a drugs test. His ban expired on 12 November 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/16354818 |title=Drugs ban for ex-Hull FC player Martin Gleeson |work=BBC News |date=29 December 2011 |access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref>

==Early life==
Gleeson was born in Wigan. Much of his early rugby development took place in Australia, where he emigrated with his family at age 10 to live in [[Queensland]], where he played his junior rugby league for the Slacks Creek Red Lions club based in [[Daisy Hill, Queensland]]. He also played alongside the future [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian]] and [[Queensland state rugby league team|Queensland]] representative [[Brad Meyers]] at Brothers St. Paul, in [[Brisbane, Queensland|Brisbane]]. In 2005, Gleeson revealed his desire to represent Queensland in [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/16681222/pom-gleesons-origin-dream |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113075121/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/16681222/pom-gleesons-origin-dream |url-status=dead| archive-date=13 November 2014 |title=Pom Gleeson's Origin dream |work=Rugby League Week |date=23 March 2005 |page=117 |access-date=1 January 2018 |via=EBSCOhost Connection}}<br>-  {{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,24512252-5003409,00.html |title=England centre Martin Gleeson wants NRL spot in 2010 |first=Steve |last=Ricketts |website=BBC News |date=17 October 2008}}</ref> He returned to England aged 17 and embarked on a professional career, signing for [[Huddersfield Giants]] in 1999.

==Playing career==
===Huddersfield Giants===
After three seasons with the Giants, he left the club following its relegation from [[Super League]] in 2001 and signed for [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]].

===St Helens===
Gleeson made his début for [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] against [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] in Sydney in July 2002, also participating in the [[Baskerville Shield|test series]] against [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] at the end of the season.

At the end of his first season with St. Helens Gleeson played as a {{rlp|ce}} and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]] in the [[2002 Super League Grand Final]] victory against the [[Bradford Bulls]]. Having won [[Super League VI]], St. Helens contested the [[2003 World Club Challenge]] against the 2002 NRL Premiers, the [[Sydney Roosters]], he played as a {{rlp|ce}} in Saints' 0-38 defeat.

An injury lay off disrupted him in 2003. Although he missed seven games between July and September, he came back at the end of the 2003's [[Super League VIII]] to win back his place in the Great Britain squad after a fine performance for England 'A' against the touring Australians.

He opened the 2004's [[Super League IX]] for St. Helens, and won the [[Challenge Cup]] against the [[Wigan Warriors]] at the [[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]]. He and teammate [[Sean Long]] were later involved in a [[2004 rugby league betting scandal|betting scandal]] that saw both players fined and suspended for the last four months of the 2004 Super League IX.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/gleeson-and-long-banned-for-betting-scandal-43429.html |title=Gleeson and Long banned for betting scandal |work=[[Independent.co.uk|The Independent]] |first=David |last=Hadfield |date=18 June 2004}}</ref>

Gleeson was selected in the [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain team]] to compete in the end of season [[2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations]] tournament. In the final against [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] he played as a {{rlp|ce}} in the Great Britain's4 4-4 defeat.

===Warrington Wolves===
While serving his suspension, Gleeson was signed by the [[Warrington Wolves]] for a club record fee reported in the region of £200,000, and he made his début for the Warrington Wolves in the 2005's [[Super League X]]. He recorded a personal best scoring tally of 17 tries in 27 Super League appearances, and he was named as a {{rlp|ce}} in the [[Super League Dream Team]] 2005. He was also heavily involved in providing scores for his {{rlp|wg}} partner, the New Zealand international [[Henry Fa'afili]].

In September 2008, he was named in the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup squads#England|2008 England training squad]] for the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=11890 |title=Myler gets England call |publisher=England Rugby League |date=29 September 2008 |access-date=3 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007232803/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=11890 |archive-date=7 October 2008 }}</ref> and, in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man [[2008 Rugby League World Cup squads#England|England squad]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7656553.stm |title=Purdham earns World Cup call-up |work=BBC News |date=7 October 2008 |access-date=7 October 2008}}</ref>

He was chosen for the England team to face [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] at the [[Keepmoat Stadium]] in [[Doncaster]] prior to England's departure for the World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642490.stm |title=Gleeson to lead new-look England |work=BBC News |date=9 October 2008 |access-date=10 October 2008}}</ref>

In [[2008 Rugby League World Cup Group A|Group A]]'s first match against [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]], he played as a {{rlp|ce}} and scored a try in England's victory.

Gleeson signed a two-year extension until 2011 but, on 4 April 2009, he signed for local rivals, Wigan, on a 3½-year contract.

===Wigan Warriors===
Seven rounds into the 2009's [[Super League XIV]], with both Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors at the time drifting outside of play-off positions, Gleeson was transferred to the Wigan Warriors on a 3½-year contract, with {{rlp|fb}} [[Richard Mathers|Richie Mathers]] moving in the other direction. Gleeson was an integral part of Wigan Warriors' 2010's [[Super League XV]], scoring two tries as they won the [[2010 Super League Grand Final]] against [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/9037764.stm |work=BBC News |title=St Helens 10–22 Wigan | date=2 October 2010}}<br>- {{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Andy |title=Wigan turn St Helens into sinners with Super League Grand Final win |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/02/wigan-st-helens-grand-final |access-date=21 November 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 October 2010}}</ref>

His start of [[2011 Wigan Warriors season|2011]]'s [[Super League XVI]] was against St. Helens in the first regular round.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Ged |title=St Helens 16–16 Wigan |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/9393298.stm |access-date=7 May 2011 |work=BBC News |date=12 February 2011}}</ref> He also played in the side's win at the [[Bradford Bulls]] but had to be taken off in the first-half because of a [[hamstring]] injury.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bradford 10 Wigan 44: match report |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/8337082/Bradford-10-Wigan-44-match-report.html |access-date=7 May 2011 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=20 February 2011 }}</ref> He recovered in time for the [[2011 World Club Challenge]] fixture against [[St George Illawarra Dragons]], but was ineffective and again had to be withdrawn during the match because of the injury.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Andy |title=Wigan Warriors make brave attempt but Dragons are still worlds apart |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/feb/27/wigan-st-george-illawarra-world-club-challenge |access-date=7 May 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 February 2011}}</ref> Before the match, the ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'' reported that, in December 2010, Gleeson had contacted the police alleging he was the victim of [[blackmail]] but had decided to drop the charge.<ref>{{cite news |last=Keegan |first=Mike |title=Wigan rugby league star Martin Gleeson 'received death threats in blackmail plot' |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1409264_wigan_rugby_league_star_martin_gleeson_received_death_threats_in_blackmail_plot |access-date=7 May 2011 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=25 February 2011}}</ref> Amid growing speculation, the club released a statement saying that he had left his hometown club with immediate effect citing his injury, disciplinary problems and a "serious distraction in his personal life"<ref>{{cite news |title=Wigan Warriors part with troubled Martin Gleeson |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/wigan/9415552.stm |access-date=7 May 2011 |work=BBC News |date=4 March 2011}}</ref> as the reasons for the departure.

===Hull F.C.===
Gleeson signed for the Super League club Hull F.C. on 15 April 2011 on an 18-month contract, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2012 [[Super League XVII]]. He made a try scoring debut in the 36–18 defeat of city rivals [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in the Good Friday derby at the KC Stadium. In June, it was announced that he was suffering a stress-related illness and he was granted leave by the club. His contract with the club was terminated in September. In December, it was announced that he had failed a drugs test on 13 May in a game against Salford in which he scored two tries. He was subsequently banned for three years (with half being suspended) from 12 June which was his final game for the club against Harlequins.

===Salford City Reds===
In November 2012, Salford City Reds announced they had signed Gleeson on a 2-year contract for the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons. He scored his first try for Salford in the Magic Weekend fixture against Widnes Vikings on 26 May 2013 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Gleeson announced his retirement in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Gleeson: Salford centre retires and takes academy role |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/29434182 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=15 December 2014 |date=30 September 2014}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
After retiring as a player, Gleeson remained at Salford in a coaching role. In 2019, he joined the coaching staff at [[rugby union]] club [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Gleeson: Ex-GB centre leaves Salford to join Wasps as assistant attack coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48677601 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=4 November 2024 |date=18 June 2019}}</ref> In 2021, he became the attack coach for the [[England national rugby union team]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Gleeson vows to add creativity to England attack before Rugby World Cup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/sep/28/martin-gleeson-vows-to-add-creativity-to-england-attack-before-rugby-world-cup |website=The Guardian |access-date=4 November 2024 |date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

He returned to rugby league in 2023, briefly working as a coach at [[Featherstone Rovers]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Gleeson links up with Featherstone after leaving rugby union |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/martin-gleeson-featherstone-rugby-union |website=Love Rugby League |access-date=4 November 2024 |date=2 March 2023}}</ref> before joining [[Warrington Wolves]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Gleeson: Warrington Wolves appoint former player as first-team coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/66872307 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=4 November 2024 |date=20 September 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Martin Gleeson is the older brother of the rugby league footballer, [[Mark Gleeson]], and the cousin of the rugby league footballer, [[Sean Gleeson (rugby league)|Sean Gleeson]].

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1106 Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com]
*[http://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/wigan/?s=Player&o=12929&amp;wrSID=bc3bf99a6d56506d3addba0393451e4f Profile at wiganwarriorsfans.com]
*[http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=15393 Profile at saints.org.uk]


{{St. Helens RLFC - 2002 Super League champions}}
{{St. Helens - 2004 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan Warriors - 2010 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Great Britain 2004 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{Great Britain 2005 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{Great Britain 2006 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{England 2008 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{2002 Super League Dream Team}}
{{2005 Super League Dream Team}}
{{Salford Red Devils Captains}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gleeson, Martin}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Doping cases in rugby league]]
[[Category:England national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:English rugby league players]]
[[Category:English sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Huddersfield Giants players]]
[[Category:Hull F.C. players]]
[[Category:Lancashire rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Rugby league centres]]
[[Category:Rugby league five-eighths]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Wigan]]
[[Category:Salford Red Devils captains]]
[[Category:Salford Red Devils players]]
[[Category:St Helens R.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Swinton Lions players]]
[[Category:Warrington Wolves players]]
[[Category:Wigan Warriors players]]