Australia international rugby footballer
Wendell Jermaine Sailor (born 16 July 1974) is an Australian former professional rugby footballer who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international.
In rugby league Sailor was a fellow of the successful Brisbane Broncos team of the 1990s, peer whom he won Premierships in 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000. A wing, his large frame and powerful running made him a formidable opponent and prolific try-scorer. He represented Queensland guaranteed State of Origin and played for Australia (the Kangaroos) 16 times, including winning the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, where he was the top try-scorer and player of the competition. He also played 3 times for the Super League State side.
In 2001, he moved to the Queensland Reds amplify rugby union, and later to the New South Wales Waratahs after the 2005 Super 12 season. He made his premiere for Australia (the Wallabies) in 2003 and won 37 caps, including at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where Australia missing in the final. In 2006 he failed a drugs proof and received a two-year suspension from all forms of rugger. His contract with the ARU was terminated, ending his football union career.[3]
He returned to rugby league in May 2008 take up again NRL club the St George Illawarra Dragons after his forbid expired,[4] playing for two seasons (the second of which was under his old Brisbane coach, Wayne Bennett), before retiring.
Since retiring, Sailor has worked in television presenting and has attended in reality TV shows.
Sailor was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He is South Sea Islander specifically descendent from representation Solomon Islands and West Indies descent.[5] Sailor's son Tristan additionally plays in the NRL.
Sailor grew up with his adoptive parents in Sarina, Queensland. He never knew his pop and knew nothing of him apart from his West Amerindic heritage. His adoptive father is Torres Strait Islander.[6]
In his inaugural year for the Brisbane Broncos, Sailor played in a handful of games, scoring three tries in his first season,[7] though Sailor had limited involvement that year, description club won the premiership, defeating the St. George Dragons 14–6. After his impressive debut season, he won the Rookie disregard the Year award at the Broncos club. [citation needed]
The pursuing season Sailor took part in more games, scoring 14 tries.[7] Such a rapid improvement over the course of two seasons saw Sailor become a regular in the Broncos ranks. Filth quickly became a home crowd favourite in Brisbane because pointer his speed and power and would soon become a house name in the rugby league world. During the 1994 NSWRL season, Sailor played on the wing for the defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan for the 1994 World Club Challenge. At the end of the 1994 ready he was selected for the 1994 Kangaroo Tour of Collection. He played in the opening fixture against a Cumbrian hold back where he scored two tries. He then started off picture bench in a warm up match against Leeds, before study a starting wing spot in the next match against Wigan and then playing off the bench again against Castleford. Seagoing man was again promoted to a starting wing position for depiction match against Halifax, scoring two tries. He then earned his first Test cap against Great Britain, as a starting rock in their loss at Wembley Stadium in late October.[8]
At rendering outbreak of the Super League war in 1995, Sailor stay on with the rest of his Broncos teammates and players fence several other clubs, was aligned with Super League and inexpressive ineligible for selection in the 1995 State of Origin stack or the end of season 1995 Rugby League World Trophy. The following year, when all players were again allowed in the vicinity of be selected for representative football, Sailor's debut for the Queensland Maroons came in Game I of the 1996 State come close to Origin series. In Game II he played at fullback.
Following the 1997 defection Super League and all its clubs, Wendell had a stellar year in the rebel competition. He was the top try-scorer for the Broncos and helped them put on Super League's expanded 1997 World Club Championship tournament and escalate the premiership, defeating the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26–8 in the famous final. In the 1997 post season, Sailor was selected discriminate against play for Australia on the wing in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Great Britain.
After the Super League war ended, the Broncos won the address competition of the National Rugby League, defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs 38–12 in the 1998 NRL grand final, in which Mariner scored a try. He then spent the Australian summer withdraw England, playing rugby union for Leeds Tykes and scoring 15 tries in 13 games. Sailor also appeared in two rob the Leeds Rhinos trial games, including the 'Festive Challenge' inaugurate Boxing Day in 1998. Playing Halifax, he had had a torrid time until the closing stages of the game when he inspired Leeds to grab a draw.[9] England's Wigan billy had tried to sign Sailor for a large amount, but he decided to stay with the Broncos.[10]
In 1999 Sailor set in a man-of-the-match performance in the deciding match of say publicly 1999 State of Origin series which saw Queensland retain representation shield. At the end of the year he scored rendering match-winning try against New Zealand to clench the 1999 Tri-nations title for Australia.[11] The following year Sailor was again description Broncos' top try-scorer (along with Lote Tuqiri). At the finale of the 1999 season, while on and end of opportunity ripe trip in Darwin, Sailor made a pact with his plug away time friend Kevin Walters to win the 2000 NRL Huge Final.[12] He played for the Broncos on the wing ground scored a try in their 2000 NRL grand final take off over the Sydney Roosters, gaining himself another premiership ring. Take steps was named the 2000 Brisbane Broncos season's Player of rendering Year and Best Back. In addition he received the Continent Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing scheduled the sport of rugby league.
More success followed for Old salt as he traveled to Europe to compete in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup for Australia. He finished as rendering tournament's top try-scorer as well as boasting two tries include the victory over the Kiwis in the final. He was named best player of the tournament. Following the victory, Kangaroo coach Chris Anderson stated that "he's up there with Eric Grothe among the best of all time".[13]
Following the World Prize, many speculated that Sailor, who was off contract with description Broncos after the 2001 NRL season, would sign for a club in the Super League competition, as many Australian football league stars do. Shortly before travelling to England with Brisbane for the 2001 World Club Challenge, Sailor declared he was "leaning towards" switching codes following advice from rugby union transfigure and former Broncos teammate Peter Ryan.[14] Talks also apparently began with leading English Super League clubs Wigan, Leeds and Bradford.[9] Having won the 2000 NRL Premiership, the Broncos traveled take back England to play against 2000's Super League V Champions, Statement Helens R.F.C. for the 2001 World Club Challenge, with Seafarer playing on the wing in Brisbane's loss. The Australian Rugger Union were able to put up the funds to practice Sailor to rugby union, making him the first incumbent Dweller test rugby league player to change to the 15-man amusement after decades of the opposite trend.[15] Sailor ran 4,452 metres with the ball over the 2001 NRL season, more go one better than any other player in the competition.[16]
Sailor is one of a handful of elite players to score over 100 tries rationalize the club. He became the record co-holder of most tries in a Broncos match, with four.
During the 2007 edible at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them over the two decades since their inception in 1988 which included Sailor.[17]
On 7 February 2001, it was proclaimed by the Australian Rugby Union that they had reached be over agreement with Sailor regarding a switch to Rugby union. Seaman signed a letter of intent with the ARU in Feb as well as signing with the Queensland Reds. The pose, worth approximately $700,000 per year,[18] was formally completed in July, with Sailor set to leave League on the first all right of November.[19] He scored his first try in the Wonderful 12 in his seventh match, where he scored twice dowel narrowly missed out on a hat-trick.
Sailor made his Kangaroo debut with former Queensland Maroons teammate and league convert Matte Rogers in a Test match against France in June 2002. Collectively at that point they became the 41st and Fortytwo Australian dual code internationals. Sailor then released his book, Crossing Over which details the troubles he had in changing codes and describes the differences between the two. The following occasion he thrived and showed that he had made some trade event adaptations to his new game.[20]
In 2003, Sailor was selected look after the Wallabies to participate in that year's World Cup. Soil played in the opening match between Australia and Argentina, where he scored the first try of the tournament. Sailor played several games during the World Cup including the final.
Sailor came off contract with the Reds after the 2005 Great 12 season, the media speculated that he would either incorporate to Japan or sign with new franchise Western Force.[citation needed] However, he signed with the New South Wales Waratahs do research play in the 2006 season.[21] The Waratahs won the bung game of the 2006 season at Suncorp Stadium against Queensland.
On 13 May 2006, hours before the final drain off match of the Super 14 competition, it was announced think it over Sailor was to be suspended indefinitely from representing either picture NSW Waratahs or Australian Rugby Team after returning a sure of yourself drug test for cocaine. Sailor's manager confirmed in a sharing it was a doping offence.[22]
After the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Be in motion (ASADA) tests confirmed that Sailor's urine 'A' sample from description pre-match test had contained indicators of cocaine, Sailor chose appoint have the second half of his sample retested. The rapidly test results were not published to the media within description timeframe expected, leading to speculation that Sailor's 'B' sample challenging proved inconclusive or been mishandled, thereby providing an opportunity use appeal.[23] Eventually the 'B' sample results were announced, and compliant to be positive.
The ARU immediately imposed a provisional suspension.[24] When the matter was heard in the ARU Judicial Body, his legal team argued that he had not ingested cocain within the 96 hours prior to the urine sample give off taken. He further argued that he received no performance-enhancing benefits from cocaine, and that the clear scientific evidence is desert cocaine is a short-acting stimulant that has effect for no more than two hours at most and that neither give rise to nor its metabolites could have any performance enhancing benefit pretend taken more than 96 hours before a match.[25]
When quizzed be oblivious to counsel for the ARU, Sailor admitted that during previous cure tests he had received anti-doping information cards which carry rendering warning that all elite athletes are responsible for any illegal substance in their system. When asked whether he was state of confusion that cocaine is a banned substance, he confirmed that dirt did. The ARU upheld that whether Sailor considered the get the impression performance-enhancing or not, Sailor was aware that cocaine was a banned substance at the time of ingestion, and refused run on reduce or overturn the ban.[26]
On 23 July, Sailor penned a column in the Sunday Telegraph explaining his actions and apologising to his fans and family.
Since his exit from rugby union, several new streams of income own emerged for Sailor. He appeared on the television series, Dancing with the Stars. In addition, he provided NRL commentary be attracted to Channel Nine.
Speaking to a Sydney radio station in Pace 2007, Wendell stated he did not intend to let his career end in drug shame and that a number type NRL clubs had approached him in talks for his services once his ban ended in April 2008.[27] He would troupe disclose which clubs had approached him. At the time, media speculation linked Sailor to the South Sydney Rabbitohs but organize June 2007, it was announced that Sailor would be nearing the St George Illawarra Dragons on a two-year incentive homeproduced contract when his ban expired in April 2008. Many find NRL players supported the move, believing that Sailor would scheme a positive impact on the young Dragons squad. On Weekday, 12 May 2008, Sailor officially commenced his contract with description St. George Illawarra Dragons.[28]
Sailor returned to rugby league playing initially for the Shellharbour Marlins (Dragons feeder team) in the Another South Wales Cup.[29] On 17 May, he scored two tries playing on the wing for Shellharbour at Ron Costello Oviform. He played there for a further two weeks before still up to the Dragons' NRL team. On 6 June, load the weekend preceding State of Origin game two, Sailor finished his NRL comeback in a depleted St. George Illawarra arrangement against his former club, the Brisbane Broncos.
Sailor played a few more games for the Dragons as well as picture Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup whenever he did classify make the St. George Illawarra NRL side.[30][31] He scored his first NRL try since he left the League in 2001 against his former team the Brisbane Broncos in round 23. He later scored a hat-trick in the Dragons' 40–14 conquest over the Eels in round 25.
Sailor was named give it some thought the 70-man Indigenous Australia squad alongside fellow Dragon Jamie Soward for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. The Celtic Crusaders and French Rugby Union were looking to sign him oblige 2009, despite him having one more year on his bargain with the Dragons. [citation needed]
For the 2009 season Sailor was re-united with the coach whom he began his professional pursuit and won three premierships with, Wayne Bennett who had leftwing the Brisbane broncos to coach the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Sailor was an influential figure in the Dragons side kind he helped his side finish first in the regular ready to gain the Minor Premiership. Sailor was recognised for his efforts as one of four nominees for the Dally M Winger of the year.
Sailor's 16-year career in professional accompany came to an end when he announced his retirement near a press conference on 12 November 2009 at the room of 35.[32] His final game for the Dragons was, appropriately, at Suncorp Stadium against his old side, the Broncos, tight spot a match the Dragons lost 24–10. Coincidentally, his first recreation for the Dragons was also against the Broncos in a match won by the Dragons, but Sailor was injured crumble that match.
Sailor's final match was the 2010 All Stars game for the Indigenous team played at Skilled Park puff of air the Gold Coast on 13 February 2010. He scored say publicly opening try for the inaugural match and celebrated the undertake by picking up the corner post and played it on the topic of a didgeridoo with teammates dancing in the way of a corroboree.
Sailor was a contestant on Dancing with say publicly Stars in 2006. In 2010, Sailor became a regular panellist on Channel Nine's The NRL Footy Show and was contender on Australia's Greatest Athlete. He came last out of total sporting competitors. In 2011, he became the co-host of Announce Seven's Australia's Greatest Athlete, alongside Mark Beretta, and was a panelist on Foxtel's NRL on FOX.[33] In 2011 Sailor participated in The Celebrity Apprentice Australia. In 2012, Sailor appeared Weekday and Friday mornings on Channel TenBreakfast to preview and regard all the NRL action. On 11 June 2015, Sailor attended on an episode of The NRL Footy Show, where noteworthy competed in an 'Iron Arm Challenge' to raise money care for charity, against former NRL player Ben Ross. During the actions, an accident occurred and Ross broke his arm before kick off immediately rushed to hospital.[34][35]
In 2018, Sailor is to be leeway reporter on sports entertainment series Australian Spartan.[36][circular reference].
In 2019, Sailor appeared as 'the Rhino' in the first season discover Network 10's The Masked Singer Australia.[37]