Zeb Taia
Encyclopedia
John Zebelon "Zeb" Taia is a professional rugby league
player for the Newcastle Knights
who has represented New Zealand
and the Cook Islands
. Taia plays as a second-row, but can also play lock.
. Taia first played with junior club Enfield Federals.
In the first week of the Finals Series of 2011, Taia made a comeback from a major neck injury which he suffered four rounds into the season.
.
On the 16 October Taia represented the Cook Islands
against a NSW Country representative side. In the match Taia captained the side.
to Auburn, New South Wales
when he was young, and was educated at Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown
.
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 for the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
who has represented 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...
and 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...
. Taia plays as a second-row, but can also play lock.
Playing career
Taia previously played for the Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
. Taia first played with junior club Enfield Federals.
In the first week of the Finals Series of 2011, Taia made a comeback from a major neck injury which he suffered four rounds into the season.
Representative career
In 2010 he made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in the ANZAC TestANZAC Test
The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match . The test match is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.-Origins:Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908...
.
On the 16 October Taia represented 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...
against a NSW Country representative side. In the match Taia captained the side.
Personal life
Taia is of Cook Islander descent whose parents are from the island of Penrhyn (Tongareva). He moved from New ZealandNew 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...
to Auburn, New South Wales
Auburn, New South Wales
Auburn is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. Auburn is located 19 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Auburn Council.-History:...
when he was young, and was educated at Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown
Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown
Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown is a Roman Catholic, independent secondary, day school for boys, located in Blacktown, a western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
.