Deadly Vibe Issue 62 April 2002
Tricky Trindall is a key factor in the Bulldogs’ push for domination this season.
Tricky by name and tricky by nature (at least on the field), Darrell ‘Tricky’ Trindall’s a proud Gamilaroi man who just happens to be one of the best halfbacks in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Born in Narrabri but relocating to Sydney at the age of two, Tricky started playing football when he was six after tracking his older brother Darren’s involvement in the sport.
“When I was a younger fulla I always looked up to footballers like Cliff Lyons and boxers like Jeff Fenech – he was just starting when I was hanging out down the local PCYC,” Tricky says.
Tricky made it to first grade with the Rabbitohs at the very tender age of 17 and played with them until they were dropped from the NRL. Now 30, he is a veteran of the sport with 167 appearances and 48 tries to his name.
“Everybody knows I’m a Souths boy and it’s great that they’re back in the competition,” he says, referring to last year’s NSW Supreme Court ruling that the club should be re-admitted to the NRL. “They have a good pack of forwards and if they avoid injury they should make the finals. Personally I would have loved to play my whole career out with Souths, but unfortunately Super League had a lot to do with that.”
When Souths lost its place in the competition at the end of 1999, Tricky went overseas to play for St Helens in England. “It was good experience for me personally, but football-wise it was a tragedy because I got injured and only played two games.”
Upon returning to Autralia, the feisty halfback/five-eighth was snapped up by Canterbury Bulldogs, for whom he has been a consistent and much-valued player.
“I’m really looking forward to this year with the Bulldogs, especially after last season – I want to get another taste of semi-final football!” he laughs.
While he has been unlucky with rep selectors, Tricky was part of the Aboriginal dream team that competed at the World Sevens tournament in 1995.
Like all players Tricky has had good and bad games. “A game that stands out in my mind was playing Manly in my debut season. They had a gun side and I scored one of those freakish tries that still gets played on the highlights!”
Unfortunately his worst game happened during last year’s semi-finals against Cronulla. “I kicked the ball out on the full a couple of times and made some wrong decisions.”
However it hasn’t stopped the club from offering him a new two-year contract or placing him in pivotal positions. In their first game of the season against Wests Tigers, Tricky was confidently selected at halfback by coach Steve Folkes.
“My new contract with Canterbury might see me out, but I’ll just see what happens.”
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