Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Auckland, New Zealand | 26 July 1993||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 110 kg (17 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Second-row, Lock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] As of 14 April 2024 |
Raymond Faitala-Mariner (born 26 July 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both Samoa and New Zealand at international level.
He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.
Faitala-Mariner was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Tuvaluan and Samoan descent. [2]
Faitala-Mariner attended Edgewater College and played his junior rugby league for Otahuhu Leopards before being signed by the New Zealand Warriors. [3]
Faitala-Mariner played in the Warriors' Holden Cup team in 2012 and 2013, as well as in the New South Wales Cup with the Auckland Vulcans in late 2013. [4] Faitala-Mariner played at second-row in the Junior Warriors 2013 Holden Cup Grand Final against the Penrith Panthers, scoring a try in the 30–42 loss. [5] On 13 October 2013, Faitala-Mariner played for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos at second-row in the Kiwis' 26–38 loss. [6] In 2014, Faitala-Mariner joined the Warriors' full-time squad and played in the 2014 Auckland Nines, and played in 23 New South Wales Cup matches for the Warriors. [7] On 21 September 2014, Faitala-Mariner was named at second-row in the 2014 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year. [8]
In round 8 of the 2015 NRL season, Faitala-Mariner made his first grade NRL debut for the New Zealand Warriors against the Gold Coast Titans off the interchange bench in the Warriors' 28–32 loss at Mt Smart Stadium. [9] Faitala-Mariner became the Warriors 200th debutant. [10] In round 15, against the Gold Coast Titans, Faitala-Mariner scored his first NRL career try in the Warriors 36–14 win at Cbus Super Stadium. [11] He finished his debut year in the NRL having played in 11 matches and scoring a try. [12]
On 5 April, after playing one match for the Warriors that season, Faitala-Mariner was released in an exchange for Shaun Lane as part of a deal between the Warriors and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. [13] In round 9, against the Parramatta Eels, Faitala-Mariner made his club debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 12–20 loss at ANZ Stadium. [14] On 7 May 2016, Faitala-Mariner made his international debut for Samoa, playing against Tonga in the 2016 Polynesian Cup off the interchange bench in the 18–6 win at Parramatta Stadium. [15] Faitala-Mariner finished his early season move to the Bulldogs in the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 14 matches. On 8 October 2016, Faitala-Mariner represented Samoa in the Samoa vs. Fiji test match, where he started at second-row in the 20–18 loss in Apia, Samoa. [16]
In Round 16 against his former club the New Zealand Warriors, Faitala-Mariner scored his first club try for the Bulldogs in the 21–14 loss at Mt Smart Stadium. [17] Faitala-Mariner finished the 2017 NRL season with him playing in 16 matches and scoring 1 try for the Bulldogs.
Faitala-Mariner made 13 appearances for Canterbury-Bankstown in 2018 and scored 2 tries as the club endured a tough season on the field. At one point, the club were sitting second last on the table before upset wins against the Brisbane Broncos and St George ensured that they finished in 12th place avoiding the wooden spoon. [18]
Faitala-Mariner made 10 appearances for Canterbury-Bankstown in the 2019 NRL season as the club finished 12th on the table. [19]
Faitala-Mariner made 20 appearances for Canterbury and scored six tries in the 2020 NRL season. He finished as the sides joint top try scorer. The club finished in 15th place on the table, only avoiding the Wooden Spoon by for and against. [20]
On 23 March, it was announced that Faitala-Mariner would miss the rest of the 2021 NRL season after suffering a foot injury in Canterbury's loss to Penrith. [21]
After more than a year out of the game due to injury, Faitala-Mariner made his comeback in Canterbury's Round 11 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval. On 22 July, Faitala-Mariner signed on with the Canterbury club for a further three years, seeing him remain at Belmore until the end of the 2025 season. [22] Faitala-Mariner played a total of 13 games for Canterbury in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished 12th on the table. [23]
Faitala-Mariner played a total of 14 games for Canterbury in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 15th on the table. [24]
On 29 January, Faitala-Mariner was released from the final two years of his Canterbury contract to join St. George Illawarra ahead of the 2024 NRL season. [25] In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, he made his club debut for St. George Illawarra as they defeated the Gold Coast 28-4. [26]
Frank Semu Pritchard, also known by the nicknames "Cranky" and "Frank the Tank", is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand and Samoa at international level. A second-row, he played in the National Rugby League for Sydney clubs the Penrith Panthers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Parramatta Eels during the 2000s and 2010s. Pritchard also played in the Super League for English club Hull FC.
Stephen Matai is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League from 2005 to 2016. A New Zealand national representative centre, he played for Australian club the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Matai helped the Sea Eagles win the 2008 and 2011 Premierships. He was also part of the New Zealand national squad that won the nation's maiden title at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Known particularly for his uncompromising defence, in 2020, Matai was voted the National Rugby League's hardest hitter over the past 30 years.
James Maloney is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and current assistant coach for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Isaac John is a former New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who previously played for the Mount Pritchard Mounties in the Intrust Super Premiership. A Cook Islands and New Zealand international representative, he played as a five-eighth and halfback and previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League, and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League.
Josh Hoffman is a New Zealand international rugby league footballer who plays as wing, centre and fullback for the Wests Panthers in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership.
Tony Williams, also known by the nickname of "T-Rex", is a former professional rugby league footballer. He played for both Tonga and Australia at international level.
Benjamin Barba is an Australian former professional dual code rugby league & rugby union footballer who last played for St Helens in the Super League. He primarily played as a fullback or five-eighth.
Kieran Foran is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or halfback for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.
Dunamis Lui is a Samoa international rugby league footballer plays as a prop and lock for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Hostplus Cup.
Joseph Leilua is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays centre for the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra Cup.
Sam Kasiano is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra Rugby League. He is both a New Zealand and Samoan international.
James Gavet is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who last played as a prop for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.
David Klemmer is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia international level.
Sauaso "Jesse" Sue is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop, lock and second-row forward for the Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or fullback for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.
Curtis Rona is a former Australian international rugby union footballer who recently played for London Irish in the English Premiership. He now plays for Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Sagamihara Dynaboars.
Fa'amanu Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and hooker for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has represented Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He has also played at five-eighth and lock.
Shaun Lane is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as second-row forward for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Tevita Pangai Junior is an Australian professional boxer and semi-professional Tonga international rugby league footballer. He currently plays for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Hostplus Cup and has previously played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers, and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Marcelo Eduardo Montoya Jr is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Fiji at international level.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)