Tesi Niu
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Fanitesi Niu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 August 2001 (age 22)[1] Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 94 kg (14 st 11 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing, Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] As of 19 April 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fanitesi Niu (born 11 August 2001) is an Australian-born Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL as a fullback.
Background[edit]
Niu was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was educated at Marsden State High School and played his junior rugby league for the Forest Lake Magpies.[3] He is a first cousin of David Fifita.
Niu also represented the 2018 Australian Schoolboys.
Playing career[edit]
2019[edit]
Niu represented Tonga in 2019 Great Britain Lions tour making his international debut. He then played for Tonga 9s in the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[4]
Brisbane Broncos (2020-2022)[edit]
On 4 June 2020, Niu made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos, coming off the interchange bench in a record 59-0 home defeat against the Sydney Roosters. On 27 June 2020, he made his starting debut at fullback against the Gold Coast Titans.
Niu made a total of six appearances for Brisbane in the 2020 NRL season after suffering a season-ending wrist injury in round 10, as the club finished last on the table and claimed its first-ever wooden spoon.[5]
In round 16 of the 2021 NRL season, Niu scored two tries in a 26-18 victory over Cronulla-Sutherland.[6]
Niu played a total of ten games for Brisbane in the 2022 NRL season scoring three tries as the club finished 9th on the table and missed out on the finals.[7] In the third group game at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Niu scored a hat-trick for Tonga in their 92-10 victory over the Cook Islands at the Riverside Stadium.[8]
Dolphins (2023-present)[edit]
Niu joined the newly-licensed Dolphins after he was granted an early release by Brisbane.[9][10][11] In round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, Niu made his club debut for the Dolphins in their inaugural game in the national competition, defeating the Sydney Roosters 28-18 at Suncorp Stadium. In round 3 of the 2023 NRL season, he became the first player in the Dolphins NRL history to score a hat-trick when they defeated the Newcastle Knights 36-20.[12] In total, Niu played seventeen games and scored five tries for the Dolphins in 2023. His contract was extended until the end of 2024.[13] In round 7 of the 2024 NRL season, Niu scored two tries in the Dolphins 44-16 victory over Parramatta.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ Ray, Jamie-Lee (31 May 2019). "Tesi Niu draws Origin inspiration from Fifita". QRL. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ "TESI NIU – THRILLING YOUNG TALENT – Souths".
- ^ "Thrills, spills and huge upsets: Every World Nines score and report". Fox Sports. 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Brisbane get wooden spoon as North Queensland finish on a high". www.nrl.com. 24 September 2020.
- ^ "South Sydney defeats Wests Tigers 38-22, Brisbane Broncos score 26-18 victory over Cronulla". www.abc.net.au. 4 July 2021.
- ^ "NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos season review". www.sportingnews.com. 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Tonga 92-10 Cook Islands: Tonga close Rugby League World Cup group in style". BBC Sport. 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Tesi Niu granted early release from Broncos, joins Dolphins for 2023". www.sportingnews.com. 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Niu departs Broncos". Brisbane Broncos. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Niu kid on the block for Dolphins NRL debut". The Dolphins. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Sydney Roosters triumph over Rabbitohs 20-18 in tense NRL battle, Dolphins stay unbeaten with 36-20 win over Newcastle Knights". ABC News. 17 March 2023.
- ^ "Niu earns contract extension". 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Dolphins stun with nine-try onslaught to leave Eels shell-shocked in 'demoralising loss'". www.foxsports.com.au.
External links[edit]
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- 2001 births
- Living people
- Australian rugby league players
- Australian sportspeople of Tongan descent
- Brisbane Broncos players
- Dolphins (NRL) players
- Rugby league centres
- Rugby league fullbacks
- Rugby league players from Brisbane
- Rugby league wingers
- Tonga national rugby league team players
- Tongan rugby league players
- Tongan sportspeople stubs
- Oceanian rugby league biography stubs