Matthew Gillett (born 12 August 1988) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a forward in the 2010s.
He played for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL and Australia at international level. Gillett also played for Queensland in the State of Origin series and the Prime Minister's XIII.
Background
Gillett was born in Macksville, New South Wales, Australia and moved with his family to Bribie Island, Queensland at the age of three years.
Playing career
Gillett played his junior football for the Bribie Island Warrigals and Morayfield State High School. In 2008 Gillett started the year with the West Panthers club, then halfway through the year Gillett joined the Brisbane Broncos under-20s team where he played several games. In 2009, Gillett played for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. He was named as the Queensland Cup rookie of the year and also played for City in the Queensland Cup City vs Country match.
2010
After Gillett's impressive year in the Queensland Cup, Brisbane Broncos head coach Ivan Henjak rewarded Gillett with a preseason in 2010. In Round 1 of the 2010 NRL season Gillett made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos in the season opening match against the North Queensland Cowboys, playing off the interchange bench and scoring a try on debut in the Broncos 30–24 win at Suncorp Stadium. On 23 June 2010, Gillett extended his contract with the Brisbane Broncos for a further three-years, keeping him at the NRL club until 2013. On 8 September 2010, Gillett won the 2010 Rookie of the Year Award at the 2010 Dally M Awards presentations. Gillett finished his NRL debut year with him playing in 21 matches and scoring 12 tries. Gillett was named the 2010 Brisbane Broncos season's rookie of the year. On 26 September 2010, Gillett was selected for the Prime Minister's XIII and played in the 30–18 win over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
2011
Gillett finished the Broncos 2011 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and 6 scoring tries. In the preliminary finals match against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at the SFS, Gillett filled in at five-eighth for the retiring Broncos legend Darren Lockyer after Lockyer suffered a cheekbone injury in the 13–12 Semi Finals win against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium.
2012
Gillett was selected as the 18th man in the Australian Kangaroos for the 2012 Anzac test in April, however he didn't make his test debut. A month after the ANZAC test, Gillett was selected in the Queensland Maroons squad. On 23 May 2012, Gillett made his representative debut Queensland against New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2012 State of Origin series, playing off the interchange bench in the 18–10 win at Docklands Stadium. Gillett played in all 3 games of the Maroons 7th in-a-row shield winning series. Gillett finished off the Broncos 2012 NRL season with him playing in 23 matches and scoring 6 tries.
2013
On 10 April 2013, Gillett re-signed with the Brisbane Broncos until the end of 2016 NRL season. Gillett played from the interchange bench in all three games of the 2013 State of Origin series, helping Queensland extend their record for consecutive series victories to eight. Gillett finished off the Broncos 2013 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 7 tries. On 29 September 2013. Gillett got selected for the Prime Minister's XIII and played off the interchange bench in the 50–10 win over Papua New Guinea in Kokopo.