Tawera Nikau
Encyclopedia
Tawera Nuieia Nikau is a former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international
representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm
's victory in the 1999 NRL season Grand Final.
. He began his career playing rugby league for the Otara Scorpions and rugby union
for the East Tamaki Rugby Union club in Auckland
before his family moved to the Waikato
.
representative, Nikau played his early club football for the Otahuhu Leopards
, York Wasps
, Sheffield
and Castleford Tigers
. He spent the 1988 season with the Canterbury Bulldogs
on the New Zealand Rugby League
's "Rookie Scheme". Having already spent several seasons playing in England, during which time he earned representative honours for his country, from 1996 to 1999, Nikau played in the Australian NRL, spending the 1996-1997 with the Cronulla Sharks
, losing the 1997 Super League Grand Final to the Broncos in Brisbane. He joined the Melbourne Storm
team in its 1998 inaugural year, helping the team reach a third place finish in the minor premiership. Melbourne also did well in 1999, coming from behind in the NRL Grand Final to defeat the St. George-Illawarra Dragons. Nikau's performance has been credited with sparking Melbourne's second-half revival. From 1999 to 2001, Nikau was under contract with Super League
franchise, the Warrington Wolves
.
As a player he was known for his high energy, fearless charges and his sometimes terrifying facial expressions while playing. In defense he was often seen to be "everywhere"; making a tackle on one side of the field and the following the ball to complete a tackle on the other.
Nikau suffered a personal tragedy on 5 April 2001, when his wife Letitia committed suicide. After taking some time from rugby to spend with his children in New Zealand, Nikau completed the season. He won in a charity boxing match in June 2002 against Samoan Pita Fatialofa, supporting the Yellow Ribbon Fight for Life to prevent youth suicide.
that resulted in him refusing to play in the same side as Blackmore.
Nikau toured with the New Zealand Māori side
in 1996 and 1998 and played at the 1986 Pacific Cup
.
Nikau attended the 2000 World Cup
as captain of the Aotearoa Māori side
.
In 2003 Nikau had a motorcycle accident in which he lost his right leg. Nevertheless, he participated in the 2004 Yellow Ribbon Fight for Life, defeating Tea Ropati
. In that same year, his athletic career to date and the details of the tragedies he had survived were described in the biography Standing Tall.
In 2004 Nikau was the inaugural coach of the Waicoa Bay Stallions
in the Bartercard Cup
. In 2004 and 2005 he coached the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
.
In November 2006, Tawera was appointed New Zealand and Islander Liaison Officer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
.
Nikau currently works for Māori Television
and previously provided NRL match commentary for Sky Sports
. Recently he has been added as a consultant to the board of directors of the newly formed USARL. He is the chief executive of Aotearoa Construction and owner and managing director of Team One Corporate Development, a training company.
In 2010 Nikau was appointed a New Zealand Kiwis selector for two years. Nikau also completed the New York City Marathon
with Frank Bunce
.
Nikau is also a Tigers
Hall Of Fame Inductee.
He won a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for emerging leaders in 2011.
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 of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international
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...
representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
's victory in the 1999 NRL season Grand Final.
Early years
Nikau was born in Huntly, New ZealandHuntly, New Zealand
Huntly is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 1, 93 kilometres south of Auckland and 35 kilometres north of Hamilton. It is situated on the North Island Main Trunk Railway and straddles the Waikato River.Huntly was called Rahui Pokeka when...
. He began his career playing rugby league for the Otara Scorpions and rugby union
Rugby 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 East Tamaki Rugby Union club in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
before his family moved to the Waikato
Waikato District
Waikato District is a territorial authority of New Zealand, in the northern part of Waikato Region, North Island. Waikato District is administered by the Waikato District Council, with headquarters in Ngaruawahia....
.
Playing career
A Waikato and AucklandAuckland 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...
representative, Nikau played his early club football for the Otahuhu Leopards
Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
, York Wasps
York City Knights
York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
, Sheffield
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....
and 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'...
. He spent the 1988 season with the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
on the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
's "Rookie Scheme". Having already spent several seasons playing in England, during which time he earned representative honours for his country, from 1996 to 1999, Nikau played in the Australian NRL, spending the 1996-1997 with the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
, losing the 1997 Super League Grand Final to the Broncos in Brisbane. He joined the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
team in its 1998 inaugural year, helping the team reach a third place finish in the minor premiership. Melbourne also did well in 1999, coming from behind in the NRL Grand Final to defeat the St. George-Illawarra Dragons. Nikau's performance has been credited with sparking Melbourne's second-half revival. From 1999 to 2001, Nikau was under contract with Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
franchise, 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....
.
As a player he was known for his high energy, fearless charges and his sometimes terrifying facial expressions while playing. In defense he was often seen to be "everywhere"; making a tackle on one side of the field and the following the ball to complete a tackle on the other.
Nikau suffered a personal tragedy on 5 April 2001, when his wife Letitia committed suicide. After taking some time from rugby to spend with his children in New Zealand, Nikau completed the season. He won in a charity boxing match in June 2002 against Samoan Pita Fatialofa, supporting the Yellow Ribbon Fight for Life to prevent youth suicide.
Representative career
Between 1989 and 1997 Nikau was a New Zealand Kiwis representative, although his international career was hindered by a dispute with Richie BlackmoreRichie Blackmore (rugby league)
James Richard "Richie" Blackmore is a rugby league coach and former professional footballer who represented his country. His position of preference was in the centres. He is currently the head coach of the Auckland Vulcans....
that resulted in him refusing to play in the same side as Blackmore.
Nikau toured with the New Zealand Māori side
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...
in 1996 and 1998 and played at the 1986 Pacific Cup
1986 Pacific Cup
-Pool B:-Play offs:-Final:...
.
Nikau attended the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
as captain of the Aotearoa Māori side
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...
.
Later years
Tea Ropati
Tea Faa'tea Ropati is a former rugby league player who represented New Zealand and Western Samoa...
. In that same year, his athletic career to date and the details of the tragedies he had survived were described in the biography Standing Tall.
In 2004 Nikau was the inaugural coach of the Waicoa Bay Stallions
Waicoa Bay Stallions
The Waicoa Bay Stallions are a rugby league team that represent the Upper Central Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. This is a vast area that includes Hamilton, Rotorua and Taupo...
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...
. In 2004 and 2005 he coached the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
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...
.
In November 2006, Tawera was appointed New Zealand and Islander Liaison Officer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
.
Nikau currently works for Māori Television
Maori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
and previously provided NRL match commentary for Sky Sports
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
. Recently he has been added as a consultant to the board of directors of the newly formed USARL. He is the chief executive of Aotearoa Construction and owner and managing director of Team One Corporate Development, a training company.
In 2010 Nikau was appointed a New Zealand Kiwis selector for two years. Nikau also completed the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
with Frank Bunce
Frank Bunce
Frank Eneri Bunce is a retired New Zealand rugby union player and current coach. He played international rugby for both Western Samoa and New Zealand in the 1990s, appearing in the 1991 and 1995 World Cups...
.
Honours
In 2008 Nikau was inducted as one of the NZRL Legends of League.Nikau is also a 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'...
Hall Of Fame Inductee.
He won a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for emerging leaders in 2011.
Further reading
- Becht, Richard (2004). Standing Tall: the Tawera Nikau Story. Auckland: HarperCollins. ISBN 1869505336.