Mark Riddell

Mark Robert Riddell (born 9 December 1980) is an Australian rugby league commentator and former professional player who played as a hooker in the 2000s and 2010s. A City New South Wales representative goal-kicker, he played in the NRL for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Parramatta Eels and the Sydney Roosters, and in the Super League with the Wigan Warriors.

Parramatta Eels

Riddell began the 2005 NRL season with the Parramatta Eels in his regular role of hooker. He had his worst season in regards to point scoring after having to share the goal kicking duties with team mate Luke Burt, finishing the season with only 50 points but ultimately helping his side to the Minor Premiership.

Riddell was in the Parramatta side which made it to the preliminary final as favorites against North Queensland. In a game that they were expected to win, Parramatta were beaten 29-0 in one of the biggest upsets of the season. In 2017, Riddell spoke of the disappointment to miss out on qualifying for the grand final in 2005 by saying "The worst thing was that we had watched St George lose to Wests Tigers the night before and we had comfortably beat Wests twice that year and thought we were morals for the premiership".

On 17 May 2006, Riddell was dropped from the Parramatta first grade side and fined a total of $5,000 for failing to show up to a recovery session on a Monday morning following a regular season fixture, he later admitted the reason he had failed to show up to the session was because he was intoxicated. His axing, along with that of Tim Smith's, was the first piece of action taken by Jason Taylor who just moments earlier was appointed caretaker coach following long-serving coach Brian Smith's dismissal.

In the 2007 NRL season, Riddell made 23 appearances for Parramatta as the club made the preliminary final but fell short of a grand final appearance losing to Melbourne 26-10.

Riddell stayed with at Parramatta through the 2008 NRL season, playing a total of 86 games for Parramatta.

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