Zach_Dockar-Clay

Zach Dockar-Clay

Zach Dockar-Clay

New Zealand rugby league footballer

Zach Dockar-Clay (born 24 April 1995) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker or five-eighth for the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup.

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He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL). He also played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the RFL Championship and Super League Qualifiers.

Early life

Born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, Dockar-Clay is of Māori descent (from the Ngāti Porou and Te Āti Awa iwi).[3] He is the great-grandson of Great Britain and England rugby league representative Alec Dockar.[4]

He played his junior rugby league for the Bell Block Marist Dragons.[1]

Playing career

Parramatta Eels

Dockar-Clay played 78 games for the Parramatta Eels in the National Youth Competition from 2012 to 2015, scoring 34 tries, kicking 40 goals and 1 field goal.[5] Dockar-Clay represented the Junior Kiwis on three occasions between 2013 and 2015, captaining the team in 2015. In June 2015, he signed a contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2016.[6]

Penrith Panthers

In February 2016, Dockar-Clay was selected as a member of the Panthers' squad for the 2016 Auckland Nines pre-season tournament.[7] He captained Penrith's New South Wales Cup team throughout 2016.[8] On 15 October 2016, Dockar-Clay represented the New Zealand Māori against the New Zealand Residents.[9] In February 2017, Dockar-Clay was selected to play in the 2017 Auckland Nines.[10] In March 2017, he signed with Hull Kingston Rovers until the end of 2018, effective immediately.[11]

Hull KR

Dockar-Clay made his professional rugby league debut for Hull KR on 10 April 2017 against the Swinton Lions, scoring a try.[12] He played 19 games in his first season at the club, scoring 6 tries and kicking 10 goals.

Townsville Blackhawks

In November 2017, after helping Hull KR to gain promotion to the Super League, Dockar-Clay was granted an early release from his contract and returned to Australia, signing with the Townsville Blackhawks for the 2018 season.[13]

Blacktown Workers

In 2019, Dockar-Clay signed a contract to join Manly Cup NSW side the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.[14]

Western Suburbs

In 2021, he signed for NSW Cup side Western Suburbs.[15]

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

In 2022, Dockar-Clay signed for Canterbury. Dockar-Clay spent the start of the season playing for the clubs NSW Cup side. In round 11 of the 2022 NRL season, he made his NRL debut against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.[16] Dockar-Clay made a total of 14 appearances for Canterbury throughout the 2022 season which were all from the interchange bench. The club would finish 12th on the table and miss the finals.[17]

North Sydney

In November 2022, Dockar-Clay signed a contract to join NSW Cup side North Sydney ahead of the 2023 season.[18] Dockar-Clay was part of the North Sydney side which claimed the Minor Premiership and reached the 2023 NSW Cup grand final against South Sydney. Dockar-Clay captained the side in their 22-18 loss.[19]

Sydney Roosters

Ahead of the 2024 NRL season, Dockar-Clay joined the Sydney Roosters. In round 6, he was named to make his club debut against Newcastle. Dockar-Clay would play off the interchange bench in their 22-20 victory.[20] On 21 May, the Sydney Roosters hit back at claims that Dockar-Clay had been taking illegal substances on a live stream along with fellow players Brandon Smith, Terrell May, Naufahu Whyte and Spencer Leniu. The club released a statement which read “The Sydney Roosters have been made aware of a small clip from a longer live stream that some on social media have claimed identifies behaviour that breaches NRL rules. “The clip reveals no use of illicit substances or any other breach of NRL rules, however some see fit to make that grossly distorted and clearly damaging claim".[21]

References

  1. [1]
    "Zach Dockar-Clay". penrithpanthers.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016.
  2. [2]
    Rugby League Project
  3. [3]
    Tiananga, Tamati (14 October 2016). "NZ Māori determined to spoil NZ Residents reign". Māori Television. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  4. [4]
    Westmorland, Gareth (12 July 2017). "Zach Dockar-Clay: I'd love to remain at Hull KR long-term". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  5. [5]
    "D". NYC Database. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Panthers sign Quartet of Young Guns". penrithpanthers.com.au. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Panthers name Auckland Nines squad". NRL.com. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  8. [8]
    Brady, Jack (2 September 2016). "Dockar-Clay survives Panthers' revolving door". NRL.com. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  9. [9]
    Goile, Aaron (15 October 2016). "NZ Residents prove too slick for NZ Maori XIII in rugby league clash in Huntly". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  10. [10]
    "2017 Downer NRL Auckland Nines squads". NRL.com. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  11. [11]
    "Dockar-Clay makes Rovers move". hullkr.co.uk. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  12. [12]
    Gordon, James (10 April 2017). "Dockar-Clay praised after debut try for Hull KR". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  13. [13]
    "Zach Dockar-Clay joines the Mendi Blackhawks". Townsville Blackhawks.
  14. [14]
    "Canterbury Cup NSW Team Lists Round One". www.nswrl.com.au.
  15. [15]
    "Player profile". www.weststigers.com.au.
  16. [16]
    "'Going up by the minute': Tiger's perfect Dolphins audition in fitting end to Dogs' brutal week". www.foxsports.com.au.
  17. [17]
    "NRL 2022: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  18. [18]
    "Dockar Clay signs for North Sydney". www.northsydneybears.com.au.
  19. [19]
    "Taaffe's statement as Souths end 40-year drought; veteran's captain's knock: Reserves Wrap". www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. [20]
    "Souths' desperate axing amid NRL injury chaos, Walsh back for Broncos: Rd 6 Teams". www.foxsports.com.au.
  21. [21]
    "'Not right': Tedesco defends teammates as Roosters blast 'grossly distorted' claims over viral video". www.foxsports.com.au.
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