Robert Derby (born 7 March 2002) is a Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 7 March 2002 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 99 kg (15 st 8 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 10 November 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background edit
Derby was born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and lived in Mendi, Goroka, Mount Hagen and Vietnam before moving to Cairns when he was eight years old.[2]
He played his junior rugby league for Cairns Brothers and completed the majority of his schooling at St Augustine's College.[citation needed]
In 2019, he was signed by the Melbourne Storm and moved to the Sunshine Coast to play for feeder club Sunshine Coast Falcons. [3][4] As part of his relocation, he attended Unity College, Caloundra and was a part of the rugby league academy at the school.[citation needed]
Playing career edit
In 2020, Derby joined the Sunshine Coast Falcons, playing just one Mal Meninga Cup game before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.[5]
In 2021, he returned to Cairns, joining the Northern Pride's under-21 side and the North Queensland Cowboys Young Guns squad.[6]
In 2022, Derby spent the season playing for the Pride's Queensland Cup side, scoring seven tries in 16 games.[7] On 25 June 2022, he made his international debut for Papua New Guinea in their 24-14 victory over Fiji.[8]
On 16 November 2022, Derby joined the Cowboys' NRL squad for the 2023 season.[9]
2023 edit
Derby began the season playing for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup.[10] In round 13 of the 2023 NRL season, Derby made his first grade debut against the Parramatta Eels.[11][12]
References edit
- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ "Meet PNG Kumuls Debutants - Robert Derby". PNG Today. 4 June 2022.
- ^ "Robert Derby honoured with PNG Kumuls debut in midyear Test". Cairns Post. 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Robert Derby signs with Melbourne Storm". Cairns Post. 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Derby, Fonoti, set to impress for Northern Pride's colts". Cairns Post. 7 April 2021.
- ^ "Hastings Deering Colts TEAMS - 2021 Round 5". League Unlimited. 11 May 2021.
- ^ "Three Cowboys contracted players run for 170+ metres in Hostplus Cup". NQ Cowboys. 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea v Fiji". National Rugby League. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Five Young Guns elevated to NRL squad for 2023". NQ Cowboys. 16 November 2022.
- ^ "Friends set to face off". The National. 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Cowboys team list: Round 13 v Eels". NQ Cowboys. 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Brown's stunner as Eels unearth hidden gem; star leads Cowboys transformation: Big hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 26 May 2023.