T'Other Side: Halifax

2020 Matches

2019 Matches

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: Simon Grix

Simon Grix is in his first job as a head coach having taken over from Richard Marshall in late April last year, initially in a caretaker role but was appointed on a permanent basis in late May.

His playing career began with Halifax (where he was born) in 2003. He was signed by Warrington in 2005 but missed out on the whole of his first year because of injury. He returned to Halifax in 2016 both as a player and as a member of the coaching staff. Although he played for Fax last year he only made one appearance since taking over as head coach and has not included himself in the squad for this year.

Simon was what one would describe as a utility having played at fullback, centre, stand-off, scrum-half, second row and loose forward! He is an Ireland international.

Captain: Scott Murrell

Some teams have halfbacks with great pace others have players who are brilliant organisers (like Liam Finn!). Scott Murrell definitely comes into the brilliant organisers category. He is without doubt the real controlling force on the pitch for Halifax, commanding huge respect from the rest of his team. He began his career at Leeds Rhinos but made his first team debut for London Broncos in 2004 whilst on loan from Leeds. In 2006 he moved to Hull Kingston Rovers who were then in National League One. After securing promotion to the Super League at the end of that season he remained with Hull KR for a further 6 seasons before signing for Halifax in 2013. In 2010 he made an appearance off the bench for England.

New Signings for 2020

Paul Brearley, second row, loose forward or centre, has joined Halifax from Batley. He joined Batley last year from Rochdale Mayfield RL although he did make one sub appearance for Rochdale Hornets back in 2012. If he plays he should be easy to spot as he is 6 foot 7 inches tall!

Jodie Broughton, wing, has spent the last four seasons at Catalans Dragons but injuries kept him out of the side for long periods in both 2017 and 2019. He was in the Leeds Academy but started his first grade career on loan at Hull FC in both 2008 and 2009. In 2010 he joined Salford and then he moved to Huddersfield in 2014. In 2015 he played one game for Oldham on dual reg. He joined Catalans in 2016. He has also played for England and England Knights.

Keal Carlile, hooker, began his career one appearance for Bradford in 2008 before joining Huddersfield in 2009. In 2010 he played for Barrow on loan from the Giants. In 2012 he transferred to Hull KR and during his time there had a loan spell with Gateshead Thunder in 2014. He joined Sheffield Eagles in 2015 and then Featherstone in 2017. He spent 2019 with Newcastle Thunder.

Matt Garside, second row, started with Gateshead in 2010 and moved to York in 2011. After 2 years at York he joined Sheffield in 2013 and then had 3 years at London Broncos (2015-2017). For the last two years he has been with Bradford. In 2010 he played for the Great Britain Students team.

Tom Gilmore, halfback, is a new partner for Scott Murrell. He had been at Widnes since his professional début in 2012. During his time there he did also play for North Wales Crusaders on dual reg in 2014 and for London Broncos on loan in 2015.

Keegan Hirst, prop, has been signed by Halifax from Wakefield. He started in the Bradford Academy but made his first team début with Hunslet in 2008. He spent 2009-2011 with Dewsbury and then joined Batley in 2012. In 2014 he signed for Fev but went back on loan to Batley during that season and the following year re-signed for them. He spent 3 years at Wakefield from 2017-2019. Whilst at Wakefield he played on loan for Dewsbury in 2017 and last year played for games on loan for Halifax. In 2015 Keegan Hirst became the first professional rugby league player to come out as being ‘gay’, although Gareth Thomas also did so in 2009. At the time Thomas was the Welsh rugby Union captain but he did later play league for Crusaders RL in 2010 and 2011.

Dual Registration and Loans

Halifax have a dual registration agreements with Huddersfield Giants and last week Giants player, Oliver Roberts (second row), played for Halifax.

Currently Halifax do not have any players on loan.

The Fev Connection

There are three players  in this year’s Halifax squad who have previously played for Rovers. Keal Carlile was with Fev in 2017 and 2018, Keegan Hirst in 2014 and Shaun Robinson in 2018.

There are no players in the current Fev squad who have played for Halifax.