Brendon Tuuta
Encyclopedia
Brendon Ephia Tuuta is a New Zealand
former rugby league
player.
Tuuta played a variety of positions including Stand Off, Halfback, Second Row and Lock. He was known as "the baby-faced assassin" and had a reputation as a brawler. He is related to current Warrior
Lewis Brown
.
, Tuuta played much of his youth league for Canterbury
.
in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
between 1989 and 1990.
He then moved to the Featherstone Rovers
in England, playing in the second division. In 1993 he was suspended for six matches for breaking Nigel Heslop
's jaw with a punch. He played in Featherstone Rovers
' 20-16 victory over Workington Town
in the 1992–93 Division Two Premiership final at Old Trafford
, Manchester
on 19 May 1993.
During the 1995 Australian season he returned to play for the Western Reds, before signing for the Castleford Tigers
for the English 1995/96 season.
Tuuta joined the Warrington Wolves
for the 1998 season but struggled with knee problems. Despite deciding to retire after 1998 he reconsidered and returned to the Featherstone Rovers for one more season.
representative and famously returned to New Zealand for the 1993 provincial grand final where Canterbury upset Auckland
, earning the man of the match award that day.
Tuuta withdrew from the New Zealand Māori
squad for the 1986 Pacific Cup
.
He was a New Zealand
international between 1989 and 1995 and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
. During his debut in 1989 he was involved in an incident where it was claimed he kneed Paul Vautin
. At the end of the 1989 season he toured England with the Kiwis and played in Featherstone for the first time.
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...
former 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.
Tuuta played a variety of positions including Stand Off, Halfback, Second Row and Lock. He was known as "the baby-faced assassin" and had a reputation as a brawler. He is related to current Warrior
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...
Lewis Brown
Lewis Brown (rugby league)
Lewis Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His position of preference is in the second row, where he plays for the Warriors whilst occasionally playing in the centres...
.
Early years
Originally from the Chatham IslandsChatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
, Tuuta played much of his youth league for Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
.
Playing career
Tuuta first played professionally when he played for the Western Suburbs MagpiesWestern 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...
in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
between 1989 and 1990.
He then moved to the Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
in England, playing in the second division. In 1993 he was suspended for six matches for breaking Nigel Heslop
Nigel Heslop
Nigel Heslop was an international rugby union player, representing England on ten occasions between 1990-1992. Heslop played in two of the matches of the 1991 Rugby World Cup, including a very physical encounter with France. He later joined rugby league with Oldham Roughyeds.-References:...
's jaw with a punch. He played in Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
' 20-16 victory over Workington Town
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
in the 1992–93 Division Two Premiership final at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
on 19 May 1993.
During the 1995 Australian season he returned to play for the Western Reds, before signing for the Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
for the English 1995/96 season.
Tuuta joined the Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
for the 1998 season but struggled with knee problems. Despite deciding to retire after 1998 he reconsidered and returned to the Featherstone Rovers for one more season.
Representative career
Tuuta was a CanterburyCanterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
representative and famously returned to New Zealand for the 1993 provincial grand final where Canterbury upset Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
, earning the man of the match award that day.
Tuuta withdrew from 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...
squad for the 1986 Pacific Cup
1986 Pacific Cup
-Pool B:-Play offs:-Final:...
.
He was a New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
international between 1989 and 1995 and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
. During his debut in 1989 he was involved in an incident where it was claimed he kneed Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches...
. At the end of the 1989 season he toured England with the Kiwis and played in Featherstone for the first time.