Matt Orford

Diminutive Gosford halfback spent several seasons in Norths’ lower grades before he got his chance with the merged Northern Eagles club in 2000 after coach Peter Sharp dropped the more experienced Jason Taylor to First Division. Orford made a marked impact in first grade despite the Northern Eagles’ lacklustre season but the signing of incumbent Test half Brett Kimmorley ended his tenure at the club. In one of the game’s great ironies Orford signed with Melbourne and made the halfback role his own while Kimmorley’s career came to a momentary standstill with the troubled Northern Eagles. In his five seasons with the Storm Orford has established a club points-scoring record but despite his good form in 2003-05, as the club returned to the play-offs, rep honours eluded him. In 2006 he signed with Manly and his personal good form never skipped a beat.