Mark Lennon

Overview

Lennon originally began playing rugby league at a young age for local club side Como-Jannali RLFC before he was spotted by scouts from the National Rugby League club the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and signed to a development deal. After several seasons with the Cronulla-based club Lennon found it hard to make his way into the first grade side under head coach John Lang and decided to take up an offer with European Super League club the Castleford Tigers at the age of twenty in 2001.

While at Castleford Lennon made his Welsh début for the national side in a mid-season fixture against England. After several years at the Tigers he left and returned to Australia signing for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles but only managed to make a sole appearance in three years with the club. In 2007 he then returned to his first club the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks playing Premier league before again moving to England after being signed by Super League newcomers Hull Kingston Rovers.

Childhood and early career

Mark originally began playing rugby league at an early age 10 for gymea before moving to miranda magpies at age 11 and the joined the Como Jannali Rugby League Football club. After several seasons with the club he was spotted by a Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks scout and offered a junior development contract.

After working his way through the junior grades at Cronulla Lennon moved to St George Dragons and could only reach reserve grade at the club before he signed for English club the Castleford Tigers while still twenty years of age.

Castleford Tigers

After signing for the Castleford Tigers in 2001 Lennon quickly made a name for himself as somewhat of a classy utility back usually playing at either fullback or filling one of the half positions. Mark would quickly cement his place within the Castleford starting thirteen and became a vital member of the teams attack and with his contribution the Tigers had successful 2001 and 2002 campaigns finishing mid-table and making the Rugby League Challenge Cup semi-finals in consecutive years.

Lennon missed the majority of the 2003 season because of injury, mainly due to a broken leg which meant he could only make a few appearances for the club that year and at the conclusion of the 2004 season the Tigers were relegated to English division one. With the relegation of Castleford from Super League Lennon returned to Australia signing with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Mark was originally signed as a depth replacement on an incentive-based offer for the beginning of the 2004 National Rugby League season and was seen as the long term option to take over from Luke Dorn who had been released from the club because of his arrival.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Lennon returned to his original 'home' club side the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2007 for the first time since he originally signed for them as a teenager. During the first four rounds of competition however he failed to make a sole first grade appearance for the club and was relegated to playing in reserve grade as a utility. After only several weeks at the Cronulla club he left and returned to the United Kingdom signing with Hull Kingston Rovers.

Hull Kingston Rovers

After newly promoted Hull Kingston Rovers had sustained several injuries to key players during their maiden Super League season, head coach Justin Morgan (who was a former Welsh international teammate) offered Lennon a one-year deal at Craven Park. Morgan stated that his versatility and accomplished goal-kicking were key points in the signing.

He made his début for his new club during their home fixture against Salford. Lennon would start on the bench eventually being substituted onto the field and scoring a try on début although Rovers would eventually lose by four points 28-24.

He was released from Hull KR on 17 September 2007

Celtic Crusaders

Lennon signed with the Celtic crusaders in 2008 in the hope they would win a Super League licence and played in the National League Grand Final in 2008. 2009 was Lennon's last year in the Super League with the Celtic Crusaders before returning to Australia and playing the 2010 season with the Cronulla Sharks in the NSW CUP.

Wales

Lennon made his début for the Welsh national side during the 2001 season after qualifying to play for them through his parental heritage with his mother being born in Wales. His first match for Wales was a mid-season test match against England where he had an impressive début playing at fullback although Wales would eventually lose by five points in a narrow 38-33 loss.

For the following five years Lennon would go on to make a further eight appearances for Wales with matches against Australia and Georgia as well as playing in the European Nations Cup where he scored a sixteen-point haul against Russia at Aberavon in 2003. His most recent appearance came during the European Championship when he was flown out from Australia while playing for Manly for an international fixture against France where Wales would eventually lose 38-16

After signing with Hull Kingston Rovers for the 2007 season Lennon is expected to appear in squads for Wales next two major matches against Scotland and Papua New Guinea in late 2007.

International honours

Mark Lennon won caps for Wales while at Castleford, Manly Sea Eagles, Hull KR, and Celtic Crusaders 2001…present 13(10, 12?)-caps 4(3?)-tries 12(13?)-goals 40(38?)-points.

He has been named in the Wales squad to face England at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

In 2010 he represented Wales in the Alitalia European Cup.

Matches played

Celtic Crusaders 2008-2009

Cronulla Sharks NSW CUP 2010