Matt Orford

Matt Orford

Orford playing for the Sea Eagles in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Orford
Nickname	Ox
Born	(1978-04-22) 22 April 1978 (age 39) Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	169 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Position	Halfback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2000 Northern Eagles 11 4 23 0 62 2001–05 Melbourne Storm 120 52 333 3 877 2006–09 Manly Sea Eagles 98 17 242 9 561 2010 Bradford Bulls 14 3 31 2 76 2011 Canberra Raiders 6 0 0 0 0 Total 249 76 629 14 1576 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2001–06 City Origin 3 0 0 0 0
Source: Rugby League Project and Yesterday's Hero

Matthew Orford (born 22 April 1978 in Gosford, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s, and 2010s. A City New South Wales representative halfback, he played the majority of his club football career in Australia for National Rugby League clubs, Melbourne Storm and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won 2008's Dally M Medal and NRL premiership. Orford also played for NRL sides, the Northern Eagles and Canberra Raiders, as well as in Super League for England's Bradford Bulls.

Orford was a North Sydney Bears junior and started his career with the Northern Eagles before joining the Melbourne Storm. In 2004 he was named the Storm's player of the year.

He joined the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles for the 2006 NRL season. He was later appointed captain of the club. Orford was a member of the Sea Eagles team which lost the 2007 NRL grand final to the Melbourne Storm. Orford captained the Sea Eagles in the 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over the Melbourne Storm.

In September 2008, Orford won the prestigious Dally M Medal for being voted the best and fairest player of the 2008 NRL season. He finished on 24 points, two points ahead of Billy Slater. Orford is the first player since Peter Sterling to win the Dally M Medal and the premiership in the same year.