At 2pm on the 4th June, 2002, prolific try scorer Nathan Blacklock was granted a release from his contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons. Many Saints' fans were stunned by this announcement but such was his popularity that most understood his reasons without question. Stating that he would never play against the Dragons, 'Tingha', aged just 26, is reportedly 'retiring' from Rugby League. But in a turnaround, Nathan returned to Saints, and Rugby League in mid-2003, scoring 14 tries in 12 matches.
In 2004, aged 28, Nathan Blacklock accepted a two year deal which would will see him playing for Hull FC from 2005.
In recognition of Nathan's tremendous contribution, Saints On TV have put together this tribute to one of the game's great players.

| Tinga's early years | Records start to flow | Video | Disappointment | New club record | Double on international debut | Tragedy |
| 100th career try | "Retirement" and why | Tingha talks about backflips | Tingha returns | Moving to the UK | Blacklock retires | Great tries - Pics | Statistics |

Tingha's early years
Born 4 April 1976.
First club, Tingha Tigers.
1995: First Grade debut: Sydney City v Norths at SFS, July 8, 1995 (Rd 15).
1997: Signs with St George.

The records start to flow
1998: Scores 20 tries from 22 games, second highest in the competition.
1999: Scores 24 tries from 26 matches, top try scorer in competition.
In 1999, St George and Illawarra joined forces to become the St George Illawarra Dragons. The joint venture was immediately successful with the team going all the way to the Grand Final. During the end of season decider, Nathan was playing at fullback for the injured Luke Patten when he scored a magical try that will live in memory. Melbourne halfback, Brett Kimmorley, sensed that Nathan was too deep on his own 30 metre line. Kimmorley put in a chip kick and with plenty of chasers, the Storm were looking dangerous. Blacklock accelerated forward, scooped up the ball and raced through a gap to score under posts 60 metres downfield. Tingha celebrated with a superb somersault in the in-goal much to the delight of the massive crowd.
2000: Scores 25 tries from 26 matches, top try scorer in competition.
2001: Scores 27 tries from 28 matches, top try scorer in competition.
Nathan Blacklock who was in tremendous form coming up the State of Origin. In May, he pulled off a hat trick of tries against the Bulldogs and did it again two weeks later against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval - a match which included a breath taking solo match winning try right on fulltime. A fantastic moment which brought the house down.
Click on pic (right) to download video and audio of the try >>
SOTV match report 3rd June 2001:  John Simon attempts 40 metre field goal and it drops short. Jamie Ainscough picks it up and soon Saints are on their 30 metre line. In the backline movement which follows, Lance Thompson shoots a cut out pass across to find Nathan Blacklock on his wing. Tingha accelerates and the crowd is on it's feet. He races downfield before he is met by two, make that three cover defenders at the Tigers' 30 metre line. Nathan then chips over their heads and is immediately winning the race for the ball. What happens next is a miraculous bounce which Blacklock plucks from the air and the competition's leading try scorer completes his 70 metre run to score the match winning try - without a hand ever being laid on him. This is truly one of the great Rugby League tries and one which elevates Nathan Blacklock into greatness within the Dragons' ranks. Sections of the crowd begin to chant,  'Blacklock...Blacklock...' as it becomes apparent that we have witnessed a wonderful Rugby League moment and one which will be talked about for years to come.

Disappointment
03 June, 2001: Blacklock overlooked for State selection.
Incredibly, Nathan is overlooked for NSW in the second 2001 State of Origin. Large sections of the sporting community are outraged with many calling Tingha's omission a disgrace. Wayne Pearce (coach & selector), Bob McCarthy (chairman & selector), Bob Fulton (selector), Frank Fish (selector) and Geoff Gerard (selector) receive criticism from many quarters of well informed opinion.

01 August, 2001: Blacklock reportedly 'wants to quit'.
News headlines reported that Nathan Blacklock is dissatisfied with the Dragons. A Sydney Telegraph (right) article quotes Blacklock as wanting to leave Saints and join Cronulla so he can be part of a more 'open style of play' and also to be with his Tingha cousin and old team mate, Preston Campbell.
In an almost opposite version of the story, The Illawarra Mercury runs a report which has the club set to sign Nathan to a new contract this week. 
The Telegraph article was later shown to be quite inaccurate - it gave the impression that Tingha is battling for recognition within his own club and that in itself gave the article a lack of credibilty.
Late on the same day, Nathan Blacklock signs a deal with Saints that would see him playing with the club until 2004.
Nathan Blacklock stated “I can’t see myself in anything other than the red and white”.
The club released a statement which described the Sydney Telegraph article as being 'irresponsible'.
more

New club record, new competition record
15 September, 2001: 'Tingha' scored his 27th try of the year.
Nathan Blacklock scores his 27th try of the year and breaks the St George club record previously held by Tom Ryan for St George who scored 26 tries in 1957.
Blacklock has become the only player in history to score 20 tries or more per season for 4 seasons in a row.
He was been the League's top try scorer for 1999, 2000 and 2001. Only two other players in premiership history have topped the try-scoring tally for three consecutive seasons - South Sydney three-quarter Benny Wearing from 1927-29 and Gordon Wright, for Easts, from 1919-21.

Tingha scores double on international debut
07 October 2001: Blacklock selected for Australia.
The National selectors are less discerning than the NSW selectors and Nathan Blacklock gains a Green and Gold jumper for the Kangaroo tour of 2001.
Nathan Blacklock scored 2 tries on debut as Australia ran out winners 54-12 over The Papua New Guinea Kumuls. Click the pic for more images >>

Family tragedy precedes UK tour
October 2001: NATHAN'S FATHER PASSES AWAY: Nathan Blacklock is reportedly struggling to deal with a series of off-field issues. His father Merv died in October, just days before Nathan was due to leave for the Kangaroo tour of the UK. As well, Nathan is coming to terms with the break-up with his long-time girlfriend, the mother of his son Kyle.

24 November 2001: Nathan Blacklock is named in the Australian side to take on Great Britain for the third and deciding Ashes Test in Wigan, won by Australia 28-8.

100th career try and injury
05 May 2002: Nathan Blacklock (pictured right) scores his 100th career try when he crosses over out wide against the Northern Eagles at Brookvale.
In the same match, however, he suffers a knee strain which sees him stretchered off (pictured left).
Blacklock is unavailable for the following two weeks. For the first time since 1998, a Saints team takes the field without Nathan Blacklock.
 

"Retirement" and the reason why
"I no longer have the passion for the game..." Nathan Blacklock 4 June 2002
Tingha's reasons for leaving Rugby League were many.
In hindsight, he was destined to depart Saints following his non-selection for NSW in 2001 - this being the point where he first became disillusioned with the game. What followed were offers from Rugby Union, family tragedy and unconfirmed reports of disharmony within the club. In the end, it became quite impossible to pinpoint one single reason.
But it was clear that Nathan wanted a new challenge and that didnt involve Rugby League.
2:00PM, 04 June 2002: Dragons' Media Release.
BLACKLOCK RELEASED FROM DRAGONS’ CONTRACT - MEDIA RELEASE - CLICK HERE
SOTV/LeagueUnlimited Article - CLICK HERE

06 June 2002: Interview: Nathan Blacklock talks to Sydney's Channel Nine.
The Footy Show panel consisted of Paul Vautin, Peter Sterling Paul Harrogan and Nathan Brown.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS IN TEXT - CLICK HERE
Unedited audio (WAV) file of this interview. 5min, 9sec (3327Kb) - click here

Tingha talks about the backflips
WAV file from Channel 9 interview. 1 min, 10 sec (604Kb) - click here

Tingha returns home
21 May 2003: Dragons welcome Blacklock back to doing what he loves.
Following months of speculation, Nathan Blacklock has returned to the Dragons and Rugby League. Rumours began circulating in October 2002 that Blacklock was having second thoughts following the appointment of coach Nathan Brown for 2003. In April 2002, Blacklock came on as replacement for the NSW Waratahs, scoring a try which opened up a match winning lead for NSW.
Despite the Dragons agreeing to release Tingha in 2002, the NSWRU were less accomodating. But following the Waratah's demise from the Super 12s, negotiations were finalised and Nathan Blacklock was cleared to resume training with the Dragons. As promised, Tingha didn't let anyone down, scoring his 100th try for the Dragons and topping the club's try scorer's list in first grade with 14 tries from just 12 matches.
More:
Waratahs gone - Tingha back next month?
It's official: Tingha finally re-signs with Saints

Blacklock moving to the UK
12 August 2004: Blacklock agrees to two year deal with Hull FC
Nathan Blacklock has agreed to a lucrative two year contract with UK Super League club Hull FC, beginning in 2005.
Blacklock, 28, will be paid a reported $350,000 per season.
In top form, Nathan Blacklock played his last match in the Qualifying final at Penrith, scoring his 100 try for the Joint Venture. But he saved one of his best performances for his final match at Kogarah Jubilee on the 29th August. Scoring two tries and setting up another, Tingha spear-headed a mighty comeback as Saints scored 26 points in 24 minutes, defeating Manly 32-30.
More > pics and reports, click here.

Blacklock retires
23 August 2006: Superleague media (UK) reports that Hull FC have agreed to release Nathan 'Tingha' Blacklock.
The former St George and Australian winger has been plagued by a knee injury during the season and will retire from the game and return home to Australia.
From 1997-2004, Blacklock scored 120 tries for the Dragons. He was the competition's top try scorer for three years running (1999, 2000, 2001) and the Club's top try scorer on five occasions (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003).
Full article

Great tries... PICS PICS PICS click on a pic for larger pop up image

Career Statistics:

Representative Honours:
Sydney Under 19’s,
Junior Kangaroo 1995
Country Origin 2001, 2003, 2004
NSW Waratahs (Union) 2003
Australia: Kangaroo Tour 2001 (2 tests, PNG, UK).

Records: 
Most tries in a premiership season, 1999, 2000 and 2001 
Equaled record for top try scorer for three consecutive premiership seasons. 
Only player to ever score twenty or more tries in four consecutive seasons.
St George Club record: 27 tries in one season (2001) surpassing Tom Ryan's record of 26 tries set in 1957
Most tries in first grade for the Dragons: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003