Misi Taulapapa
Encyclopedia
Misi Taulapapa is a New Zealand
rugby league
player who currently plays for the Sheffield Eagles
in the Co-operative Rugby League competition. He has previously played professionally in Australia and England. Taulapapa's position of choice is on the wing
.
for the Waitemata Football club, in the Auckland Rugby Union competition. He played with Waitemata when they won the Gallagher Shield in 2003. Taulapapa also represented the Kelston Boys High School's First XV in both regional and national tournaments.
in 2004. Taulapapa was selected to play in the Bartercard Cup
competition for the Marist Richmond Brothers
from where he was picked up by the New Zealand Warriors
.
Taulapapa played in six matches for the New Zealand Warriors
in 2006 before he was released mid-season for turning up to a training session intoxicated.
After being released by the Warriors halfway through the 2006 season he moved to Queensland to finish the season at the Central Comets
.
in 2007. Here he played as a solid winger and was a fringe NRL player.
Taulapapa created some controversy in a 30 June 2008 NRL match against the Canberra Raiders
, performing an alleged "reverse prowler" (a blind-side hit on a player without the ball) on Canberra player Alan Tongue
when in a group tackle. However, he escaped suspension for this.
He scored a hat trick in the qualifying finals game against the Canberra Raiders
.
for the 2010 season. However the club had financial difficulties which voided Taulapapa's contract. He eventually signed with the Sheffield Eagles. After starting on the wing, he moved to full back after a long term injury ruled out the player in that position. He also took on the captaincy and by the end of the season was one of the stand out players for the Eagles, scoring a hat trick in a win over Leigh Centurions
. two weeks later, against the same opponents in the play-offs, he suffered a broken leg that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2010 season.
, he is contracted until 2012
.
In 2009 he was named as part of the Samoan
side for the Pacific Cup
.
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 Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
in the Co-operative Rugby League competition. He has previously played professionally in Australia and England. Taulapapa's position of choice is on the wing
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
.
Early years
Taulapapa originally played rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for the Waitemata Football club, in the Auckland Rugby Union competition. He played with Waitemata when they won the Gallagher Shield in 2003. Taulapapa also represented the Kelston Boys High School's First XV in both regional and national tournaments.
Playing career
Taulapapa switched to rugby leagueRugby 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...
in 2004. Taulapapa was selected to play 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...
competition 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...
from where he was picked up by 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...
.
Taulapapa played in six matches 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 2006 before he was released mid-season for turning up to a training session intoxicated.
After being released by the Warriors halfway through the 2006 season he moved to Queensland to finish the season at the Central Comets
Central Comets
Central Queensland Capras are an semi-professional rugby league football club based in Rockhampton, Queensland. They currently play in the Queensland Cup, the premier rugby league competition in Queensland....
.
Cronulla Sharks
Taulapapa signed with the Cronulla SharksCronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
in 2007. Here he played as a solid winger and was a fringe NRL player.
Taulapapa created some controversy in a 30 June 2008 NRL match against the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, performing an alleged "reverse prowler" (a blind-side hit on a player without the ball) on Canberra player Alan Tongue
Alan Tongue
Alan Tongue in is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A Country New South Wales representative forward, he captained of the Canberra Raiders for several seasons in the National Rugby League competition.-Early years:While attending Farrer Memorial Agricultural...
when in a group tackle. However, he escaped suspension for this.
He scored a hat trick in the qualifying finals game against the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
.
Move to England
Taulapapa originally signed with the Gateshead ThunderGateshead Thunder
Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...
for the 2010 season. However the club had financial difficulties which voided Taulapapa's contract. He eventually signed with the Sheffield Eagles. After starting on the wing, he moved to full back after a long term injury ruled out the player in that position. He also took on the captaincy and by the end of the season was one of the stand out players for the Eagles, scoring a hat trick in a win over 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...
. two weeks later, against the same opponents in the play-offs, he suffered a broken leg that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2010 season.
Later years
In August 2011 Taulapapa signed to Engage Super League club Hull Kingston RoversHull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
, he is contracted until 2012
Representative career
Taulapapa was a part of the Samoa squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup2008 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...
.
In 2009 he was named as part of the Samoan
Samoa 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...
side for the 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...
.