Ben Nakubuwai

Last updated

Ben Nakubuwai
Ben Nakubuwai.jpg
Personal information
Full namePetero Benjamin Nakubuwai [1]
Born (1996-03-15) 15 March 1996 (age 29)
Suva, Fiji
Height194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
Playing information
Position Prop
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2017 Gold Coast Titans 21004
2018–19 Salford Red Devils 4130012
2022–25 Leigh Leopards 444008
2024→Featherstone Rovers (loan)00000
Total8780024
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2016– Fiji 1340016
Source: [2] [3] [4]
As of 14 March 2025
Father Pio Nakubuwai

Petero Benjamin "Ben" Nakubuwai (born 15 March 1996) is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.

Contents

Nakubuwai previously played for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League and the Salford Red Devils in the Super League, and was a member of Fiji's squad for the 2017 World Cup.

Background

Nakubuwai was born in Suva , Fiji to Fijian parents Pio and Eseta. [5] His father was a dual-code rugby international for Fiji during the 1990s, and is known as one of the pioneers of rugby league in Fiji. [6]

Nakubuwai grew up playing rugby union from the age of eight for the Leeton Phantoms, [5] and later took up rugby league at a junior level at age fourteen, playing for the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks and Bidgee Hurricanes. [7] Having been spotted by the Melbourne Storm, Nakubwai moved to Melbourne after completing his Higher School Certificate to play in their S. G. Ball Cup team. [8]

Playing career

Early career

Nakubuwai joined Melbourne's National Youth Competition team in 2015, playing 42 matches over two seasons. [9] He made his international debut for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in May 2016. [10] In December 2016, Nakubuwai signed with the Gold Coast Titans. [11]

2017

Nakubuwai spent most of the 2017 season playing for one of the Titans' feeder clubs, the Tweed Heads Seagulls, in the Queensland Cup. He was called upon to play two NRL matches for the Titans at the end of the season. [12]

On 29 November 2017, it was revealed Nakubuwai had signed a two-year deal to join English side Salford Red Devils in the Super League. [13] [14]

2022

On 26 April 2022 it was announced that Nakubuwai had signed for Leigh until the end of the season. On 28 May, he played for Leigh in their 1895 Cup final victory over Featherstone, [15] and on 2 October appeared off the bench in the Championship grand final victory against Batley Bulldogs. [16]

2023

On 12 August 2023, Nakubuwai played in the 2023 Challenge Cup final victory over Hull Kingston Rovers. It was Leigh's first major trophy in 52 years. [17] He played 19 games for Leigh in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished fifth on the table and qualified for the playoffs. He played in their elimination playoff loss against Hull Kingston Rovers. [18]

2024

On 1 Jun 2024 Nakubuwai signed for Featherstone Rovers in the Championship on a season-long loan, [19] helping Rovers to sixth-place and playoff qualification.

2025

On 14 March 2025 it was reported that Ben had departed Leigh Leopards. [20] [21]

On 2 April 2025 it was reported that he had re-joined the Queensland Cup team Norths Devils, linking up again with Rohan Smith [22]

References

  1. ↑ Baselala, Elenoa (28 October 2017). "Kubuwai re-born". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. ↑ loverugbyleague
  3. ↑ "Ben Nakubuwai - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project.
  4. ↑ love rugby league
  5. 1 2 "Rep Honours for Big Ben". Leeton Phantoms Junior Rugby Club. 17 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008.
  6. ↑ Cabenatabua, Leone (2 March 2014). "Inducted". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Player profile". FijiTimes. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Gray, John (1 October 2013). "Storm front - Hurricanes young gun on Melbourne's radar". Irrigator. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "N". NYC Database. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "NRL Match Centre 2017". matchcentre.nrl.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  11. ↑ Webeck, Tony (23 December 2016). "Titans snare 'next Petero' from Storm". NRL.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Nakubuwai reflects on Titans debut". QRL.com.au. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "NRL Market Watch: Panther's code switch consideration, Knights contract twist". Fox Sports Australia. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Ben Nakubuwai: Salford Red Devils sign Fiji international". BBC Sport. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Featherstone Rovers: 1895 Cup final defeat to Leigh Centurions gives Brian McDermott's side signal of their progress". Yorkshire Post.
  16. ↑ "Championship play-off final: Leigh 44-12 Batley Bulldogs - Adrian Lam's Centurions march back to Super League". BBC Sport. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  17. ↑ "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 16-17 Leigh Leopards - Leigh claim first Wembley final win in 52 years". BBC Sport. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  18. ↑ "Leigh Leopards 2023 season in review". Leigh Leopards.
  19. ↑ "BEN NAKUBUWAI JOINS FEATHERSTONE ROVERS ON LOAN". Leigh Leopards. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  20. ↑ Aaron Bower (14 March 2025). "Leigh handed quota opportunity as forward exits with Nene Macdonald link addressed". Love Rugby League.
  21. ↑ "Fiji forward Nakubuwai leaves Leigh". BBC Sport. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  22. ↑ Aaron Bower (2 April 2025). "Released Leigh Leopards man lands new club in Australia". Love Rugby League.


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