Adam O'Brien (born 11 July 1993) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for Halifax Panthers in the Betfred Championship.

Adam O'Brien
Personal information
Born (1993-07-11) 11 July 1993 (age 31)
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight14 st 3 lb (90 kg)[1]
Playing information
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–16 Bradford Bulls 109 25 0 0 100
2013(loan) Dewsbury Rams 17 7 0 0 28
2017–23 Huddersfield Giants 121 20 0 0 80
2017(loan) Halifax 2 1 0 0 4
2023(loan) Halifax Panthers 13 1 0 0 4
2024– Halifax Panthers 16 1 0 0 4
Total 278 55 0 0 220
Source: [2][3]
As of 8 October 2023

He has previously played for the Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls in the Super League and the Kingstone Press Championship, spending time away from Odsal with the Dewsbury Rams in 2013. In 2017 he was sent on loan from Huddersfield to Halifax in the Kingstone Press Championship.

Background

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O'Brien was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing for King Cross Park RLFC a Halifax based community club as a junior which he is still heavily involved in. He joined Bradford Junior Development system and was called up to the England Knights in 2019 along with 3 other Giants players.[4]

Playing Career

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Bradford Bulls

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O'Brien featured in the pre-season game against Dewsbury. O'Brien was not selected in any league or cup matches this season. At the end of the 2010 season he was given a three-year professional contract.[citation needed]

O'Brien featured in three of the four pre-season friendlies. He played against Halifax, Dewsbury and the Keighley Cougars. O'Brien made his Super League début against Huddersfield, however he was not selected until later against the Hull Kingston Rovers and played until the match against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. He did feature in the Challenge Cup game against Halifax.[citation needed]

O'Brien featured in three of the four pre-season friendlies. He played against Castleford, Dewsbury and Hull F.C. O'Brien featured in Round 19 (Wigan) to Round 21 (Leeds). He signed a five-year extension to his contract midway through the season.[citation needed]

O'Brien featured in the pre-season friendlies against Dewsbury and Leeds. He featured in Round 5 against Huddersfield and then in Round 7 against Hull Kingston Rovers. O'Brien also featured in Round 10 against Salford and Round 17 against Hull Kingston Rovers. His next appearance was in Round 25 against Castleford to Round 27 Huddersfield. O'Brien featured in the Challenge Cup against the Rochdale Hornets.[citation needed]

O'Brien featured in the pre-season games against Hull F.C. and Castleford.

 
O'Brien playing for the Bradford Bulls in 2014

He featured in Round 1 Castleford to Round 14 Catalans Dragons then in Round 16 against Salford to Round 27 London Broncos. O'Brien featured in Round 4 (Oldham) to the Quarter Final against Warrington in the Challenge Cup.[citation needed]

O'Brien re-signed with Bradford for another two years despite their relegation to the Championship for the 2015 season.

O'Brien featured in the pre-season friendlies against Castleford and Leeds. He featured in Round 1 Leigh to Round 23 (Halifax). O'Brien played in Qualifier 1 against the Sheffield Eagles to Qualifier 6 (Leigh Centurions). O'Brien played in the £1 Million Game against Wakefield Trinity. He also featured in the Challenge Cup in Round 4 Workington Town to Round 5 Hull Kingston Rovers. At the end of the 2015 season O'Brien won the T&A player of the year, the Bradford members player of the year and Bradford Players' player of the year.[citation needed]

O'Brien featured in both pre-season friendlies against Leeds and Castleford. He featured in Round 1 Featherstone Rovers to Round 22 Oldham. Adam played in the Championship Shield Game 1 Whitehaven to the Final Sheffield Eagles. Midway through the season O'Brien signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until the end of 2019.[citation needed]

Dewsbury Rams

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O'Brien was dual registered with Dewsbury for the 2013 season. He featured against Doncaster, Featherstone Rovers, Hunslet (two spells), Whitehaven (two spells), York City Knights (two spells), Workington Town (two spells), Sheffield Eagles (two spells), Keighley (two spells), Halifax (two spells) and Swinton. He scored against Doncaster (2 tries), York City Knights (2 tries), Swinton (1 try), Sheffield Eagles (1 try) and Halifax (1 try).[citation needed]

Huddersfield Giants

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Following Bradford's liquidation prior to the 2017 season, O'Brien signed a three-year deal following teammate Alex Mellor to Huddersfield in the Super League.[5] In the 2018 Super League Season Adam O'Brien received the Huddersfield Giants Players Player of The Year Award. In January 2019, O'Brien signed a new three-year deal until the end of 2022.

 
O'Brien playing for the Huddersfield Giants in 2019

Halifax Panthers

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On 5 October 2023, it was reported that he had signed a 3 year permanent deal with his hometown club Halifax commencing the 2024 season.[6]

Statistics

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Season Appearance Tries Goals F/G Points
2011 Bradford 6 0 0 0 0
2012 Bradford 3 0 0 0 0
2013 Bradford 8 1 0 0 4
2013 Dewsbury-Loan 17 7 0 0 28
2014 Bradford 29 6 0 0 24
2015 Bradford 32 9 0 0 36
2016 Bradford 31 9 0 0 36
2017 Halifax-Loan 2 1 0 0 4
2017 Huddersfield 17 3 0 0 12
2018 Huddersfield 31 6 0 0 24
2019 Huddersfield 27 4 0 0 16
2020 Huddersfield 11 3 0 0 12
2021 Huddersfield 11 1 0 0 4
2022 Huddersfield 15 3 0 0 12
2023 Huddersfield 9 0 0 0 0
2023 Halifax-Loan 13 1 0 0 4
2024 Halifax 16 1 0 0 4
Total 278 55 0 0 220

Senior international career

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England Academy

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O'Brien appeared as an interchange in a victory against France U18 in June 2010 and in both tests against the Australian Schoolboys in December 2010, England Academy won the series 2–0 with both games being played at Leigh Sports Village.[citation needed]

O'Brien is the younger brother of the former footballer, Luke O'Brien.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "The official Engage Super League web site". web page. Super League. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  2. ^ loverugbyleague
  3. ^ "Adam O'Brien - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project".
  4. ^ https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/huddersfield-giants/huddersfield-giants-quartet-are-selected-for-england-knights-squad-1-9674104 [dead link]
  5. ^ "Adam O'Brien: Huddersfield Giants sign Bradford Bulls hooker". BBC Sport. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Ex-Huddersfield Giants hooker makes Championship switch: 'I'm absolutely buzzing to be back at my hometown club'". Love Rugby League. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
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