Sebastine Ikahihifo

Seb Ikahihifo

Personal information
Full name	Sebastine Ikahihifo
Born	(1991-01-27) 27 January 1991 (age 32) Auckland, New Zealand
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	16 st 12 lb (107 kg)
Playing information
Position	Prop, Loose forward
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2012–15 New Zealand Warriors 39 1 0 0 4 2016– Huddersfield Giants 105 2 0 0 8 2020–21(loan) → Salford Red Devils 32 1 0 0 4 Total 176 4 0 0 16
Source: [1] [2] As of 17 June 2021

Sebastine Ikahihifo (born 27 January 1991) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop and loose forward for the Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Super League.

He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.

Background

Ikahihifo was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is of Tongan descent. ^[3]

He played his junior rugby league for the Mangere East Hawks.^{[ citation needed ]}

Playing career

Early career

Ikahihifo playing for the Warriors in 2009

He signed for the New Zealand Warriors in 2010 and played 36 games in the Toyota Cup, being part of the 2010 and 2011 grand final victories. In 2012, Ikahihifo played for the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.

2012

In round 21 of the 2012 NRL season, Ikahihifo made his first grade début for the New Zealand Warriors against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles playing off the interchange bench in the Warriors' 24–22 loss at NIB Stadium in Perth. ^[4] Ikahihifo played in 4 matches for the Warriors in the 2012 NRL season.

2013

Ikahihifo playing for the Auckland Vulcans in 2013

Ikahihifo finished the 2013 NRL season with him playing in 8 matches for the Warriors.

2014

In February 2014, Ikahihifo was selected in the Warriors' inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad. ^[5] In June 2014, Ikahihifo had his contract extended to the end of the 2015 season. ^[6] Ikahihifo finished off the Warriors' 2014 NRL season with him playing in 18 matches.

2015

On 16 January, Ikahihifo was named in the Warriors' 2015 NRL Auckland Nines wider training squad but did not make the final squad. ^{[7] [8]} In Round 5 against the Melbourne Storm, he scored his first NRL career try in the Warriors' 30–14 loss at AAMI Park. ^[9] He finished off the season having played in 9 matches and scoring a try. ^[10] On 23 September, he signed a two-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2016. ^{[11] [12]}

2016

On 29 January, Ikahihifo was named in St. George Illawarra's 2016 Auckland Nines squad. ^[13] He was released from his St. George contract without making an appearance for the club in order to join the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League as a mid-season transfer. ^[14]

2017

In 2017, Ikahihifo was named in the Super League Dream Team. ^[15]

2018

He made a total of 20 appearances for Huddersfield in all competitions as the club missed the finals series finishing 5th. ^[16]

2019

He made a total of 18 appearances in the 2019 season as Huddersfield finished a disappointing 10th. ^[17]

2020

He joined Salford on loan in the 2020 season. He later played for Salford in their 2020 Challenge Cup Final defeat against Leeds. ^[18]

2021

On 13 November 2020, the club website reported that they would extend the loan period to cover the 2021 season. ^[19]

2022

He played a total of 13 matches for Huddersfield in the 2022 Super League season as Huddersfield reached the playoffs. He played in Huddersfield's shock 28–0 loss to Salford in the elimination playoff. ^[20]

2023

He played 21 matches with Huddersfield in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished ninth on the table and missed the playoffs. ^[21]

References

1. loverugbyleague
2. "Sebastine Ikahihifo - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
3. "Tonga name 58-man squad for Cook Islands qualifier". theroar.com.au. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
4. "Manly Sea Eagles stage remarkable comeback to break Warriors' hearts at Patersons Stadium in Perth". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
5. "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
6. "Warriors snare Ikahihifo for 2015". NRL.com. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
7. "WARRIORS NAME 2015 NINES SQUAD". Rugby League Week. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
8. "Warriors Cull Back Nines Squad". Rugby League Week. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
9. "Storm blow out Warriors 30 14 at AAMI Park | Sport". 3 News. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
10. "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
11. "Dragons Sign Warrior Ikahihifo". Rugby League Week. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
12. "St George Illawarra Dragons Sign Warriors Sebastine Ikahihifo | Triple M NRL". Triplem.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
13. Published by Rocco Luca (29 January 2016). "Dragons name 2016 Nines squad". Rugby League Week. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
14. "Sebastine Ikahihifo: Huddersfield Giants sign St George Illawarra Dragons forward - BBC Sport". Bbc.co.uk. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
15. "Super League Dream Team 2017: Castleford dominate selection". 25 September 2017.
16. "Season Review Huddersfield Giants". www.rugby-league.com.
17. "Will They Arise Again?! Huddersfield Giants 2019 Season Review". www.seriousaboutrl.com. 14 October 2019.
18. "Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal". BBC Sport.
19. "Sebastine Ikahihifo to return in 2021". www.salfordreddevils.net. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
20. "Super League: Salford Red Devils into semi-finals after beating Huddersfield Giants 28–0". www.skysports.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
21. "Ian Watson explains why Huddersfield Giants underperformed in Super League 2023". www.totalrl.com. 29 September 2023.

External links

• Huddersfield Giants profile
• St. George Illawarra Dragons profile
• SL profile