Aaron Heremaia
Encyclopedia
Aaron Aspin Heremaia is a New Zealand
rugby league
player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors
in the National Rugby League
. His position of preference is at hooker or halfback.
and a Manurewa Marlins
junior, Heremaia started his career in 2001 playing for the Hibiscus Coast Raiders
in the Bartercard Cup
whilst on a New Zealand Warriors
development contract. Here he played under successful coaches Tony Benson
and Brian McClennan
. Heremaia however failed to be picked up by the Warriors. In 2004 Heremaia moved to Australia to play in the NSWRL Premier League
, where he represented the Western Suburbs Magpies
and North Sydney Bears
in successive years.
In 2006 he moved to England to play for the Leigh Centurions
in the National League One, again linking up with Tony Benson. That year Heremaia was part of the team that won the Northern Rail Cup. He has also played for the Widnes Vikings
in 2007 and Halifax
in 2008.
Returning to New Zealand and the Manurewa Marlins
, Heremaia was able to make the Auckland Vulcans
team for 2008, playing in the NSW Cup. From here he was able to impress the New Zealand Warriors
and was signed to a contract for the 2009 season. He made his first grade
debut in Round Twelve against the Wests Tigers
. He has be re-signed by the Warriors until the end of the 2011 season. Heremaia will join Hull F.C. in 2012 on a two year deal with an option for a third.
in 2001. He made his debut for the New Zealand Māori
side in 2002. He would regularly appear for the side while based in New Zealand and captained New Zealand Māori on several occasions.
In 2010 he made his debut for New Zealand in the ANZAC Test
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. His position of preference is at hooker or halfback.
Playing career
Educated at Tangaroa CollegeTangaroa college
Tangaroa College is a secondary school catering for years 9-13 in Otara, Manukau, New Zealand....
and a Manurewa Marlins
Manurewa Marlins
The Manurewa Marlins are a rugby league club based in Manurewa, New Zealand. The Marlins compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. Between 2000 and 2003 they competed in the national Bartercard Cup competition.-Notable players:...
junior, Heremaia started his career in 2001 playing for the Hibiscus Coast Raiders
Hibiscus Coast Raiders
The Hibiscus Coast Raiders are a rugby league club based on the Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand. They compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition and between 2000 and 2005 were also involved in the Bartercard Cup competition.-History:...
in the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
whilst on a New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
development contract. Here he played under successful coaches Tony Benson
Tony Benson
Tony Benson is a rugby league coach from New Zealand. Since the 2008-2009 season he has been the head coach of Oldham Roughyeds in the British Rugby League National Championship 1.-New Zealand:...
and Brian McClennan
Brian McClennan
Brian "Bluey" McClennan is the head coach for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League . He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team and then England's Leeds Rhinos club...
. Heremaia however failed to be picked up by the Warriors. In 2004 Heremaia moved to Australia to play in the NSWRL Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
, where he represented the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
and North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
in successive years.
In 2006 he moved to England to play for the Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
in the National League One, again linking up with Tony Benson. That year Heremaia was part of the team that won the Northern Rail Cup. He has also played for the Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in 2007 and Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
in 2008.
Returning to New Zealand and the Manurewa Marlins
Manurewa Marlins
The Manurewa Marlins are a rugby league club based in Manurewa, New Zealand. The Marlins compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. Between 2000 and 2003 they competed in the national Bartercard Cup competition.-Notable players:...
, Heremaia was able to make the Auckland Vulcans
Auckland Vulcans
The Auckland Vulcans are an Auckland based rugby league club that participates in the New South Wales Cup. They are administered by the Rugby League Development Foundation. The team is selected from the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Competition and also uses Warriors squad members not...
team for 2008, playing in the NSW Cup. From here he was able to impress the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
and was signed to a contract for the 2009 season. He made his first grade
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
debut in Round Twelve against the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
. He has be re-signed by the Warriors until the end of the 2011 season. Heremaia will join Hull F.C. in 2012 on a two year deal with an option for a third.
Representative career
Heremaia played for the Junior KiwisJunior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 2001. He made his debut for the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
side in 2002. He would regularly appear for the side while based in New Zealand and captained New Zealand Māori on several occasions.
In 2010 he made his debut for New Zealand in the ANZAC Test
ANZAC Test
The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match . The test match is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.-Origins:Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908...
.