Stacey Jones

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Stacey Jones ONZM (born May 7, 1976 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player for Les Catalans Dragons in the Super League. He usually plays halfback, but has briefly played five-eighth during his career. 41 Tests for New Zealand Kiwis (1995- )

[edit] Playing career

He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, grandson to New Zealand rugby league great Maunga Emery. He made his first grade debut in 1995 against the Parramatta Eels for the then Auckland Warriors in the year of their inception to what is now the NRL. He started as five-eighth as the Warriors had Penrith great Greg Alexander as halfback, but he soon outshone his counterpart and forced Alexander into the Fullback role. He stuck with the club through turbulent times when not only did the team struggle on the field - not being able to make the NRL's finals series - but also off the field where twice the club liquidated, to be eventually bought by current owner Eric Watson.

It was under the new management where he first became club captain - in 2001 co-captaining with Kevin Campion - and although already considered in the top reaches of halfbacks in the NRL, he now started to show he was on equal par with the games' best halfbacks at the time through a 3 year period in which he led the Warriors to 3 successive finals appearances. He came to a climax in 2002 when the club not only won the minor premiership, but they reached the grand final. He played in a losing side that evening but scored a great try in which he beat 3 Roosters defenders from 30 metres out to go over from dummy half.

In his career, he has also respresented his country at two World Cups, two(1999, 2005) tri nations (Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand) series, and has played 34 games for the New Zealand Kiwis. He retired from the national team in 2004 while having a disappointing year at club level. However on October 15 2005 Stacey ended 2 years of international retirement, answering a SOS from Kiwis coah Brian McLennan intending only to play the Australasian section of the Tri Nations series. He then went on to play the rest of the matches against Great Britain in England. Stacey Jones was an integral part of the New Zealand tri-nations campaign. In the first match, he guided the Kiwis to their first win in Sydney in 50 years in the first match of the series before being part of their close loss to Australia in Aukland, keeping them in the game before a late Australian try. He set up 4 tries in the first match in England which the Kiwis won by 38-12. He than missed the fourth Kiwi game, instead being with his wife as his son was born. In the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations Final, he continually kicked high punts("bombs") aimed at the Australian wingers that set up three tries in the Kiwis 24-0 victory over Australia in the final. Australia had not lost a series in 27 years. Whether he will compete in the 2006 tri-nations is unknown.

He is normally considered the best New Zealand player of his generation. This reputation was strengthened in 2002 when he won the Golden Boot - given to whom the rugby league press consider to be the best player in the world.

He is the first and only life member of the Warriors.

In early 2005 Stacey Jones announced he was leaving the Warriors, his only club for which he holds the records for most appearnces (238 NRL games) and most tries (75), to join the new French addition to the Super League for the 2006 season Les Catalans. In doing so he is the last foundation member of the Warriors to leave the club in a string of sackings and contract releases which lead to then Warriors CEO Mick Watson's resignation in August of 2005.

Jones's vision and ability to control the game when his team was on attack earned him the sobriquet "the little general", a reference also to his small stature compared to most rugby league players. Jones was often able to find players with a high bombing kick at either sides of the field or place a sneaky through ball for oncoming players to pounce on.

Jones is well respected by both fans and players as a humble hard working leader.

[edit] Awards and Achievements

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Rugby League
Rugby League Players’ Association – Best Back Award (2005)
New Zealand Warriors Life Membership (2005)
New Zealand Warriors Special Award for 200 NRL games (2004)
New Zealand Warriors Special Award for 100 NRL games (1999)
Golden Boot Award – World’s Best Rugby League Player of the Year (2002)
Halberg Award finalist Sportsman of the Year
New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Year (2002, 2001, 1999)
New Zealand Rugby League Annual Player of the Year (2002, 1999, 1997)
New Zealand Warriors Player of the Year (1997)
New Zealand Warriors Back of the Year (1999)
New Zealand Warriors Development Player of the Year (1995)
New Zealand Rugby League Promising Player of the Year (1995)
New Zealand Warriors Supporters’ Player of the Year (1999)
Prime TV Viewers, Choice Award (2001)
New Zealand Rugby League Personality of the Year (2002)

New Zealand Warriors Captain 2001-2005
UTC Les Catalans Dragons Captain 2006-
New Zealand Kiwis Captain 2002-

1995 Rugby League World Cup Semi-finalists
1996 Great Britain Tour of New Zealand Series Winner
1997 Rugby League World Club Challenge Semi-finalists
1998 New Zealand Tour of Great Britain Series Winner
- 1998 New Zealand Tour of Great Britain Player of the Series
1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations
2000 Rugby League World Cup Finalists (Silver)
2002 National Rugby League Minor Premiers
2002 National Rugby League Grand Finalists
2002 New Zealand Tour of Great Britain Series Draw
- 2002 New Zealand Tour of Great Britain Player of the Series
2003 National Rugby League Semi-finalists
2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations Champions