He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Scotland, and at club level for Blackpool Borough, Oldham, Leeds, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Wakefield Trinity, Rochdale Hornets, Carlisle, South Wales, and Barrow.
During his childhood, he moved south with his family to Rolleston on Dove, a village near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in England.
Waddell joined Sheffield Eagles in 1990, and went on to play for Swinton, Wakefield Trinity and Rochdale Hornets.
He was briefly appointed as player-coach at the club following the departure of Cameron Bell, but was replaced as coach a few months later by Paul Charlton.
He was selected for the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour later that year, and was the only player from a Second Division club to be chosen in the squad.