Nathan Merritt, an ex-professional rugby league player from Australia, was active during the 2000s and 2010s. He represented New South Wales in State of Origin matches as a winger. Merritt played in the National Rugby League for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he clinched the 2014 NRL Premiership, and later for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.Merritt has represented City New South Wales, Indigenous All Stars, and Prime Minister’s XIII in football. Known for his scoring abilities, he led the NRL in tries in 2006 and 2011. Remarkably, in 2013, he became the 9th player in NRL history to achieve the milestone of scoring 150 tries.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 40 years
Height- 1.81 m
Weight- 90 kg
Born- 26 May 1983
Birthplace- Redfern, Australia
Profession-Rugby league winger
Nationality- Australian
Dates joined: 2006 (South Sydney Rabbitohs), 2004 (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Parents
Hailing from Sydney, Merritt is an Indigenous Australian raised in the Redfern area, known as The Block, in South Sydney. Patrick and Jennifer Merritt are the parents of Nathan, his older brother Griffin, who attended UC and played baseball from 2019 to 2022. In 2022, Griffin was honored as the AAC Player of the Year.
Girlfriend
Nathan Merritt is potentially single and has not been in a previous engagement. he is not romantically involved with anyone.
Career
In his early years, Merritt participated in football through the South Sydney Juniors competition, representing the Alexandria Rovers.Nathan Merritt made his first-grade debut for the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the New Zealand Warriors in round 9 of the 2002 NRL season, scoring a try on his debut. After the 2003 season, he moved to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for two years but faced a challenging 2005, playing only three first-grade games. He excelled in lower grade matches for Newtown, scoring nearly 300 points that year.
In 2006, Merritt returned to the South Sydney club and stood out in a struggling team, playing all 24 games and becoming the highest try-scorer of the season with 22 tries. Despite his achievements, he faced controversy regarding his non-selection in the City Origin squad in 2007, hinting at possible biases.His exceptional performances continued, with memorable moments such as scoring five tries in a match in 2011, equaling a club record, and finishing the season as the leading try-scorer. Merritt’s notable career also included representing New South Wales in State of Origin in 2013.
In 2014, he retired from rugby league, concluding his career as the highest try-scorer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Merritt, also known for his involvement in the music video for Anthony Mundine’s “Platinum Ryder” and earning praise from Snoop Dogg, announced his retirement at a press conference where he revealed his plans to establish the Nathan Merritt Foundation, a charity aimed at supporting youth in Redfern.
Merritt, with 154 tries in 237 NRL games, spent most of his career at South Sydney. His 151 tries for Souths rank him third behind Alex Johnston (187) and Benny Wearing (168). He stands at 12th place on the all-time leading try-scorers list in Australian top-flight rugby league.
In a remarkable feat, Merritt led the NRL’s try-scoring chart twice, notably in 2006 when the Rabbitohs finished at the bottom of the ladder.
Achievement/ Awards
Merritt received several accolades throughout his career, including the George Piggins Medal for the club’s best player in 2011, the Jack Rayner Players’ Player Award in 2006 and 2008, the Roy Asotasi Members’ Choice Award in 2009, and the Burrow Player of the Year in 2006 and 2009.
Net Worth 2023
Nathan Merritt’s estimated net worth falls within the range of $1 million to $5 million dollars.
Legend Nathan Merritt in Critical Condition
Former South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt is currently in critical condition at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Merritt, known as one of the club’s top try-scorers, was admitted to the hospital in Camperdown on Friday and is now on life support. Both the Rabbitohs and the hospital have refrained from making any comments to respect the 40-year-old’s privacy.
Nevertheless, insiders, speaking anonymously to protect the sensitivity of the matter, have disclosed that Merritt experienced a negative response to prescribed pain medication. He was admitted to the hospital after being discovered unresponsive on Friday. His friends and family have been informed about his current state.
