Pat Richards
A rugby league marksman from Ireland whose lethal left boot and consistent brilliance made him a cult hero in both Australia and England.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Ireland international rugby league footballer·Birthday: February 27·Millennials
Biography
Pat Richards, a tall, powerful winger with a deceptively languid style, left an indelible mark on rugby league through sheer reliability and a unique skill set. Born in Australia to Irish parents, he chose to represent Ireland internationally, bringing a hard-nosed Antipodean toughness to the Wolfhounds. His career is a tale of two hemispheres. In Australia's NRL, he was a key part of the Wests Tigers' 2005 premiership win, famous for a crucial 40/20 kick in the grand final. But his legacy was cemented in the English Super League with Wigan. There, his prodigious goal-kicking—often using a distinctive spiral technique—and try-scoring prowess made him the competition's most dependable point-scorer. Winning the Man of Steel award in 2010 as the league's best player, he wasn't the flashiest, but coaches and fans knew his value: week in, week out, Pat Richards would find a way to put points on the board.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Pat was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Pat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Pat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2005 NRL Premiership with the Wests Tigers, executing a critical 40/20 kick in the grand final.
- Awarded the prestigious Man of Steel award in 2010 as the best player in the Super League.
- Became the highest overseas points-scorer in Super League history.
- Won two Super League Grand Finals with the Wigan Warriors in 2010 and 2013.
Did You Know?
He is known for his unusual spiral technique when kicking for goal.
He played his first professional rugby league match for the Parramatta Eels at age 17.
Despite being born and raised in Sydney, he qualified for and played for Ireland through his parents.
He once kicked a 65-meter penalty goal during a Super League match.
“I just focused on catching the ball and kicking the goals.”
