Kurt Sorensen

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Kurt John Sorensen
Born
Thursday, 8th November, 1956
Current Age
67 years and 132 days
Place Of Birth
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Known Family Links

Brother
Dane Sorensen
Uncle
William Sorensen
Dave Sorensen
Cousin once removed
Scott Sorensen

Biography

Kurt Sorensen was a seasoned Kiwi International forward playing with English club Wigan when he chose to sit out the 1978 season in order to beat an international transfer ban and join his brother Dane at Cronulla. The more volatile of the two brothers, Kurt Sorenson was the youngest ever Kiwi representative player (18 years 323 days) when he debuted in the 1975 World Cup (he went on to play in 27 Tests between 1975 and 1989). Sorenson played with Cronulla for five seasons before joining his brother, Dane, at Easts in 1984. The hard-running forward returned to England at the end of 1984 and linked with Widnes (he also played one last season for Cronulla in 1985) and appeared in 252 games from 1984 to 1993. Sorensen led Widnes to Challenge Cup and league premiership success in 1988-89 and was captain of the team that defeated Canberra in the 1989 World Club Championship.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Tour Matches New Zealand 22 4 -   - 16 10 11 1 45.45% List
World Cup 12 1 -   - 4 3 8 1 25.00% List
Tour Matches Auckland 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
NRL 128 35 -   - 114 64 59 5 50.00% List
National Panasonic Cup 2 6 -   - 19 1 1 0 50.00% List
NRL Finals 3 - -   - - 0 3 0 0.00% List
Test Series 20 4 -   - 16 10 9 1 50.00% List
English Championship 154 25 -   - 100 98 52 4 63.64% List
Regal Trophy 24 6 -   - 24 16 8 0 66.67% List
Challenge Cup 37 4 -   - 16 22 11 4 59.46% List
Premiership Trophy 17 2 -   - 8 11 6 0 64.71% List
Lancashire Cup 17 4 -   - 16 12 5 0 70.59% List
Charity Shield - UK 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
World Club Challenge 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Tour Matches Widnes Vikings 2 - -   - - 0 2 0 0.00% List
UK Second Division 36 4 -   - 16 17 16 3 47.22% List
UK Third Division 12 1 -   - 4 6 6 0 50.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
New Zealand 1975, 1977, 1983-86, 1988-89 28 4 -   - 16 12 15 1 42.86% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Rest Of The World 1988 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
New Zealand 1975, 1977, 1985-86, 1988-89 12 1 -   - 4 3 8 1 25.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Auckland 1975, 1977 2 2 -   - 6 1 1 0 50.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Cronulla NSWRFL 1979 24 7 -   - 21 14 9 1 58.33% List
Cronulla NSWRFL 1980 18 4 -   - 12 8 8 2 44.44% List
Cronulla NSWRFL 1981 22 4 -   - 12 12 9 1 54.55% List
Cronulla NSWRFL 1982 24 11 -   - 33 12 11 1 50.00% List
Cronulla NSWRFL 1983 22 5 -   - 20 11 11 0 50.00% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRL 1984 10 2 -   - 8 2 8 0 20.00% List
Cronulla NSWRL 1985 8 2 -   - 8 5 3 0 62.50% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Cronulla 1979-83, 1985 118 33 -   - 106 62 51 5 52.54% List
Eastern Suburbs 1984 10 2 -   - 8 2 8 0 20.00% List
Overall1979-1985 128 35 0   0 114 64 59 5 50.00% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Widnes 1984/85 23 5 -   - 20 10 12 1 43.48% List
Widnes 1985/86 18 1 -   - 4 10 5 3 55.56% List
Widnes 1986/87 33 11 -   - 44 19 13 1 57.58% List
Widnes 1987/88 32 6 -   - 24 25 7 0 78.13% List
Widnes 1988/89 28 8 -   - 32 22 5 1 78.57% List
Wigan 1988/89 0 - -   - - nan% List
Widnes 1989/90 28 4 -   - 16 19 8 1 67.86% List
Widnes 1989/90 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Widnes 1990/91 32 2 -   - 8 26 6 0 81.25% List
Widnes 1991/92 21 1 -   - 4 10 11 0 47.62% List
Widnes 1992/93 29 3 -   - 12 16 12 1 55.17% List
Whitehaven 1993/94 28 3 -   - 12 11 14 3 39.29% List
Whitehaven 1994/95 13 1 -   - 4 8 5 0 61.54% List
Chorley 1996 12 1 -   - 4 6 6 0 50.00% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Widnes 1984-92 245 41 -   - 164 158 79 8 64.49% List
Whitehaven 1993-94 41 4 -   - 16 19 19 3 46.34% List
Chorley 1996 12 1 -   - 4 6 6 0 50.00% List
Overall1984-1996 298 46 0   0 184 183 104 11 61.41% List

Your Say

  • Polyhistor
    07/05/2012

    The robust,hard-running Sorenson was still playing for Whitehaven RL Club at age 40 before coaching the side in the English First Division in the late 1990s.

  • Steven topping
    29/01/2017

    Kurt coaching Workington in the 90s

  • Jean
    15/09/2017

    Great forward for widnes the best

  • Chris coyle
    05/05/2020

    I was a cronulla supporter when Kurt came over to join up with Dane.Made a huge impact.So powerful and very quick for a big man.

  • Mike Kelly
    12/01/2021

    Best forward ever in rl. Widnes legend

  • Anonymous
    03/07/2021

    Carried widnes many times the Steven Gerrard of rugby league. I loved to watch this totally switched on attacking forward one word SUPERB

  • Andrew Bushell
    18/04/2023

    Kurt Sorenson's mid 1970's Wigan career is missing

  • Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.

Contributions: Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, AJ Lucantonio, Bill Bates

Sources: Newspapers, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1993-94, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1986-87, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1994-95, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-96, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1997