Jason Lidden (born 24 April 1969) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Penrith Panthers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Castleford Tigers (Heritage No. 740).

Jason Lidden
Personal information
Born (1969-04-24) 24 April 1969 (age 55)
Sydney, New South Wales
Playing information
PositionCentre, Five-eighth, Second-row, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1988–93 Western Suburbs* 108 9 1 0 38
1994–95 Penrith Panthers 25 2 0 0 8
1996 Canterbury Bulldogs 13 1 0 0 4
1997 Castleford Tigers 24 7 0 0 28
Total 170 19 1 0 78
Source: [1]

Club career edit

A Junee Diesels junior,[2] Lidden made his début with Wests in round 6 of 1988, playing five-eighth. He maintained his position in the side for the remainder of the season, switching between five-eighth and centre, and filled a similar role for three years.

With the arrival of new coach Warren Ryan and players Paul Langmack, Andrew Farrar and David Gillespie in 1991, Lidden was moved to the forwards, but played five-eighth in that year's semi-finals, the club's first appearance for many years. Lidden was noted as, "one of the big improvers in '91. The Junee Diesel played in every game for the Magpies and was one of the Winfield Cup's most under-rated performers."[3] The club made the semis again in 1992 and Lidden stayed with the club for one further season.[4]

Lidden joined Penrith in 1994, either starting in the back row or on the bench. He only played 7 games in 1995, before joining Canterbury for one season, where he played mainly from the bench. For a period, he was dropped from first grade and captained the reserve grade side.[5]

In 1997, Lidden spent a season overseas with the Castleford Tigers on a one-year contract,[6] playing 24 games and scoring 7 tries.[7] In 1999, he returned to coach the Junee Diesels for a season.[8]

Lidden was later named as a centre in the Magpies' Team of the Eighties.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ "Jason Lidden – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Big Night for Bidgee at Community Awards". SportingPulse. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  3. ^ David Middleton (1992). Rugby League 1991-92. Caringbah, New South Wales: Playright Publishing Pty Ltd. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-949853-49-3.
  4. ^ "Western Suburbs Magpies First Grade Players". Wests Magpies.
  5. ^ "Jason Lidden". Bulldogs.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Rugby League". The Independent. London. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Castleford RLFC A to Z Player List (All Time)". Castleford Tigers. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Junee Diesels Senior Rugby League". SportingPulse. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  9. ^ "VEST, KEATO, COGGER ALL HONOURED". weststigers.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2012.[permanent dead link]

External sources edit

  • Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players; published 2005 by BAS publishing, f16/171 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic., 3000