Beerwah Bulldogs club record holder Daniel Grice reflects on 21-year career

Beerwah Bulldogs rugby league stalwart Daniel Grice has reflected on his incredible 21-year career and says he’s still undecided on how he plans to tackle the 2023 season.

Beerwah Bulldogs stalwart Daniel Grice in action in the 2022 grand final against Maroochydore. Picture: Abby Kite

Beerwah Bulldogs record holder Daniel Grice says he’s unsure if he will return for another season after notching up 300 senior club games for the blue and white.

Grice, 39, who started playing for Beerwah when he was 18, marked his 302nd match for the Bulldogs when the club went down 26-16 in the 2022 grand final against Maroochydore.

The son of former Beerwah captain, coach and life member Gary Grice said it was a major milestone.

“It’s something I’ll look back on with a lot of pride,” he said.

Daniel Grice in action in 2004 (left) and 2018.

Grice started playing fullback before shifting to five-eighth, and more recently played as a utility forward and halves partner.

He said his favourite Bulldogs memory was the 2004 semi-final.

“It was against Caloundra with Kevin Langer as the coach. Allan Langer had returned to play for them too, so it was packed and even Wayne Bennett had driven up to watch,” he said.

“We had Grant Young and Dale Shearer with Beerwah that year too, so it was a massive game and I ended up scoring the winning try in the final minutes with Scott Hurst kicking the goal to put us into the club’s first grand final since dad played in 1989.”

Beerwah Bulldogs club legend Daniel Grice.

Although Queensland Rugby League requires players aged 40 and over to provide medical clearance, Grice said he was unsure if he would play in 2023.

“I think I’ve retired more times than John Farnham. The body needs to heal and I’ll wait until next season rolls around but...my missus and mum will probably kill me for saying it, I’ll wait and see,” he said.

“You’ve got to retire at some point.

“It’s a big thing for me to keep coming back, my wife Courtney and I are raising our son Hudson now, working full-time and I live in Brisbane.

“But it’s just that lure of winning the elusive first grand final for the club that keeps me coming back.”

Originally published as Beerwah Bulldogs club record holder Daniel Grice reflects on 21-year career