Daniel Fepuleai
Encyclopedia
Daniel Fepuleai is a professional rugby league
footballer for the New Jersey Turnpike Titans
in the USA Rugby League
. He previously played with Sydney Roosters
in Australasia
's National Rugby League
, and the St. George Illawarra Dragons. He plays primarily as a hooker. Despite never featuring for the Dragons' first grade team, Fepuleai reached the final of the 2009 Pacific Cup
with the Cook Islands
. He made his NRL debut for Sydney Roosters against the Penrith Panthers in round 5 of the competition in 2010.
heritage and played for Hurstville United as a junior. He won the Arrive Alive Cup for his school Endeavor Sports High School in 2006. He is the cousin of new Dragons youth signing Hayden Fepuleai, who joined the Dragons from Hurstville as well.
(under 20's) team as he could not gain first team football. In 2009, however, after playing for the Dragon's feeder team, Shellharbour Dragons, he was selected to play for the Cook Islands in the 2009 Pacific Cup
. Fepuleai signed with the Sydney Roosters
for the 2010 season and made his first-grade début in football in round five of this particular season, coming off the interchange bench in a 28-6 loss to the Penrith Panthers
.
, in which he scored in a 22-20 win that qualified the Cooks for the tournament proper. He then scored twice and kicked two goals in a 24-22 win over Fiji
in a man-of-the-match performance. His side were defeated in the final, 44-14 by Papua New Guinea
. Additionally, he finished as top points scorer in the tournament with 16. He was recontracted to the Dragons for the 2009 NRL season but is currently out of contract for next season.
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...
footballer for the New Jersey Turnpike Titans
New Jersey Turnpike Titans
-Stadium:The New Jersey Turnpike Titans train at Lincoln Park, Jersey City, New Jersey. They play their home games at Cochran Stadium in Liberty State Park in Jersey City....
in the USA Rugby League
USA Rugby League
The USA Rugby League is a semi-professional rugby league football competition based in the United States. The league was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken with the established American National Rugby League , plus expansion franchises...
. He previously played with Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
's 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...
, and the St. George Illawarra Dragons. He plays primarily as a hooker. Despite never featuring for the Dragons' first grade team, Fepuleai reached the final of the 2009 Pacific Cup
2009 Pacific Cup
-Semifinals:-Third place Playoff:-Final:-Telecast Details:The Pacific Cup will be shown in the UK, Australia, and throughout the Pacific.*In Australia all matches will be broadcast by NRL.com while the Nine Network will show a one hour highlight package each weekend.*In Britain matches will be...
with the Cook Islands
Cook Islands national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:See 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifyingThe Cook Islands played Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji and Tonga qualified, and Samoa earned a second chance in the repecharge round...
. He made his NRL debut for Sydney Roosters against the Penrith Panthers in round 5 of the competition in 2010.
Background
Fepuleai is of Cook IslandCook Island
Cook Island may refer to* Cook Island, South Sandwich Islands, central island in Southern Thule* Cook Island of Kiritimati, Kiribati* Cook Islands, self governing democracy in the Pacific, in free association with New Zealand, of which "Cook Island" is the adjectival demonym* Cook Island Aquatic...
heritage and played for Hurstville United as a junior. He won the Arrive Alive Cup for his school Endeavor Sports High School in 2006. He is the cousin of new Dragons youth signing Hayden Fepuleai, who joined the Dragons from Hurstville as well.
Playing career
Fepuleai signed for the Dragons as an 18-year-old in 2006 but could not force his way into first-grade reckoning. He played for the S. G. Ball Cup team and later the National Youth CompetitionNational Youth Competition
The National Youth Competition is the official development competition for the Australian National Rugby League. It commenced in 2008. The competition consists of teams from the 16 clubs that presently participate in the NRL competition, fielding squads made up of players between the ages of 17...
(under 20's) team as he could not gain first team football. In 2009, however, after playing for the Dragon's feeder team, Shellharbour Dragons, he was selected to play for the Cook Islands in the 2009 Pacific Cup
2009 Pacific Cup
-Semifinals:-Third place Playoff:-Final:-Telecast Details:The Pacific Cup will be shown in the UK, Australia, and throughout the Pacific.*In Australia all matches will be broadcast by NRL.com while the Nine Network will show a one hour highlight package each weekend.*In Britain matches will be...
. Fepuleai signed with the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
for the 2010 season and made his first-grade début in football in round five of this particular season, coming off the interchange bench in a 28-6 loss to the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
.
Representative career
During the Pacific Cup, he played in the victory over SamoaSamoa national rugby league team
-Notable Players & Coaches:* John Ackland * Steve Kaiser Coach 1990 - 1994* Steve Kaiser 1986* Afi Ah Koui 1986* Andrew Ah Koui 1986* George Apelu 1986* Fa'ausu Afoa circa-1995* Wing Afoa 1990 - 1994* Isaak Ah Mau circa-2006...
, in which he scored in a 22-20 win that qualified the Cooks for the tournament proper. He then scored twice and kicked two goals in a 24-22 win over Fiji
Fiji national rugby league team
-Competitions:Fiji have participated in:*Pacific Cup *World Cup *World Sevens *Superleague World Nines *Superleague Oceania Tournament *Pacific Rim Competition -Results:...
in a man-of-the-match performance. His side were defeated in the final, 44-14 by Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
. Additionally, he finished as top points scorer in the tournament with 16. He was recontracted to the Dragons for the 2009 NRL season but is currently out of contract for next season.