Carrying one of the most famous of all Kiwi surnames, Scott Sorensen followed in the footsteps of grandfather Bill, an outstanding five-eighth in the 1950s, and uncles Dane and Kurt, 1970s and ’80s engine-room stars, by earning a spot in New Zealand’s 2022 World Cup squad.
It was a long and winding journey to a Kiwis call-up for the Sydney-born, Cronulla-Caringbah junior, however.
After coming through Cronulla’s NYC and NSW Cup ranks, Sorensen made his NRL debut for the Sharks as a 21-year-old in 2014. He was signed by South Sydney but was unable to force his way into first grade at the club and did not resurface in the NRL until making two appearances for Canberra in 2017.
The strapping back-rower enjoyed a breakout year in 2018 after returning to Cronulla, playing 15 games in the top flight and winning selection in Tonga’s squad for the post-season Tests (though he did not play a match).
Sorensen managed just five NRL games in 2019 but won a NSW Cup grand final with Newtown Jets, while he regained a regular first-grade berth at the Sharks in 2020 to pique the interest of high-flying Penrith.
He forced his way into the Panthers’ 17 in May 2021 and stayed there, playing 19 consecutive games – culminating in an interchange role in their 14-12 NRL grand final triumph over the Rabbitohs.
Sorensen was named in New Zealand’s wider squad for the mid-2022 Test against Tonga but did not make the gameday 17. The 29-year-old continued to solidify his reputation, however, cementing his place at Penrith as the club steamed to the minor premiership and another grand final, where Sorensen scored a try (just his fourth in 82 NRL games) in an emphatic 28-12 against Parramatta before being named in the Kiwis’ World Cup squad.
He made his Test debut off the bench in the pool win over Jamaica, Sorensen’s only appearance at the tournament.
Sorensen, now a veteran of 121 NRL games, played a key role in subsequent Panthers grand final triumphs in 2023-24 – the latter after missing the rest of the finals series through injury – and returned to the Kiwis fold for the 2024 Pacific Championships. He started all three Tests in the second-row and averaged 36 tackles per game in a typically consistent and hardworking contribution.
