Introduction
Terry Newton (7 November 1978 – c. 26 September 2010) was an English international rugby league player of the 1990s, and 2000s. He played for Leeds, Wigan, Bradford and Wakefield Trinity, and was one of a handful of players to feature in each of the first 15 seasons of Super League. In February 2010, he was given a two-year ban after being one of the first sportsmen to have tested positive for human growth hormone. He was found hanged in his home seven months later.
Playing career
Leeds
Newton joined Leeds after a protracted transfer from amateur team Wigan St Judes, after Warrington had claimed they had also signed the young Newton. Terry missed his first year of Academy rugby due to the problem however when he finally joined in March 1996 he made an immediate impact. He made his début for Leeds against Sheffield Eagles at Headingley in April of that year and by the next season was a regular in the side making 26 appearances in 1997 and scoring 2 tries. His progression continued in 1998, despite going on loan to Bramley for a month, he still played in the Grand Final team at Old Trafford before playing his best season at the club in 1999. Leeds had signed Great Britain No 9 Lee Jackson and Newton's opportunities looked limited, however coach Graham Murray came up with a game plan that used both to their maximum potential. Newton, with his no nonsense direct play would start games with Jackson coming on off the bench to carve teams open. He played for Leeds Rhinos at hooker in their 1998 Super League Grand Final loss to Wigan Warriors. Newtown gained two caps in the 1998 Great Britain v New Zealand test series whilst at Leeds. Newton won international honours with two caps for England against France in October 1999. He played 83 times for Leeds and scored 6 tries.
Wigan
Newton joined Wigan and made his début for them on Boxing Day 1999 against St. Helens. He was a prolific try scorer for Wigan, bagging over a dozen tries in each of his first two seasons. Newton played for the Wigan Warriors at hooker in their 2000 Super League Grand Final loss against St. Helens. He played for England in 2001 against Wales. He also played for Wigan at hooker in their 2001 Super League Grand Final loss to the Bradford Bulls. Terry would surely have represented Great Britain in the 2001 Ashes series had it not been for a broken arm suffered in the Wigan Grand Final defeat by Bradford at Old Trafford. Newton signed a 4-year extension to his Wigan contract in August 2002. Newton won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 2002 against Australia (sub), in 2003 against Australia (3 matches), in 2004 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand. He played much of the 2003 season despite needing a knee operation. He decided to put the operation back to the end of the year because the club was suffering an injury crisis at the time. He was rewarded for his efforts when he was included in the 2003 Super League 'Dream Team'. Newton played for the Wigan Warriors at hooker in the 2003 Super League Grand Final which was lost to the Bradford Bulls. He made his return to the Great Britain squad for the 2003 Ashes series, despite needing a knee operation. Newton was selected in the Great Britain team to compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia he played at hooker in the Lions' 44–4 loss. At Wigan, Newton featured in three Super League Grand Finals, and was on the losing side on each occasion.
Bradford
Newton moved to Bradford for the start of the 2006 season as part of a swap deal involving Mickey Higham. While at Bradford he played for Great Britain in 2006 against New Zealand (2 matches), New Zealand (sub), and Australia (2 matches), and in 2007 against New Zealand. He was a consistent performer for Bradford, but the club did not feature in a major final during his time there. He was allowed to leave the club following the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2009 season. Newton signed for Wakefield Trinity following the expiry of his contract at Bradford.
Wakefield Trinity
On 22 February 2010 Newton was banned for two years by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) after failing a drug test on 24 November 2009. He was just two games into 2-year deal that he had signed with Wakefield Trinity, but the contract was cancelled. The father of two young girls became a pub licensee following his ban.
Death
On 26 September 2010, Newton was found hanged in a house on Harswell Close in the Orrell district of Wigan. A later post mortem found traces of cocaine, amphetamines and the steroid nandrolone within his system, prescription anti-depressants, and consumption of alcohol, all of which could have impaired his judgement. Newton had left several notes stating he wanted to die. Coroner Jennifer Leeming recorded an open verdict.
Statistics
Club career
| Year | Club | Apps | Pts | T | G | FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 |  Leeds |
14 | 4 | 1 | – | – |
| 1999 | Leeds |
25 | 8 | 2 | – | – |
| 2000 |  Wigan |
28 | 48 | 12 | – | – |
| 2001 | Wigan |
31 | 60 | 15 | – | – |
| 2002 | Wigan |
30 | 32 | 8 | – | – |
| 2003 | Wigan |
27 | 16 | 4 | – | – |
| 2004 | Wigan |
24 | 56 | 14 | – | – |
| 2005 | Wigan |
26 | 36 | 9 | – | – |
| 2006 |  Bradford |
20 | 20 | 5 | – | – |
| 2007 | Bradford |
23 | 36 | 9 | – | – |
| 2008 | Bradford |
10 | 12 | 3 | – | – |
Representative career
| Year | Team | Matches | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 |  England |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2001 | England |
3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2002 |  Great Britain |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2003 | Great Britain |
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2004 | Great Britain |
4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2006 | Great Britain |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | Great Britain |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |