Rugby

Player Profile

Like Brett Kearney, Matt Orford is a product of the Central Coast hailing from Gosford and starting his career at the North Sydney Bears.  He then joined the Northern Eagles - the club formed when the Bears merged with Manly in 2000 before joining the newly formed Melbourne Storm in 2001. 

He joined Manly for the 2006 NRL season and was appointed Captain.  He skippered the Sea Eagles team which lost the 2007 NRL Grand Final to the Melbourne Storm and was again at the helm as the side turned the tables in the 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over the same opponents.

In September, 2008, Orford won the prestigious Dally M Medal for being voted the best and fairest player of the 2008 NRL season. He finished on 24 points, two points ahead of Cameron Smith. Orford was the first player since Peter Sterling to win the Dally M Medal and the premiership in the same year.  Nicknamed  the ‘Ox', he was outstanding in Manly's World Club Challenge victory over the Rhinos in 2009 and joined the Bulls for the start of the 2010 season.

Last season he dislocated his shoulder during the Millennium Weekend against Crusaders and only featured once more for the Bulls, in the narrow Challenge Cup defeat to Warrington Wolves.

Bulls Career details to end of 2010 season:

Apps 13,  Subs ,  Tries 3,  Goals 36, DG 2 Points 86