Willie Talau

Willie Talau

Personal information
Full name	Viliamu Talau
Born	(1976-01-25)25 January 1976 Apia, Samoa
Playing information
Height	5 ft 11.5 in (182 cm)
Weight	14 st 10 lb (93 kg)
Position	Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1994–96 Taranaki Rockets 1998–03 Canterbury Bulldogs 101 38 0 0 152 2003–08 St Helens 149 65 0 0 260 2009–10 Salford City Reds 25 4 0 0 16 Total 275 107 0 0 428 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–06 New Zealand 13 9 0 0 36 2007–08 Samoa 3 0 0 0 0
Source:

Viliamu"Willie"Talau(born 25 January 1976) is a former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. ASamoaandNew Zealandinternational representativecentre,he played in theNational Rugby League(NRL) for theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs,and in theSuper LeagueforSt Helens,with whom he won the2006 Super LeagueGrand Final and theChallenge Cupon four occasions, and for theSalford City Reds.

Background

Talau was born inApia,Samoa.

Club career

Early years

Talau attendedSpotswood College.Talau played for theTaranaki Rocketsin theLion Red Cup.At 21, his father gave him a one-way ticket to Australia to try his luck playing league. While playing in the metropolitan Cup he was spotted byCanterbury,who signed him to play in theNational Rugby League.In the1994 Lion Red CupTalau played in nine matches, scoring one try. He then played in all 22 matches for the Rockets in the1995 season.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Talau made his debut for Canterbury in round 17 of the1998 NRL seasonagainstSouth Sydney.Talau scored a try in Canterbury's famous 1998 preliminary final victory over arch-rivalsParramatta.Canterbury were down 18-2 with less than ten minutes of the match remaining but won the game in extra-time 32-20. He played in 101National Rugby Leaguegames for the Canterbury club, scoring 38 tries, including one in the1998 NRL Grand Finaldefeat against theBrisbane Broncos.

St Helens

He signed for St. Helens in late 2003. He made his Super League début on 24 August 2003 againstHull F.C.Talau scored two tries in the2004 Challenge CupFinal, and participated in St Helens' 2006 treble, scoring in both the2006 Challenge CupFinal and the2006 Super League Grand Final.Talau scored 11 tries in 29 games during the 2006 season. As 2006 Super League champions, St Helens faced 2006 NRL Premiers the Brisbane Broncos in the2007 World Club Challenge.Talau played at centre in the Saints' 18–14 victory. He played in 2008'sSuper League XIII Grand Finaldefeat by theLeeds Rhinos.

Talau with Samoa at the2008 World Cup

Salford

Talau joined theSuper Leagueside theSalford City Redsfor the start of the 2009 season.He retired from the sport at the end of the 2010 season.

International career

New Zealand

He played for theJunior Kiwisas a youth.

Talau played in 13 games for theNew Zealand national rugby league teamfrom 1999 to 2006,

Talau was selected for theNew Zealand teamto compete in the end of season1999 Rugby League Tri-Nationstournament. In the final againstAustraliahe played at centre in the Kiwis' 22–20 loss.

He was selected in the Kiwis squad for the2000 World Cup,playing in theWorld Cup finaldefeat to the Kangaroos atOld Trafford.

Samoa

In 2007 Talau switched allegiances toSamoa.The following year he represented Samoa in the2008 Rugby League World Cup,playing two matches.

Legacy

In 2008 he was named in theTaranaki Rugby LeagueTeam of the Century.

External links

• Willie Talau St Helens Career Pageat the Saints Heritage Society.
• Willie Talau Bulldogs Profile