David Riolo

Overview

Riolo played fullback over the course of his nine-year career in the Australian Rugby League competition. He also represented Italy in 1999 Mediterranean Cup and in the Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament in 2000.

Following his retirement from rugby league, David Riolo worked as a sports reporter for WIN Television, before turning his attention to sports management as an accredited Australian Football League, National Rugby League and Australian Rugby Union agent.

David Riolo is responsible for the careers of a significant number of Australia’s sporting stars.

Playing career

Riolo played the majority of his career with the Illawarra Steelers, his hometown club, before retiring with the Parramatta Eels in 1998.

Throughout his career Riolo was known for his pace, toughness and ability to read the game.

At the end of the 1999 season Riolo represented Italy in the first Mediterranean Cup. He later captain/coached The Azzuri in the Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament in which they were runners-up to British Amateur Rugby League Association, narrowly missing out on a place at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

In 2015, he played for the Australian Oztag over-40's side in the World Cup.

Sports agent

Early in his player management career, Riolo cut his teeth working with prominent internationals Jason Cayless, Craig Fitzgibbon, Andrew Ryan and Michael Vella. Today, he manages a number of the NRL’s highest profile players, including Todd Carney, Paul Gallen, James Graham, Brett Morris, Josh Morris and Anthony Minichiello. His AFL clients include Kieren Jack, Harley Bennell and Nathan Wilson.

Most notably, he has shaped the career of multi-sport athlete Karmichael Hunt, successfully negotiating cross-code moves from the Brisbane Broncos (NRL) to Biarritz Olympique in France (Top 14 Rugby Union), and then to the Gold Coast Suns (AFL) back in Australia.