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Mahe Fonua

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Mahe Fonua
Personal information
Full nameMahe Pikokivaha Fonua[1]
Born(1992-12-24)24 December 1992(age 31)
Melbourne, Victoria,Australia
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight16 st 7 lb (105 kg)[2]
Playing information
PositionCentre,Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–15 Melbourne Storm 50 24 0 0 96
2016–17 Hull F.C. 58 30 0 0 120
2018–19 Wests Tigers 21 6 0 0 24
2020–21 Hull F.C. 38 16 0 0 64
2022–23 Castleford Tigers 35 6 0 0 24
2023 Doncaster 5 8 0 0 32
Total 207 90 0 0 360
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–17 Tonga 6 3 0 0 12
2022 Combined Nations All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source:[3][4][5]
As of 24 Sept 2023

Mahe Fonua(born 24 December 1992) is aTongainternational[6]rugby leaguefootballer who plays as acentreorwingerforMackay Cuttersin theQueensland Cup.

He has previously played for theMelbourne Stormand theWests Tigersin theNRLandHull FCin two separate spells in theSuper League.

In 2012 he became the first Victorian born and bred player to play for the Melbourne Storm at NRL level.[7]

Early life

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Fonua was born inMelbourne, Victoria, Australia.He was educated atWellington Secondary Collegebefore moving to Canberra and attending Erindale College in the years of 2008 & 2009 and completing year 12. At the end of 2009 Fonua returned to Victoria where he attendedHallam Secondary CollegeIn the following year repeating year 12 to play for the Hallam School rugby league team.

He played his junior football for theSouth Eastern Titansin theMelbourne Rugby League,before being signed by theCanberra Raiders.[8]

In 2006 and 2007, Fonua represented theVictoria Under 15s team,he also represented theVictoria Under 18s team.

In 2008 and 2009, he represented the Australian Capital Territory Under 18s team. He played for the Raiders'SG Ballteam as the Storm did not have an SG Ball team at that time, before returning toMelbourneafter being signed by theMelbourne Storm.

Playing career

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Fonua played for Melbourne'sNYCteam from 2010 to 2012, scoring 32 tries in 45 games.[9]At the end of the 2011 season, Fonua was named atcentrein the 2011NYCTeam of the Year.

2012

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In Round 23 of the2012 NRL season,Fonua made hisNRLdebut for Melbourne against theGold Coast Titanson the wing in Melbourne's 24–16 win atAAMI Park,[10]becoming the first Victorian born and bred player to represent the Storm in first-grade.[11]In Fonua's third game for Melbourne in the Finals 1 week match against theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs,Fonua scored his first NRL try in the 24–10 win at AAMI Park, after previously being denied tries on four occasions by thevideo referee,once in his debut, twice in his second game, and once prior to his try in his third game.[12]Fonua finished off his debut year with 4 matches and one a try. On 2 October, Fonua was named atwingin theJunior Kangaroosteam to face theJunior Kiwis.[13]

2013

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Fonua played in Melbourne's2013 World Club Challengevictory overLeeds.He was selected to play for his parents' country of originTongaon 20 April againstSamoain thePacific Rugby League InternationalatPenrith Stadium.He scored 2 tries in the 36–4 victory. On 10 June, Fonua extended his contract with Melbourne, keeping at the club till the end of the 2015 season.[14][15]In Round 21 against Canberra atCanberra Stadium,Fonua scored a hat-trick of tries in the 68–4 win[16]including a spectacular set up forWill Chambersafter the ball seemed almost certain to go dead, with some commentators comparing it to the famous set up byGreg Inglisduring the centenary test.[17]Fonua was selected in theTonga24 man2013 Rugby League World Cupsquad, playing in 2 of their 3 matches.[18]

2014

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Fonua was selected in Melbourne's inaugural2014 NRL Auckland Ninessquad.[19]He finished Melbourne's2014 NRL seasonwith him playing in 20 matches and scoring 10 tries.

2015

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On 2 May, Fonua played on the wing forTonga16–18 loss in thePolynesian Cup.[20][21]He finished his last season with the Melbourne Storm with 13 matches and 4 tries. On 17 October, he represented Tonga again, this time in theirAsia-Pacific Qualifiermatch against theCook Islandsfor the2017 Rugby League World Cup.

2016

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On 1 August, he signed a three-year contract withSuper LeagueteamHull F.C.starting in 2016.[22]Fonua had an outstanding first season with the club and quickly established himself as a fan favourite. He helped Hull F.C. reach theChallenge Cup Finalwhere they would go on to beat theWarrington Wolvesby a narrow score of 12–10.[23]Fonua scored the first of Hull FC's two tries atWembley Stadium.[24][25]

In his first season in theSuper League,he scored 15 tries which contributed to him being selected for theSuper League Dream Teamalong with 5 other Hull teammates.

2017

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On 9 June 2017, it was confirmed that Fonua would return to the NRL, to join theWests Tigers,starting in the 2018 season.[26]

On 26 August 2017, Fonua would go on to win theChallenge Cupfor a second year in a row, contributing massively to the 18–14 win over theWigan Warriorsby scoring two of Hull's three tries atWembley Stadium.[27]

Fonua finished the year with making the 2017 Super League Dream Team for a second year in a row, but this time as a winger.

2018

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At the start of the2018 NRL season,Fonua spent the first few weeks playing forWestern Suburbsin theIntrust Super Premiership NSW.After a number of good performances, Fonua was called up to play for theWests Tigers.Fonua made his debut for the club in their 22–20 defeatParramatta.He played two games on the wing before being switched to centre. On 15 May, Fonua was demoted to reserve grade for showing up late to training, days after a Man of the Match performance.[28][29]Weeks later, he was sidelined after breaking his arm,[30]but made a return later in the year.

Despite only scoring one try from his ten appearances, Fonua lead the club and was fifth in the NRL for post-contact metres.[31]He also gained attention for hismullet haircut.[32]

2019

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In the2019 NRL season,Fonua suffered a season ending injury. Fonua later announced his return to Super League sideHull FC.

2020

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Fonua played 17 games forHull FCin the2020 Super League seasonincluding the club's semi-final loss againstWigan.[33]

2021

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In round 9 of the2021 Super League season,Fonua scored two tries for Hull F.C. in a 30–12 victory overCastleford.On 8 October it was announced that Fonua had been released by Hull FC with a year left on his contract. On 13 October 2021, Castleford Tigers confirmed the signing of Fonua on an initial one-year deal with the option of a further two years.[34]

2022

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Fonua was assigned squad number 17 for the2022 season.[35]He made hisCastleforddebut on 11 February against theSalford Red Devilsin the opening round of Super League.[36]He scored his first try for the club on 12 March against theHuddersfield Giants.[37]

2023

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On 4 Aug 2023 it was announced that he, along withBureta Faraimowould joinDoncaster RLFCfor the remainder of the 2023 season, following the pair's release fromCastleford Tigers.[38]

Honours

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Club

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Melbourne Storm

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Hull F.C.

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Individual

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References

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  1. ^Companies House
  2. ^"Mahe Fonua Biography".Castleford Tigers.Retrieved11 April2022.
  3. ^loverugbyleague
  4. ^Rugby League Project
  5. ^RL Record Keepers' Club
  6. ^"Tonga name 58-man squad for Cook Islands qualifier".theroar.au. 12 September 2015.Retrieved30 December2015.
  7. ^"Victorian Kennar gets his chance".melbournestorm.au. 6 June 2015.Retrieved20 September2016.
  8. ^"Mahe Fonua".Melbourne Storm.15 April 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 19 April 2015.Retrieved15 April2015.
  9. ^"Mahe Fonua".Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2013.Retrieved10 August2012.
  10. ^"Rd 23 Late Mail & Live Chat".Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2013.Retrieved21 August2013.
  11. ^"Storm Proud of Hometown Boy Mahe Fonua".Heraldsun.au.Retrieved27 September2015.
  12. ^"No Storm Cloud for Stoked Fonua".Heraldsun.au.Retrieved27 September2015.
  13. ^"Junior Kangaroos side announced".National Rugby League. 2 October 2012.Retrieved27 September2015.
  14. ^"Storm re-signs young talent | NRL".Zero Tackle. 10 June 2013.Retrieved27 September2015.
  15. ^"Storm Lock Up Young Talent Including Local Boy Mahe Fonua".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney.Retrieved27 September2015.
  16. ^"Melbourne Storm snap Raiders' 12-game home streak with 64-point thrashing".Australia: ABC News. 4 August 2013.Retrieved27 September2015.
  17. ^Ryan, Nathan (5 August 2013)."Freakish Mahe Fonua the new Greg Inglis following try-assist heroics in Melbourne victory".News.au.Retrieved27 September2015.
  18. ^"Tonga Names Rugby League World Cup 2013 Squad | News".Triple M. 8 October 2013.Retrieved27 September2015.
  19. ^"Squads For Auckland Nines".Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 15 January 2016.Retrieved27 September2015.
  20. ^"Tonga Named To Face Samoa in Pacific Test".Rugby League Week. 26 April 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2016.Retrieved27 September2015.
  21. ^"Video: Samoa v Tonga".Foxpsorts.au.Retrieved27 September2015.
  22. ^"Hull FC sign Fonua on three-year deal".BBC Sport.
  23. ^"Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves".BBC Sport.
  24. ^"Hull FC's Jamie Shaul's late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington".The Guardian.27 August 2016.Retrieved7 November2019.
  25. ^"Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves".BBC. 27 August 2016.Retrieved7 November2019.
  26. ^"Wests Tigers sign former NRL wingers Corey Thompson and Mahe Fonua from 2018".Fox Sports. 8 June 2017.Retrieved8 June2017.
  27. ^"Hull FC 18-14 Wigan recap as the Black and Whites claim back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs".Daily Mirror.26 August 2017.Retrieved6 November2019.
  28. ^"Wests Tigers cult hero Mahe Fonuna dropped to reserve grade for being late to training".15 May 2018.
  29. ^"Magpie Fonua prepares NRL swoop".22 March 2018.
  30. ^"Wests Tigers cult hero Mahe Fonua's season in doubt with broken arm".Sporting News.
  31. ^Chris Kennedy (November 2018)."Wests Tigers: 2018 season by the numbers".National Rugby League.
  32. ^Christian Nicolussi."Tigers give 'Mullet Man' Mahe the chop after late start".The Sydney Morning Herald.
  33. ^"Wigan Warriors v Hull FC highlights as FC struggle to find play-off form in one-sided defeat".hulldailymail.co.uk.19 November 2020.
  34. ^"Adam Swift and Mahe Fonua set Hull FC on course for 30-12 win over Castleford Tigers".Sky Sports.
  35. ^"Tigers reveal 2022 squad numbers".Castleford Tigers.21 January 2022.Retrieved12 March2022.
  36. ^"Super League: Castleford Tigers 16-26 Salford Red Devils".BBC Sport. 11 February 2022.Retrieved12 March2022.
  37. ^"Super League: Huddersfield Giants 36-24 Castleford Tigers – Ricky Leutele runs in hat-trick".BBC Sport. 12 March 2022.Retrieved12 March2022.
  38. ^"Castleford Tigers: Released overseas duo join League 1 outfit for remainder of season".Love Rugby League.4 August 2023.
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