Brisbane Broncos Berrigan made his premiership début for the
Brisbane Broncos in Round 11 of the
1999 NRL season against the
Balmain Tigers, making eleven appearances during the remainder of the aforementioned NRL season. In the following season in 2000, Berrigan played from the interchange bench in the Broncos'
2000 NRL Grand Final victory over the
Sydney Roosters. Having won the
2000 NRL Premiership, the Broncos traveled to England to play against 2000's
Super League V Champions,
St Helens R.F.C. for the
2001 World Club Challenge, with Berrigan playing at five-eighth and scoring a try in Brisbane's loss. Berrigan's regular position was but he could play a number of back-line positions as well as . Berrigan's versatility is evident in analysing the
Queensland team for which Berrigan was the five-eighth for the entire
2002 State of Origin series. He played the entire
2003 State of Origin series at halfback for Queensland, who lost. He played in the centres for the
2004 State of Origin series. Berrigan was selected in the Australian team to go and compete in the end of season
2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against
Great Britain he played at centre in the Kangaroos' 44–4 victory. Berrigan was then the top try-scorer for the
2005 Brisbane Broncos season scoring 19 tries. Berrigan played his 150th first grade game for the club in
2006. He started the year in the centre position but injuries to the Broncos' full-time hookers,
Michael Ennis and Shaun's brother
Barry, made coach
Wayne Bennett move Berrigan to hooker. This turned out to be a success, with former great
Peter Sterling saying that it bought a new dimension to the Broncos' game not seen for a while. He played so well at hooker in the Broncos'
2006 NRL Grand Final victory over Melbourne that he was awarded the
Clive Churchill Medal for best on field. During the
2007 NRL season, at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Berrigan. Berrigan's
Brisbane contract ended at the end of the 2007 season. Berrigan was a regular representative player, appearing twelve times in the State of Origin for the Queensland Maroons and in five
test matches for Australia.
Hull FC Berrigan signed a four-year deal with English
Super League team and 2006 Grand Final runners up, Hull FC. His contract commenced with the start of the 2008 season when he replaced former Broncos teammate
Richard Swain, who retired from the game at the end of the 2007 season, thus freeing up a free quota space. In regards to the signing, Berrigan said "I have had a fantastic career at the Broncos, winning premierships, playing for Queensland and of course for Australia. I am really excited to be joining Hull and playing in the
Super League and
Challenge Cup. I am excited by their plans, I believe the club has a fantastic future and I am looking forward to being a part of it for the next 4 years". Berrigan scored his first try for new club Hull in Round 2 of 2008's
Super League XIII. On 30 August Shaun Berrigan appeared for Hull at Wembley in the
2008 Challenge Cup Final. During his Hull career Berrigan continued to play at .
New Zealand Warriors At the start of 2011, Berrigan secured a release from Hull so he could move to be closer to his family following the death of his father in 2010. After being linked with the
North Queensland Cowboys and
Gold Coast Titans, Berrigan signed a one-year deal with the
New Zealand Warriors for the
2011 season. During the 2011 NRL season, Berrigan played from the bench and at centre, although he did not play in their grand final loss against Manly.
Canberra Raiders On 19 October 2011, the
Canberra Raiders announced they had signed Berrigan on a one-year contract for the 2012 season with the option for an extension. He announced his retirement at the end of the
2013 NRL season. == Post playing ==