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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 8 October 2000 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 199 cm (6 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 101 kg (15 st 13 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 31 August 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason Saab (born 8 October 2000) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL.
Saab was born in Newtown, New South Wales, and is of Nigerian [3] and Indigenous Australian descent. Saab's step-father is Lebanese, [4] hence his surname.
Saab played his junior rugby league for the Merrylands Rams [5] and for Parramatta City Titans. [6]
Saab attended Westfields Sports High School. [3] and graduated in 2018.
In 2018, Saab was picked for the Australian Schoolboys rugby league team and represented Australia in London, United Kingdom
Saab made his first grade debut in Round 19 of the 2019 NRL season for the St. George Illawarra Dragons against South Sydney, starting on the wing and scoring two tries in their 20–16 loss in the last minute due to a Campbell Graham try at ANZ Stadium. [7] [8]
In August 2020, Sporting News reported that Saab had sought an early release from his contract due to the traveling distance between Wollongong and his home in Western Sydney. However, St. George Illawarra refused this request unless the club would be compensated either by cash or player transfer. [9] In September, there was speculation that Saab would be joining the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles as a trade for St. George junior Reuben Garrick. [10]
Saab made only four appearances for St. George in the 2020 NRL season as the club finished 13th on the table. [11]
On 26 November 2020, Saab was granted a release from his contract with St. George and shortly thereafter signed a three-year deal with Manly-Warringah. [12]
In round 1 of the 2021 NRL season, Saab made his debut for Manly-Warringah in the club's 46–4 loss against the Sydney Roosters. [13] In round 6 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in Manly's 36–0 victory over the Gold Coast. [14]
In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, Saab scored a hat-trick in Manly's 38–32 victory over New Zealand Warriors. [15]
In round 10 of the 2021 NRL season, Saab scored another two tries for Manly-Warringah in a 50–6 victory over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. [16]
In round 15, Saab scored two tries for Manly in a 56–24 victory over the Gold Coast. [17] The following week, he scored a hat-trick in Manly's 66–0 victory over Canterbury. [18]
In round 20, Saab scored two tries for Manly in their 40–22 victory over rivals Cronulla in the battle of the beaches match. [19]
At the end of year club awards night, Jason Saab and Josh Schuster were announced as joint winners of the Ken Arthurson Rising Star Award for 2021 after their strong seasons for Manly. [20]
In round 18 of the 2022 NRL season, Saab scored two tries in a 42–12 victory over Newcastle. [21] Saab was one of seven players involved in the Manly pride jersey player boycott. [22] Saab made 16 appearances for Manly in the 2022 NRL season scoring seven tries. Manly would finish the season in 11th place on the table. [23]
In round 6 of the 2023 NRL season, Saab made his return to the Manly side in their 44–12 loss against Penrith with Saab scoring a second half try. [24] In round 25, Saab scored a hat-trick in Manly's 29–22 loss against the New Zealand Warriors. [25] In round 27, Saab scored two tries in Manly's 54–12 victory over the Wooden Spoon side Wests Tigers. [26] Saab played 19 matches for Manly in the 2023 NRL season and scored 14 tries as the club finished 12th on the table and missed the finals. [27]
Saab played for Manly in the opening game of the 2024 NRL season against South Sydney at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of the NRL in Las Vegas opener for the 2024 season. He scored a long range intercept try before halftime, but near the end of the game suffered a hamstring injury that would ultimately see him miss the next 5 weeks. A caption shown on the television broadcast of the game said that Saab, long believed to be one of the quickest players in the NRL (if not the quickest), had a fastest recorded time of 10.67 for the 100 metre sprint. [28]
On 4 June 2024, Saab re-signed with Manly until the end of the 2029 season. [29] In round 18 of the 2024 NRL season, Saab scored a hat-trick in Manly's 21-20 golden point extra-time victory over North Queensland. [30] Saab played 17 matches for Manly in the 2024 NRL season and scored 12 tries as they finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. Manly would be eliminated in the second week of the finals by the Sydney Roosters. [31]
Joel Thompson is a retired Australian professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward for St Helens in the 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.
David Neil Gower is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop, second-row and lock for the Hills District Bulls in the Ron Massey Cup competition.
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Brayden Wiliame is a former rugby league footballer who last played as a centre, winger and second-row forward for New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).
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Thomas Peter Trbojevic, also nicknamed "Tommy Turbo", is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
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Mosese "Moses" Suli is an Australian rugby league player who plays for the Tonga national team centre and winger for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
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Maika Sivo is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, and represents Fiji at international level.
Reuben Garrick is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Haumole Olakau'atu is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Andrew Davey is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a second-row forward for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.
Christian Tuipulotu is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a wing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
The 2021 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Season was the 72nd in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby League premiership in 1947. Des Hasler coached the team for the third consecutive year and eleventh overall at the club. Daly Cherry-Evans captained the club for the fifth consecutive year.