Mark Riddell admits lying about his age during rugby league career

Former NRL cult hero Mark Riddell admits admirably that he lied about his age during his rugby league career in an effort to keep the contracts going.

One of the great larriks of the 2000s, Riddell became a fan favorite for his trademark arm when he moved to kick goals and one of the big try celebrations, jumping the panels so he could sit on a seat in the stadium and to participate in the applause.

However, to this day, the retired prostitute who now earns her living as Macquarie Sports Radio's popular radio host had never revealed that he had misled the world of the NRL by thinking he was a year younger than his actual age over your career.

Shockingly, Riddell also stated that it was a common practice among NRL players.

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"Actually, I was born on December 9, 1980, but I moved in a few years ago to be able to have an extra year out of my career," Riddell confessed to co-host Mark Levy.

"That's what we all do, every kid, once we get into the NRL, we all change our birth dates so we can get extra years on our contracts."

Asked by an incredulous Levy if he was serious, Riddell added, "I am 100 percent serious, all those player cards where you see players birth dates and type," please, as if he were his age , he returned that some years!

"At the beginning of each year, you need to fill in your details and everything, so the sooner you do it the better.

"It was kind of nice, but was not it?

"I retired when I was 31, so I did not drink too much, but some of the boys I played as a kid, I saw their date of birth and said," Oh, please – you're 28? 39; We are 31, what are you doing?

"They said" shhhh, I have to get the contract, I have to renew the contract. "

Riddell made his NRL debut in 2001, playing 91 games for St George Illawarra and 86 games for Parramatta before leaving Australia for a spell in the English Super League after the 2008 season.

He returned to the NRL in 2011 for a final season with the Sydney Roosters.

Wide World of Sports checked out several news articles that were published during Riddell's career, which seemed to confirm his claim that he had lied about his age.

While his Wikipedia profile has his correct date of birth, the popular Zero Tackle rugby league website lists Riddell's date of birth as 09/12/1981, which would make him 37, rather than his actual age, 38 .

– Wide World of Sports