Martin Bella
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Martin Bella is a former Australian Rugby league player of Italian descent. Martin Bella's career started out in the Foley Shield. His Mackay Under 18 side defeated Herbert River in the final after representing Queensland and Australia the previous two seasons. Bella left North Queensland to play with Easts Tigers in Brisbane Rugby League premiership. After three seasons in Brisbane and two off-seasons playing for Halifax RLFC in England, Bella moved to North Sydney Bears in 1986.
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[edit] North Sydney Bears
During his time at the Bears, Bella was picked in the Kangaroo touring team, playing in most games on the tour, but not the Tests. In 1987 he played State of Origin and in 1988 made his first Test appearance in the third Test against the touring Great Britain side.
Also in 1988 he put on his boots for Queensland and made a clean sweep of the interstate series with Sam Backo providing a memorable rampaging display of front row power. Bella and Backo, both North Queenslanders, lined up for a repeat performance again against the Blues in 1989 with another awesome display up front, as the Maroons again whitewashed the Blues. Bella again toured with the Kangaroos in 1990 and played a total of nine Tests for Australia, and a record twenty State of Origin games, at the time a feat unequalled by any forward from either State.
[edit] Canterbury Bulldogs
His career continued with the Canterbury Bulldogs club, which he joined for the 1993 and 1994 seasons, until his return to North Queensland to play with the newly formed North Queensland Cowboys in the expanded twenty team Australian Rugby League competition.
[edit] North Queensland Cowboys
The burley Mackay forward had a long rep career but his signing at the Cowboys was sadly for them on the backend of his eventful career. There was nothing flashy about Bella's style of play - simple forward moving football. However, he was one of the strongest selections for the Cowboys first year in competition. Full of leadership qualities over the younger personnel at the club, Bella had vast experience behind him from those Kangaroo Tours and Queensland Maroons experience. Considered by many a Queenslander as a great forward with great passion. However he was cut from the club at the back end of the 1995 season because of behavioural problems leaving him looking down the barrel of retirement.
Cowboys Statistics
| Year | G | T | Gls | FGls | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Legend: Gms = Games, Trs = Tries, Gls = Goals, FGls = Field Goals, Pts = Points.
[edit] Gold Coast Chargers
Bella managed to raise eyebrows again. This time around for another Queensland club. He was lured out of possible retirement to play with the Gold Coast Chargers. The Gold Coast club were dwindling away under debts and poor form needing some strong support. Martin Bella once more managed to dig deep and give all his heart on the football field taking the Gold Coast team to its first ever finals playoffs in its rollercoaster 8 year franchise.
