Martin 'Munster' Bella

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Munster
Born
Thursday, 26th March, 1964
Current Age
59 years and 359 days
Place Of Birth
Sarina, Queensland, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Prop Of The Year
1990

Known Family Links

Brother
Robert Bella
Anthony Bella

Biography

Burly Mackay forward had a long and eventful rep career but despite being twice a Kangaroo (1986 and 1990) and touring NZ (1989) and Papua New Guinea (1991), Bella never seemed to be on the right side of the national selectors. The Brisbane Easts prop played for Halifax in 1984-85 but first came to prominence after moving to Norths. A 1986 Kangaroo tourist (no Tests), Bella made the first of his 21 State of Origin matches for Queensland in 1987 before making his Test debut in the Third Test against Great Britain in 1988. There was nothing flashy about Bella's style of play; head down and straight ahead - and he became the target for the selectors looking to change losing sides. Bella was dropped from Australia's World Cup team in 1988 and after switching to Manly in 1989, toured NZ without playing a Test. He played against France and NZ in 1990 and toured with the Kangaroos for a second time, but following the First Test loss to Great Britain, he was again out of favour. To his credit, Bella's most consistent performances were in the State of Origin arena, and his great form in Queensland's series win in 1991 saw him tour Papua New Guinea at the end of the year. 1992 was a disappointment and the following year saw him move to C’bury. Never one to suffer fools - and with a demeanor which did not endear him to the Sydney media - Bella returned to Queensland after the Bulldogs’ poor showing in the 1994 grand final and was lured out of possible retirement to play with the Nth Queensland North Queensland. He was cut from the club because of misbehaviour but just when retirement seemed the best option, he toiled with the struggling G’Coast club for two more seasons. Bella’s final match was in the club’s loss to Sydney City in the 1997 semi-final series.
- 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 %  
English Championship 27 3 -   - 12 10 15 2 37.04% List
Regal Trophy 4 - -   - - 3 1 0 75.00% List
Challenge Cup 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
NRL 235 7 -   - 28 114 118 3 48.51% List
National Panasonic Cup 8 - -   - - 4 3 1 50.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 27 1 -   - 4 24 3 0 88.89% List
State of Origin 21 - -   - - 13 8 0 61.90% List
Test Series 4 - -   - - 1 3 0 25.00% List
The Ashes 2 - -   - - 0 2 0 0.00% List
World Cup 4 - -   - - 3 1 0 75.00% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 2 - -   - - 0 2 0 0.00% List
NRL Finals 10 - -   - - 3 7 0 30.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1988, 1990-91 9 - -   - - 6 3 0 66.67% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1988, 1990-91 4 - -   - - 3 1 0 75.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD 1987-94 21 - -   - - 13 8 0 61.90% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
North Sydney NSWRL 1986 23 1 -   - 4 12 11 0 52.17% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1987 23 - -   - - 10 13 0 43.48% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1988 20 - -   - - 8 10 2 40.00% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1989 17 - -   - - 4 13 0 23.53% List
Manly NSWRL 1990 22 - -   - - 15 7 0 68.18% List
Manly NSWRL 1991 19 1 -   - 4 12 7 0 63.16% List
Manly NSWRL 1992 16 1 -   - 4 7 8 1 43.75% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1993 22 2 -   - 8 15 7 0 68.18% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1994 24 - -   - - 19 5 0 79.17% List
North QLD ARL 1995 14 - -   - - 1 13 0 7.14% List
Gold Coast ARL 1996 17 1 -   - 4 4 13 0 23.53% List
Gold Coast ARL 1997 18 1 -   - 4 7 11 0 38.89% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
North Sydney 1986-89 83 1 -   - 4 34 47 2 40.96% List
Manly 1990-92 57 2 -   - 8 34 22 1 59.65% List
Canterbury 1993-94 46 2 -   - 8 34 12 0 73.91% List
North QLD 1995 14 - -   - - 1 13 0 7.14% List
Gold Coast 1996-97 35 2 -   - 8 11 24 0 31.43% List
Overall1986-1997 235 7 0   0 28 114 118 3 48.51% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Halifax 1984/85 33 3 -   - 12 14 17 2 42.42% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Halifax 1984 33 3 -   - 12 14 17 2 42.42% List

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

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1998, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1994, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1995, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86, Newspapers, Match Video