Jerome Ropati
Encyclopedia
Jerome Ropati is a professional rugby league
footballer for the New Zealand Warriors
of the National Rugby League
. Ropati was a member of the World Cup
-winning New Zealand team in 2008. His position of choice is at Five-Eighth but can also play Fullback and Centre.
, a school noted for its rugby league teams. His junior club was the Marist Saints
and he also played for the Marist Richmond Brothers
in the Bartercard Cup
. It was his 2003 season in the Bartercard Cup that shot him to prominence, as he enjoyed a stellar season and led the club to the grand final. Ironically he missed the grand final, which the Brothers lost, because he was making his NRL
debut for the Warriors
.
He is no relation to the famous Ropati
rugby league family.
debut for the Warriors in Round 25 of the 2003 season against the Sydney Roosters
. Since then he has played games at Fullback, Wing and Centre, as well as his preferred position of Five Eighth. When not selected for the first grade side he has represented the Auckland Lions
in both the Bartercard Cup
and NSWRL Premier League
. He was one of four players who played in every game for the Warriors in 2007. Currently he is viewed as a centre option and has a strong partnership with winger Manu Vatuvei
.
In 2009 he extended his Warriors career until to 2012 season, meaning that he will spend over ten years of his career at the Warriors. His 2011 season was ruined by injury as he tore his ACL in Round 3. He therefore had to watch his side play in the 2011 NRL grand final
from the sideline.
squad which played two games against touring Australian sides.
He made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2005 against Australia and was involved in the 2006 Tri Nations
.
He was a member of the 2008 World Cup winning Kiwis team, that defeated Australia in the Final. He scored a try in the World Cup Final.
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 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...
of 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...
. Ropati was a member of the World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
-winning New Zealand team in 2008. His position of choice is at Five-Eighth but can also play Fullback and Centre.
Early years
Ropati is of Samoan descent and was educated at St Paul's CollegeSt. Paul's College, Auckland
St Paul's College is a college for year 7 to 13 boys and offers a Catholic education to its students. It is located in the central Auckland suburb of Ponsonby. The school originates from 1903 when the Marist Brothers opened Sacred Heart College, Auckland on the site...
, a school noted for its rugby league teams. His junior club was the Marist Saints
Marist Saints
The Marist Saints is a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. They regularly feature in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
and he also played for the Marist Richmond Brothers
Marist Richmond Brothers
The Marist Richmond Brothers were a New Zealand rugby league franchise that played in the Bartercard Cup. They were a joint venture between two Auckland Rugby League clubs, the Richmond Bulldogs and the Marist Saints. In 2005 the competition was reorganised and the club, along with the Mt Albert...
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...
. It was his 2003 season in the Bartercard Cup that shot him to prominence, as he enjoyed a stellar season and led the club to the grand final. Ironically he missed the grand final, which the Brothers lost, because he was making his NRL
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 for the 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...
.
He is no relation to the famous Ropati
Tea Ropati
Tea Faa'tea Ropati is a former rugby league player who represented New Zealand and Western Samoa...
rugby league family.
Warriors
He made his first gradeNational 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 for the Warriors in Round 25 of the 2003 season against 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...
. Since then he has played games at Fullback, Wing and Centre, as well as his preferred position of Five Eighth. When not selected for the first grade side he has represented the Auckland Lions
Auckland Lions
The Auckland Lions were a rugby league club that had teams in both the New Zealand Bartercard Cup and the NSWRL Premier League. They were mostly based around the Mt Albert Lions Rugby League club...
in both 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...
and 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...
. He was one of four players who played in every game for the Warriors in 2007. Currently he is viewed as a centre option and has a strong partnership with winger Manu Vatuvei
Manu Vatuvei
Manu Vatuvei is a New Zealand rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. His position of choice is on the wing. He is the cousin of Japanese Rugby Union player Ruatangi Vatuvei. Vatuvei was a member of the New Zealand Kiwis squad that won the 2008...
.
In 2009 he extended his Warriors career until to 2012 season, meaning that he will spend over ten years of his career at the Warriors. His 2011 season was ruined by injury as he tore his ACL in Round 3. He therefore had to watch his side play in the 2011 NRL grand final
2011 NRL Grand Final
The 2011 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October, and it was the first time the two sides have met in a...
from the sideline.
International
In 2002 Ropati was named captain of 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...
squad which played two games against touring Australian sides.
He made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2005 against Australia and was involved in the 2006 Tri Nations
2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...
.
He was a member of the 2008 World Cup winning Kiwis team, that defeated Australia in the Final. He scored a try in the World Cup Final.