Glen Fisiiahi

Glen Fisiiahi

Personal information
Born	(1990-12-02) 2 December 1990 (age 33) Auckland, New Zealand
Height	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2011–15 New Zealand Warriors 25 15 0 0 60 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2013 Tonga 3 2 0 0 8
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2016–17 Chiefs 4 1 0 0 5 2016– Counties Manukau 0 0 0 0 0 Total 4 1 0 0 5
Source: [1]

Glen Fisiiahi (born 2 December 1990) is a rugby league and rugby union footballer of Tongan ^[2] and Niue descent. He previously played rugby league professionally for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League where he played as a fullback and wing and has represented the Tonga international rugby league team.

Background

Fisiiahi was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

Early years

Fisiiahi is from a well known league family that includes the twin brothers Paul and David Fisiiahi. ^[3] Fisiiahi was an Ellerslie Eagles junior in Auckland Rugby League competitions and represented the Counties Manukau under-18's. Fisiiahi also played rugby union at his high school, Wesley College, and represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sevens team. ^{[3] [4]} Fisiiahi was the school's sports dux in 2008. While playing for the Junior Warriors Fisiiahi completed a Diploma in Sport and Recreation at AUT University. ^[5] Fisiiahi made his debut for the New Zealand Warriors' Toyota Cup (Under-20s) team in 2009, playing in three matches. He also played for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup. ^{[6] [7]} In 2010 he became one of the stars of the team, scoring 20 tries in 26 matches, and was a part of the 2010 Toyota Cup Grand Final winning team. ^[8] Fisiiahi was also involved in an embarrassing moment that saw him celebrate a try before scoring, only to be tackled and have the ball knocked out of his hands. ^[9] Fisiiahi finished his Toyota Cup career with twenty eight appearances and twenty tries. ^[10] He is eligible for New Zealand, Tonga and Niue. At the end of 2010 Fisiiahi was named in the Junior Kiwis squad that drew a two match series with the Junior Kangaroos. ^[11]

Rugby league career

2011

After scoring five tries in four trials during the 2011 pre-season, Fisiiahi made his NRL debut for the New Zealand Warriors in Round 1 of the 2011 NRL season against the Parramatta Eels at Eden Park on the wing in the Warriors' 24–18 loss. ^[12] Fisiiahi being named ahead of Kevin Locke, Krisnan Inu and Bill Tupou. ^[13] After playing only one NRL match, On 30 March 2011, Fisiiahi signed a four-year deal to keep him at the Warriors until the end of 2015. ^[14] In Fisiiahi's next match in Round 4 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Owen Delany Park at Taupō, Fisiiahi scored his first and second NRL tries in the Warriors 26–18 win. ^[15] Fisiiahi played in the Auckland Vulcans 30-28 New South Wales Cup Grand Final loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. ^[16] Fisiiahi finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 4 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Warriors.

Fisiiahi playing for the Auckland Vulcans in 2012

2012

Fisiiahi played in 4 matches and scored a try for the Warriors in the 2012 NRL season. In an NSW cup match against the Western Suburbs Magpies, Fisiiahi scored an incredible 6 tries in the Auckland Vulcans 42–20 win. ^[17]

2013

On 20 April 2013, Fisiiahi made his international debut, playing for Tonga in the 2013 Polynesian Cup against pacific rivals Samoa, playing at fullback in Tonga's 36–4 win at Penrith Stadium. After Round 19 against the Wests Tigers, Fisiiahi suffered a season ending torn pectoral muscle injury in the Warriors 24–14 win at Leichhardt Oval. ^[18] Fisiiahi finished the Warriors 2013 NRL season with him playing in 11 matches and scoring 5 tries. Later in the year, Glen played for Tonga in their 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign. Fisiiahi played in 2 of Tonga's 3 world cup matches. He scored his first international try against Scotland in Tonga's opening 26-24 match defeat. ^[19] and scored another try in his second appearance, this time against pacific rivals Cook Islands in Tonga's 22–16 win. ^[20]

2014

In February 2014, Fisiiahi was selected for the Warriors inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad. ^[21] In Round 4 of the 2014 NRL season, Fisiiahi scored four tries against the Wests Tigers in the Warriors 42–18 victory at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. ^[22] Fisiiahi's season was again ended early, this time suffering nerve damage to his shoulder (which necessitated a shoulder reconstruction) in Round 9 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium, in the Warriors 37–6 loss. ^{[23] [24]} Fisiiahi finished the Warriors 2014 NRL season with him playing in 5 matches and scoring 7 tries.

Rugby union career

In 2016, Fisiiahi switched to rugby union, joining the Chiefs and Counties Manukau, ^[25] joining another former NRL player, Sonny Bill Williams, at the Chiefs. ^[26]

References

1. Glen Fisiiahi rugbyleagueproject.org
2. "Tonga name 58-man squad for Cook Islands qualifier". theroar.com.au. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
3. Glen Fisiiahi Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine warriors.co.nz
4. "Sevens double boosts trophy cabinet". Stuff.co.nz . 6 November 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
5. Brown, Michael (3 October 2010). "NRL: Well-educated juniors seek NRL graduation". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 1 October 2011.
6. Jets Keep on Track for the Finals nzwarriors.co.nz, 20 July 2009
7. New South Wales Cup Round # 16 vulcans.co.nz, 20 July 2009
8. Shattered Inu left out sportal.co.nz, 8 March 2011
9. "Junior Warrior tackled during pre-try celebration". 3 News . 25 July 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
10. Glen Fisiiahi nzleague.co.nz
11. Junior Kiwis Named Archived 7 September 2012 at archive.today nzrl.co.nz, 6 October 2010
12. "NRL: Fisiiahi to debut for Warriors". The New Zealand Herald . NZPA. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
13. Johnstone, Duncan (8 March 2011). "Warriors star urges rookie wing to enjoy debut". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 1 October 2011.
14. "Warriors re-sign Fisiiahi and Rapira - NRL.com". Archived from the original on 4 February 2015.
15. "Warriors open account against Sharks - ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 3 April 2011.
16. Canterbury Bankstown Clinch Nsw Cup With Miraculous 30 28 Victory Over Auckland Vulcans The Daily Telegraph^{[ dead link ]}
17. "Motorsport Video |Motorsport Highlights, Replays, News, Clips | FOX SPORTS".
18. "Live: Wests Tigers v New Zealand Warriors". 19 July 2013.
19. "Match Report | Tonga v Scotland - 29th October 2013 | Sky Sports | Rugby League News". Archived from the original on 31 October 2013.
20. "Live Update » League Unlimited".
21. "SQUADS FOR AUCKLAND NINES - Rugby League Week". Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
22. "Fisiiahi scores four in Wellington - Run It on the Last". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
23. "Cronulla Sharks v New Zealand Warriors". 5 April 2014.
24. "NZ Warriors wing Fisiiahi ruled out for season | Stuff.co.nz". 19 June 2014.
25. "New Zealand Warrior Glen Fisiiahi signs for Super Rugby side the Chiefs". stuff.co.nz. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
26. "Warrior to become Chief". Radio New Zealand. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.

External links

• 2015 New Zealand Warriors squad