Darren Nicholls


Darren Nicholls is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Intrust Super Cup.

Background

Nicholls was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
He played his junior rugby league for the Holy Cross Rhinos, before being signed by the Wests Tigers.

Playing career

Early years

From 2008 to 2009, Nicholls played for the Wests Tigers' NYC team, before graduating to their New South Wales Cup team, Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers in 2010. He then spent two years playing in France. In 2012, he moved down to Canberra to play for the Mount Pritchard Mounties.
In 2013, he moved back to Sydney and played for the North Sydney Bears, captaining the side. At the end of the season, he was named captain and of the 2013 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year. In 2014, he joined the Wyong Roos. In May 2014, he joined the Brisbane Broncos mid-season on a contract until the end of 2015, playing with their Queensland Cup feeder side, Norths Devils.
In April 2015, he joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs full-time squad mid-season on a contract until the end of 2016, meaning he would again play for North Sydney, the Rabbitohs' New South Wales Cup feeder side. However, his stint at South Sydney was short lived as he rejoined the Broncos ahead of their 2016 pre-season. He played for their other Queensland Cup feeder side, Redcliffe Dolphins throughout the year, earning selection in the Queensland Residents team and finishing the season as the competition's leading point-scorer.
In October 2016, he signed a 1-year contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2017. He captained the Panthers' Intrust Super Premiership NSW side to an NRL State Championship victory over the Papua New Guinea Hunters, after a player of the match performance in the ISP NSW grand final the week prior. In November 2017, he signed a 2-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2018.

2018

In round 17 of the 2018 NRL season, Nicholls made his NRL debut for St. George at the age of 29. He became the oldest player to ever debut in the modern NRL era, playing at halfback against the Melbourne Storm in place of Ben Hunt who was called up to the Queensland State of Origin team.

2019

Nicholls spent nearly the entire 2019 season playing for St George's reserve grade team in the Canterbury Cup NSW competition. He made two appearances for the first grade team in round 16 against the Melbourne Storm and in round 18 against Penrith. Nicholls was part of the St George team in the Canterbury Cup which won the minor premiership but were defeated by eventual premiers Newtown in the preliminary final. In November 2019, it was announced that Nicholls had been released by the club.

2020

In 2020, Nicholls signed with Intrust Super Cup side Souths Logan Magpies.