![]() Tuiaki in 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Auckland, New Zealand | 2 May 1982|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 105 kg (16 st 7 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Taniela Tuiaki (born 2 May 1982) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played on the wing for the Wests Tigers in the NRL. [2] [3]
Tuiaki was born in Auckland, New Zealand.
Tuiaki played junior football with North Curl Curl. He made his NRL debut after switching from Rugby Union, [4] playing on the wing for the Wests Tigers against the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium in round 11 of the 2006 season. He scored two tries on debut, and was a regular on the wing for the next three and a half years.
Playing in every club game for 2007, Tuiaki scored 6 tries in the last 7 weeks. In the second half of the season, he spent a three-week stint in the second row. He managed 20 games in 2008, scoring his first treble against the Warriors at Leichhardt Oval on 29 June.
In round 23 of the 2009 season, Tuiaki scored three tries, taking him to the top of the try-scoring table for the season with a total of 21. [5] A broken ankle in round 24 while playing against the Parramatta Eels sidelined Tuiaki for the remainder of the season. [6] At the time he was leading or well-ranked in many NRL stats, including line-breaks and tackle busts. [7]
In 2009, Tuiaki was named winger of the year in the Dally M awards [8] and the Big League team of the year. [9] He also set the record for most tries scored in a season by a Wests Tigers player.
Still suffering from the injury suffered at the end of 2009, Tuiaki failed to make any appearances in the 2010 season. There were some doubts whether Tuiaki would ever make a full recovery, and Wests Tigers signed him to an incentive-based contract for 2011, with bonuses for playing in set number of games. [10]
Despite undergoing three operations, the ankle had still not gained full strength when Tuiaki announced his retirement before the start of the 2011 season, saying, "It's a real disappointment. I can't keep running, even after all these surgeries – it's not getting better." [11]
Tuiaki represented Tonga in two international matches against England in 2006, scoring a try in each game. [12] [13]
In October 2007 Tuiaki was cleared to play for New Zealand against Australia in the 2007 Centenary Test. [14] He went on to play in the three match series loss to the Great Britain Lions in England in October–November 2007, scoring a try in the final game. [15]
He was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. [16]
Tuiaki was named in the Tonga squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. [17] Although he was not selected for the final New Zealand squad, Tuiaki was not allowed to play for Tonga as the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) deemed him ineligible. Tonga appealed the decision but the NSW Supreme Court declined to grant an injunction which would enable Tuiaki and Fuifui Moimoi to play in Tonga's opening match. [18]
Benji Marshall is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or halfback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL and for New Zealand at international level.
Matthew Utai is a professional rugby league footballer who last played as a winger for the Auburn Warriors in the Ron Massey Cup. A New Zealand and Samoa international representative, he previously played for the Wests Tigers and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL premiership.
Fuifui Moimoi is a rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Rochdale Hornets in Betfred League 1.
Dene Halatau is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who previously played for the Wests Tigers and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. Halatau was part of the Wests Tigers team that won the 2005 NRL Premiership. Halatau is New Zealand national representative who was part of their 2008 Rugby League World Cup winning squad.
Pat Richards is a former professional rugby league footballer. An Ireland international winger, he played in the National Rugby League for Sydney clubs the Parramatta Eels and the Wests Tigers, with whom he won the 2005 NRL Premiership, and the Wigan Warriors and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League, winning the 2010 and 2013 Super League Grand Finals with the former. While in Super League, Richards won the Man of Steel award in 2010 and is the highest overseas points-scorer in the competition's history.
Toshio Laiseni is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who played as fullback or winger.
Siokatame Gary Tupou also known as Tame Tupou and Gary Tupou is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, usually as a wing, but also as a second-row. He first played in the National Rugby League for Australian club, the Brisbane Broncos, and then in the Super League for English club, the Bradford Bulls.
Robert Peter Farah is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international, Lebanese international and captain of New South Wales Blues team, he has played the majority of his professional career with the Wests Tigers, with whom he won the 2005 NRL Premiership. Between 2006 and 2012, Farah played for City in six City vs Country representative games, captaining the team from 2009 onwards. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs during the 2017 and 2018 National Rugby League seasons.
Adam Ngawati Blair is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop, second-row forward and lock in the NRL, and the New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori international teams.
Brett White is a former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Canberra Raiders and the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. Both an Ireland and Australian international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative prop forward, he played the majority of his career at the Storm, before signing with the Canberra Raiders from 2011.
Wade McKinnon is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. His position of preference was as a fullback.
Jordan Rapana is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL. He has played for the New Zealand Māori, New Zealand and the Cook Islands at international level.
Leeson Ah Mau is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, and played for Samoa and New Zealand at international level.
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams of ten nations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France, Scotland, Ireland, Samoa, and Tonga.
Joseph Leilua is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Wests Tigers in the NRL.
Glen Fisiiahi is a rugby league and rugby union footballer of Tongan 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.
Sam Kasiano is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Catalans Dragons in Super League. He is both a New Zealand and Samoan international.
Mahe Fonua is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for Hull F.C. in the Betfred Super League.
Sosaia Feki, also known by the nickname of "The Factor" is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays on the wing for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.
Tuimoala Lolohea is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off for the Salford Red Devils in the Betfred Super League. He has played for both New Zealand and Tonga at international level.