Chris Caruana

Last updated

Chris Caruana
Personal information
Born (1971-03-18) 18 March 1971 (age 53)
Playing information
Position Centre
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1992–97 North Sydney Bears 1083800152
1998–02 South Sydney 4960024
Total1574400176
Source: [1]

Chris Caruana (born 18 March 1971) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He played for the North Sydney Bears and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He primarily played in the centres.

Contents

Playing career

Growing up in public housing in Millers Point, Caruana began as Balmain junior playing for the Pyrmont Colts club. He then later played for the North Sydney junior club Brothers, from where he was graded by the Bears. Caruana made his first-grade debut on 12 April 1992 during round 4 against the Western Suburbs Magpies. Norths went on to lose the match 26-16. Caruana's breakout year was the 1994 NSWRL season where he made 22 appearances and scored 5 tries. He was in the team that made it all the way to the preliminary final but lost the match to eventual premiers Canberra Raiders. Caruana was also part of the North Sydney sides which experienced preliminary final heartbreak in 1996 and 1997. During the 1997 season, Caruana was fined and dropped from first grade as he was accused by then Newcastle player Owen Craigie of racially abusing him in a match. [2] [3] At the end of the season, Caruana signed with Souths.

Caruana played with Souths during the 1998 and 1999 seasons before they were kicked out of the competition. [4] In 2002, Caruana made his comeback to rugby league for South Sydney after they were reinstated in the competition. During his time away, Caruana worked at Flemington fruit markets, as a bricklayer and a personal trainer to professional surfers. [5] At the end of the 2002 season, Caruana was released by Souths. [6]

Post playing

After retiring from first-grade rugby league, Caruana moved to Woolgoolga and had some involvement in country rugby league in the town. On 21 May 2010, Caruana pleaded guilty to assault in relation to his former partner. Released on conditional bail, Caruana was to reappear in the Coffs Harbour Local Court to be sentenced on 21 July 2010. [7]

In 2012, Caruana was reported as living homeless after years of suffering from borderline personality disorder. [8] In January 2023, Caruana revealed his battle with methamphetamine addiction and being homeless, and that he has been sober for 33 months. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Sutton (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

John Sutton is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row, five-eighth and lock for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Lewis</span> Australia international rugby league footballer

Luke Lewis is an Australian rugby league commentator and former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Kenny-Dowall</span> NZ Maori & NZ international rugby league footballer

Shaun Kenny-Dowall is a New Zealand international former rugby league footballer who last played as a centre and winger for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. He was also the club captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Jennings (rugby league)</span> Australia & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Michael Jennings is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He has played for Tonga and Australia at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Thompson (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Joel Thompson is a retired Australian professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward for St Helens in the Betfred Super League, and for the Canberra Raiders, St George Illawarra Dragons and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thompson has played for the Indigenous All stars and NSW Country Origin side at representative level, and played as a centre in the NRL earlier in his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Mortimer</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Daniel Mortimer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a hooker, scrum-half or stand-off for the Leigh Centurions in the Betfred Championship. He previously played for the Parramatta Eels, Gold Coast Titans, Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Mortimer was a Prime Minister's XIII representative and won the 2013 NRL Grand Final with the Roosters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale Copley</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Dale Copley is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a centre or winger for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Takairangi</span> NZ, NZ Maori & Cook Islands international rugby league footballer

Brad Takairangi is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or centre. He has played for the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Gagai</span> Australian rugby league footballer (born 1991)

Dane Gagai is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and winger for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Australia and the New Zealand Maori at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Roberts (rugby league)</span> Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer

James Roberts is an Indigenous Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a centre for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peta Hiku</span> NZ international rugby league footballer

Peta Hiku is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, winger and fullback for Hull KR in the Betfred Super League, and New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junior Paulo (rugby league, born 1993)</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Junior Paulo is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Ethan Lowe is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a goal kicking second-row for the North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kane Evans</span> Fiji international rugby league footballer

Kane Evans is a former Fiji international rugby league footballer who is currently playing for Glebe Dirty Reds, having last played as a prop for the Hull FC in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Turner (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer (1992–2023)

Kyle Turner was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row, lock and centre for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirisome Auva'a</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Kirisome Auva'a, also known by the nickname of "Somi", is a Samoan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and winger for the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup. A Samoa international representative, he won the 2014 NRL Premiership with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and has previously played for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Johnston (rugby league)</span> Australia & PNG international rugby league footballer

Alex Johnston is a professional rugby league footballer who primarily plays on the wing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL. He has played for both Australia and Papua New Guinea at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Chee-Kam</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Michael Chee-Kam is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward or centre for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Olive (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

John Olive is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Newtown Jets in the Canterbury Cup NSW as a centre and wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus Crichton</span> Australia international rugby league footballer

Angus Crichton is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia at international level.

References

  1. ↑ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Chris Caruana - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Langmack, Craigie to meet over racial abuse claim". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Rose: Racist slurs hurt for life". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "A proud club that would not die". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Caruana back for Souths after varied three years". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Who's where after the big NRL player shuffle". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Caruana pleads guilty to assault". Northernstar.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "NRL: Former South Sydney Rabbitoh Chris Caruana living in car". Forums.leagueunlimited.com. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  9. ↑ https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/2023-chris-caruana-reveals-drug-and-mental-health-issues-after-retirement-left-him-homeless-suicidal/69ce6d2b-c42c-45e0-a5c8-9dba61682a17
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.