Michael Jennings

Jennings is older brother of Melbourne Storm player George Jennings and Penrith Panthers player Robert Jennings, and nephew of 1960s All Black Arthur Jennings.

He played his junior football for the Western City Tigers Mt Druitt and St Mary's Saints before being signed by the Penrith Panthers.

Jennings became the 4th Kangaroo, following Lionel Morgan in 1960, Brad Mackay in 1990 and David Williams in 2008, to score a hat trick on debut.

On 13 February, Jennings played for the inaugural NRL All Stars team against the Indigenous All Stars at Cbus Super Stadium.

He played at centre and scored a try in the NRL All Stars 16-12 win.

On 7 May, Jennings played for NSW City Origin.

Michael Jennings (born 20 April 1988) is a former rugby league footballer who last played as a for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

He played for Tonga and Australia at international level.

Jennings played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2005.

Jennings attended Blackett Primary School and St Dominic's College.

In Round 2, Jennings made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on the, scoring a try in the Panthers 40-10 victory at Penrith Stadium.

In Round 23 against the Newcastle Knights, he scored a hat trick in the Panthers 46-12 win at Hunter Stadium.

At the end of the year, Jennings was the Panthers highest tryscorer with 15 tries in 23 matches.

He won the Panthers Player of the Year award and the Rookie of the Year award as well as being nominated for the Dally M Rookie of the Year.

In October, Jennings played for the Junior Kangaroos.

Jennings played in 23 matches and scored 12 tries for the Panthers in the 2008.

He played for the Prime Minister's XIII team against Papua New Guinea and scored a try on debut.

Jennings was named in the preliminary 46-man Australian and Tongan squads for the 2008 World Cup.

He eventually represented Tonga, scoring 3 tries in as many appearances.

On 8 May, Jennings played for the New South Wales City team against New South Wales Country, scoring a try in the 40-18 win in Orange.

In May, he was selected for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2009 State of Origin series in Melbourne, Victoria.

Jennings missed Game 2 but was again selected in Game 3 in the Blues 28-16 win at Suncorp Stadium.

Jennings played in 19 matches and was the Panthers highest tryscorer with 17 tries, including 3 hat tricks.

In September, Jennings was again selected in the Prime Minister's XIII squad, scoring another hat trick in the 42-18 win against Papua New Guinea.

In October and November, Jennings travelled to Europe with the Australian team for the 2009 Four Nations.

He made his debut for the Kangaroos in the match against France and scored 3 tries as well as receiving the Man of the Match award in the 42-4 win.

He again played for NSW in Game 3 of the 2010 State of Origin series in the Blues 23-18 loss.

Jennings played in 25 matches and 16 tries in the regular season.

Jennings started the pre-season with another appearance for the NRL All Stars, and played for City Origin in May.

On 12 August, Jennings was dropped from the Panthers team for showing up to training under the influence of alcohol.

He was also fined $10,000 earlier in 2011 for drinking and it had been understood that he was on his last chance at the club.

Jennings season was marred by numerous injuries, off-field controversies and he only scored 4 tries during the whole year, 1 at State of Origin level, 1 at club level and 2 whilst playing for the Windsor Wolves in the NSW Cup.

Controversially, he was still selected for NSW despite his poor start, and scored a try and was rated as one of the best in a 16-12 beaten team in game 1.

He previously played for the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2013 NRL Grand Final.

He has played for the Prime Minister's XIII, City Origin, New South Wales in the State of Origin series and the NRL All Stars.

Jennings was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia to Tongan-born parents.

He is also of Fijian and English descent.

In Round 13 against the Gold Coast Titans, Jennings played his 100th NRL career match for the Panthers in the 23-10 win at Cbus Super Stadium.

He managed 15 games for the Panthers for the year On 19 September, Jennings played for the Prime Minister's XIII.

Jennings was chosen for the NRL All Stars for the 3rd consecutive year.