Quick Facts
Biography
Kane Linnett (born 11 January 1989) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League. A Scottish international centre, he previously played for the Sydney Roosters. Linnett was a member of the Cowboys' 2015 NRL premiership and 2016 World Club Challenge winning sides.
Background
Linnett was born in Shellharbour, New South Wales and a grew up in Barrack Heights, a suburb of Shellharbour. He attended Warilla High School and played junior football for both the Port Kembla Blacks and Windang Pelicans. While at high school, Linnett was a promising rugby union player, representing NSW Country High Schools, but ultimately decided to stick with rugby league.
In 2007, Linnett played for the Illawarra Steelers in the SG Ball Cup, earning a contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons. Linnett played with the Dragons NYC side between 2008 and 2009, scoring 31 tries in 51 games, before joining the Sydney Roosters in 2010.
Playing career
2010
Linnett made his NRL debut in Round 14 of the 2010 NRL season. He ran for over 200m and scored a try in the Roosters' 38–6 win over the Melbourne Storm. He finished the season as a member of the Roosters' 2010 NRL Grand Final team that lost to his former club, the Dragons, 32–8.
2011
In 2011, Linnett was limited to just 10 NRL games. In Round 23, he played on through a season-ending knee injury, scoring a try in the Roosters' 20-12 victory over the Dragons.
On 3 August, he signed a two-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys.
2012
Linnett scored his first try for the Cowboys in the side's Round 3 match against the Parramatta Eels. Two weeks later, in the Cowboys Round 5 win against the Canberra Raiders, Linnett set a club record for most metres by a Cowboys centre, with 234. He was named the Cowboys Most Improved for 2012 at the club's annual presentation ball.
2013
In 2013, Linnett played in every game for the Cowboys, scoring nine tries. At the end of the season, Linnett represented Scotland at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, qualifying to play for them through his mother.
2014
On 11 February 2014, Linnett re-signed with the Cowboys for a further two season. Later that month, Linnett was a part of the Cowboys victorious Auckland Nines team and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
2015
In Round 3 of the 2015 NRL season, Linnett played his 100th NRL game. On 4 October 2015, he was a member of the Cowboys' Grand Final winning side, starting a centre in the side's 17–16 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.
2016
On 21 February 2016, Linnett was a member of the Cowboys' World Club Challenge winning side, starting at centre in the side's 38–4 victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium. In May, Linnett represented Country Origin for the first time.
In October, Linnett was named in Scotland's 2016 Four Nations squad.
Achievements and accolades
Individual
North Queensland Cowboys Most Improved: 2012
Team
2010 NRL Grand Final: Sydney Roosters – Runners up
2014 NRL Auckland Nines: North Queensland Cowboys – Winner
2015 NRL Grand Final: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
2016 World Club Challenge: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
Statistics
NRL
- Statistics are correct to the end of the 2016 season
| † | Denotes seasons in which Linnett won an NRL Premiership |
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts= |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sydney Roosters | 13 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 8 |
| 2011 | Sydney Roosters | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 8 |
| 2012 | North Queensland | 24 | 12 | 0 | — | 0 | 48 |
| 2013 | North Queensland | 25 | 9 | 0 | — | 0 | 36 |
| 2014 | North Queensland | 25 | 12 | 0 | — | 0 | 48 |
| 2015† | North Queensland | 28 | 10 | 0 | — | 0 | 40 |
| 2016 | North Queensland | 22 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 20 |
| Career totals | 147 | 52 | 0 | — | 0 | 208 | |
International
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts= |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 |
| Career totals | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 | |