Alex Mellor Explained

Alex Mellor
Fullname:Alex James Mellor[1]
Birth Date:24 September 1994
Birth Place:Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Height:1.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Weight:102abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Club1:Bradford Bulls
Year1start:2013
Year1end:16
Appearances1:51
Tries1:9
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:36
Year2start:2017
Year2end:19
Appearances2:79
Tries2:19
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:76
Club3:Leeds Rhinos
Year3start:2020
Year3end:22
Appearances3:34
Tries3:4
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:16
Year4start:2022
Appearances4:1
Tries4:0
Goals4:0
Fieldgoals4:0
Points4:0
Year5start:2022
Year5end:present
Appearances5:57
Tries5:10
Goals5:0
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:40
New:yes
Source:[2] [3]
Updated:9 August 2024

Alex Mellor (born 24 September 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward or for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

He has previously played for the Bradford Bulls in the Super League and the Championship, and for the Huddersfield Giants and the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.

Background

Mellor was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

Bradford Bulls

Mellor had been involved in the Bradford Bulls scholarship system from under-15's.

In the 2013 season, he featured in Round 20 Warrington and Round 27 against Huddersfield.

In the 2014 season, Mellor featured in the pre-season game against Hull FC. He featured in Round 10 Wigan to Round 13 Huddersfield then in Round 21 against Huddersfield to Round 23 Leeds. He played in Round 27 London Broncos. He signed a new one-year deal with the Bradford outfit despite their relegation to the Championship.

In the 2015 season, Mellor featured in the pre-season friendlies against Castleford Tigers and Leeds. He featured in Round 1 (Leigh) to Round 4 (Hunslet Hawks) then in Round 9 (London Broncos) to Round 16 (Doncaster). Mellor played in the Qualifier 3 against Salford to Qualifier 4 against Widnes then in Qualifier 7 Halifax. Mellor played in the Challenge Cup in Round 5 Hull Kingston Rovers. Mid-way through the season Mellor signed a two-year extension to his contract.

In the 2016 season, Mellor featured in the pre-season friendlies against Leeds and Castleford. He featured in Round 2 (Whitehaven) to Round 3 Swinton Lions then in Round 5 Oldham to Round 7 London Broncos. He played in Round 10 (Dewsbury Rams) to Round 13 against Swinton then in Round 15 against Leigh. Mellor featured in Round 17 (Workington Town) to Round 21 Whitehaven then in Round 23 Featherstone Rovers. Mellor featured in the Championship Shield Game 1 Whitehaven to the Final against Sheffield. Mellor played in the Challenge Cup in the 4th Round against the Dewsbury club.

Huddersfield Giants

Following Bradford's liquidation before the 2017 season, he signed a three-year deal with Super League side Huddersfield.[4]

Mellor featured in Round 1 against Widnes to Round 6 against Wigan.

Leeds Rhinos

On 17 October 2020, he played in the 2020 Challenge Cup Final victory for Leeds over Salford at Wembley Stadium.[5]

Castleford Tigers

On 21 June 2022, the Castleford Tigers announced that Mellor would join the club with immediate effect, having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal.[6] He made his Tigers debut later that week, in a golden-point win against the Catalans Dragons at Wheldon Road.[7] [8] He scored his first try for the club against his former side Huddersfield on 19 August.[9]

Ahead of the 2023 season, Mellor was assigned squad number 12 and also appointed Castleford vice-captain.[10] [11] On 12 May, playing as a centre, he scored two tries for Castleford in their 22-46 loss against the Catalans Dragons.[12] Three weeks later, at the 2023 Magic Weekend, he scored two tries in Castleford's 26-24 win against Leeds.[13] Mellor made 25 appearances throughout the season as the club narrowly avoided relegation by finishing above Wakefield.[14] He said, "We've massively underperformed as a team," and that looking forward, "There's a lot of improvements that need to happen across the board."

Mellor suffered a knee injury in a friendly against Keighley ahead of the 2024 season, forcing him to miss the opening two rounds.[15] He displayed impressive form as the season progressed with Castleford director of rugby Danny Wilson praising his "tough line-running",[16] and subsequently signed a two-year contract extension in May.[17] On 12 July, Mellor scored two tries in the Tigers' round 17 win against London.[18]

Club statistics

Appearances and points in all competitions by year
Club Season Tier
Bradford Bulls2013Super League2 0 0 0 0
2014Super League8 0 0 0 0
2015Championship15 0 0 0 0
2016Championship26 9 0 0 36
2022Championship1 0 0 0 0
Total52 9 0 0 36
Huddersfield Giants2017Super League28 3 0 0 12
2018Super League24 7 0 0 28
2019Super League27 9 0 0 36
Total79 19 0 0 76
Leeds Rhinos2020Super League13 2 0 0 8
2021Super League15 2 0 0 8
2022Super League6 0 0 0 0
Total34 4 0 0 16
Castleford Tigers2022Super League11 1 0 0 4
2023Super League26 5 0 0 20
2024Super League20 4 0 0 16
Total57 10 0 0 40
Career total222 42 0 0 168

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/fxA28lZgJcwjTpKQqYWrRKXuLp0/appointments Companies House
  2. https://stats.rugbyleaguerecords.com/playersummary.php?tselect=3065 RL Record Keepers' Club
  3. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/alex-mellor/summary.html Rugby League Project
  4. News: UPDATED: Mellor and Welham latest to move on from liquidated Bulls. Telegraph & Argus. 5 January 2017. 31 January 2017.
  5. News: Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal. BBC Sport .
  6. Web site: 21 June 2022 . Alex Mellor: Castleford Tigers sign Leeds Rhinos back-rower . 11 February 2024 . BBC Sport.
  7. Web site: 26 June 2022 . Super League: Castleford Tigers 17-16 Catalans Dragons - Danny Richardson kicks winner . 11 February 2024 . BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: Heppenstall . Ross . 27 June 2022 . Alex Mellor out to silence Leeds Rhinos critics after Castleford Tigers move . 11 February 2024 . Yorkshire Live.
  9. Web site: 18 August 2022 . Super League: Huddersfield Giants 36-10 Castleford Tigers - Giants' top-two hopes boosted . 11 February 2024 . BBC Sport.
  10. Web site: Harber . Tony . 14 February 2023 . Castleford Tigers confirm Paul McShane and Alex Mellor as captain and vice-captain for 2023 . 11 February 2024 . Wakefield Express.
  11. Web site: Darbyshire . Drew . 20 January 2023 . Castleford Tigers 2023 squad numbers: Gareth Widdop to wear No. 6 shirt . 11 February 2024 . Love Rugby League.
  12. Web site: 12 May 2023 . Super League: Castleford Tigers 22-46 Catalans Dragons - Tigers suffer fourth straight loss . 11 February 2024 . BBC Sport.
  13. Web site: Bazeley . Marc . 3 June 2023 . Leeds Rhinos 24-26 Castleford Tigers: Jason Qareqare's converted try snatches vital Magic Weekend win . 11 February 2024 . Sky Sports.
  14. Web site: Olawumi . Ben . 22 September 2023 . Castleford Tigers ace Alex Mellor delivers brutally honest assessment of 'awful' season; 'We've massively underperformed' . 11 February 2024 . Love Rugby League.
  15. Web site: O'Brien . James . 17 January 2024 . Alex Mellor to miss start of Super League season in injury blow for Castleford Tigers . 19 July 2024 . The Yorkshire Post.
  16. Web site: O'Brien . James . 21 May 2024 . Castleford Tigers' 2025 squad continues to take shape with Alex Mellor re-signing . 19 July 2024 . The Yorkshire Post.
  17. Web site: 21 May 2024 . Castleford's Mellor and Robb sign two-year deals . 19 July 2024 . BBC Sport.
  18. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Controlled Castleford beat bottom club Broncos . 19 July 2024 . BBC Sport.