Scott Sorensen

Scott Sorensen (born 16 March 1993) is a New Zealand international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward and lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

Scott Sorensen

Personal information
Born	(1993-03-16) 16 March 1993 (age 31) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Lock
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2014 Cronulla Sharks 3 0 0 0 0 2017 Canberra Raiders 2 0 0 0 0 2018–20 Cronulla Sharks 34 1 0 0 4 2021– Penrith Panthers 82 10 0 0 40 Total 121 11 0 0 44 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2022–24 New Zealand 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [1] As of 10 October 2024

He won the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 NRL Grand Finals with the Penrith Panthers. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in two separate spells as well as the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League.

Background

Sorensen was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia of New Zealand, Tongan, Māori, and Danish descent. His grandfather is New Zealand international Bill Sorensen. New Zealand internationals and Cronulla players Kurt Sorensen and Dane Sorensen are said to be Sorensen's uncles.^[2][3][4][5] Kurt and Dane have also been described as his first cousins, once removed.^[1]

Sorensen played his junior rugby league for the Cronulla-Caringbah Junior Rugby League Football Club, before being signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.^{[citation needed]}

Playing career

2013

In 2013, Sorensen played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks' NYC team.^{[citation needed]}

2014

In 2014, Sorensen graduated to Cronulla-Sutherland's New South Wales Cup team. In round 24 of the 2014 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Cronulla club against the Canberra Raiders.^[6][7]

2015

In 2015, Sorensen joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs.^[8]

2016

After failing to make a first-grade appearance for South Sydney, Sorensen joined Intrust Super Premiership NSW side Mount Pritchard Mounties in 2016.^[9]

Sorensen playing for the Mounties in 2016

His form throughout the year secured him a contract with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2017.^[10]

2017

On 28 August, Sorensen was named on the interchange bench in the 2017 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year.^[11] In October, he signed a 2-year contract to return to Cronulla in 2018.^[12]

2018

Sorensen played 15 games for Cronulla-Sutherland in the 2018 NRL season as the club finishing in the top four at seasons end. Sorensen played in all three of the club's finals matches including the 22-6 preliminary final loss against Melbourne at AAMI Park.^[13]

2019

Sorensen made a total of five appearances for Cronulla in the 2019 NRL season. Sorensen played for Cronulla's feeder side Newtown in their Canterbury Cup NSW grand final victory over the Wentworthville Magpies at Bankwest Stadium.

On 29 September 2019, Sorensen was named in the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW team of the season.^[14][15]

The following week, Sorensen played for Newtown in the NRL State Championship victory over the Burleigh Bears at ANZ Stadium.^[16]

2020

He played 14 games for Cronulla in the 2020 NRL season as the club finished 8th and qualified for the finals. He played in Cronulla's elimination final loss against Canberra.^[17]

2021

On 11 January, he signed a one-year deal with Penrith.^[18] He made his first appearance for the club in a round 9 match against his former team Cronulla-Sutherland off the interchange bench.^[19]

On July 28, Sorensen agreed to a two-year extension with Penrith, keeping him at the club until the end of 2023.^[20]

Sorensen played a total of 19 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final victory over South Sydney.^[21]

2022

Sorensen played 24 games for Penrith in the 2022 NRL season including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final victory over Paramatta where Sorensen scored a try.^[22] As a result of Sorensen's good performances he was rewarded with the selection in the New Zealand 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad.

2023

In round 9, Sorensen played his 50th NRL game for the Penrith Panthers in a 12-8 shock loss to the Wests Tigers. In round 11 of the 2023 NRL season, Sorensen scored two tries for Penrith during their 48-4 victory over the Sydney Roosters.^[23] Sorensen played 23 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the club's 26-24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership. In the final minute of the match, Sorensen sealed the result by retrieving an offload by Broncos fullback Reece Walsh after a threatening run.^[24]

2024

Sorensen played 16 matches for Penrith in the 2024 NRL season. On 6 October, he won the 2024 NRL Grand Final with the Penrith outfit, the fourth consecutive premiership victory for the side.^[25]

Statistics

Year	Team	Games	Tries	Pts
2014	Cronulla-Sutherland	3
2017	Canberra Raiders	2
2018	Cronulla-Sutherland	15	1	4
2019		5
2020		14
2021	Penrith	19	1	4
2022		24	2	8
2023		23	4	16
2024		16	3	12
	Totals	120	11	44

Personal life

Sorensen's sister Marissa is married to his former Cronulla teammate Chad Townsend.^[26][27]

References

1. "Scott Sorensen - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project.
2. Carayannis, Michael (23 August 2014). "Unknown trio in line for debuts for suspension ravaged Cronulla Sharks". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
3. Walter, Brad (19 September 2018). "Sorensen in Tonga squad for Test against Kangaroos". NRL.com.
4. "Panthers forward Scott Sorensen wants to make family proud with NRL premiership triumph". ABC. 29 September 2021.
5. "Sorensen to continue family dynasty with Kiwis debut". NRL.com. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
6. "NRL 2014 - Round 24". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
7. "Late Mail – Sharks v Raiders". Sharks.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
8. "Gosiewski and Sorensen to Train & Trial With". Rabbitohs.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
9. "Clydsdale leading the way for Mounties". NRL.com. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
10. NRL Digital Media. "sign Dunamis Lui". Raiders. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
11. Media, NRL Digital. "2017 Team Of The Year - ISP NSW". Retrieved 31 August 2017.
12. "Top Dog to leave kennel over Pay decision". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
13. "Melbourne v Cronulla preliminary final". The Guardian.
14. "2019 Canterbury Cup NSW Team of the Year". NSWRL.
15. "Newtown reign supreme in epic decider". NSWRL.
16. "Newtown Jets steal the State Championship with a last second freak try". Sporting News.
17. "Wighton, Williams spark Raiders comeback as Sharks finals hopes ended". www.foxsports.com.au.
18. "Penrith Panthers announce signing of Scott Sorensen". Love Rugby League. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
19. "Scott Sorensen". Penrith Panthers. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
20. Lane, Matthew (28 July 2021). "Penrith shore up forces for the future | NRL News". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
21. "One of finest NRL grand finals of all time provides cure to difficult season". www.theguardian.com.
22. "'Parra are our sons': Panther's cheeky Eels sledge as stars run riot, Luai has another dig". www.foxsports.com.au.
23. "Penrith Panthers beat Sydney Roosters 48-4 in Penrith, the NZ Warriors down Canterbury Bulldogs 24-12". www.abc.net.au.
24. "NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
25. "NRL grand final 2024 quick hits: Biting allegation, Panthers halves swansong and a controversial bunker decision". www.abc.net.au.
26. "Family affair as Chad Townsend and Scott Sorensen line-up for Sharks". Daily Telegraph. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
27. "Chad Townsend to play brother-in-law Scott Sorensen in last home game of the season". Herald Sun. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023.

External links

• Cronulla Sharks profile
• Canberra Raiders profile