ONCE WERE WARRIORS: CLIFF BEVERLEY

By TWL on January 26, 2019 • ( 0 )

Cliff Beverley – Warrior #62 (1999-2001): 44 games – 8 tries (32 points)

Versatile back Cliff Beverley spent three seasons in the Warriors’ first-grade squad before finishing his professional career with Super League club Salford City.

After playing Lion Red Cup football for the Waitakere City Raiders as a teenager, Beverley was plucked from the Glenora Bears to debut in the NRL at fullback early in 1999 in a big win over Manly – just four days before his 22nd birthday.

He alternated between fullback and five-eighth in the ensuing weeks, before spending the latter half of the season on Mark Graham’s interchange bench, including a two-try performance in the Warriors’ final-round 60-16 demolition of Western Suburbs.

Beverley made 19 appearances for the embattled club in 2000, again switching between the No.1 and 6 jerseys and the bench. A highlight came in Round 8 as the custodian sliced through for the match-winning try against eventual grand finalists the Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart Stadium.

The skilful utility spent the early part of the 2001 season partnering Stacey Jones in the halves but was scarcely used by coach Daniel Anderson as the Warriors charged to their maiden finals appearance. After 12 weeks in the lower grades he filled in for Jones in a heavy Round 19 defeat to Brisbane, before making his final top-flight appearance for the club as an interchange against Cronulla three weeks later.

Beverley had a stint with English club Barrow before linking with the Salford City Reds. He starred as the Reds regained promotion to Super League at the end of 2003 and was their first-choice pivot as the club recorded back-to-back ninth-place finishes in 2004-05, while also filling in at fullback and centre.

Returning home, Beverley represented New Zealand Residents in a match against the Kiwis in 2006 while playing for Waitakere Rangers in the Bartercard Cup.