Chanel Mata'utia

Chanel Mata'utia-Leifi (pronounced ma-ta-oo-tee-a)[3] (born 17 August 1992) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He plays for the Cessnock Goannas in the Newcastle Rugby League. His positions are wing and centre. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.

Chanel Mata'utia
Personal information
Full nameChanel Mata'utia-Leifi[1]
Born (1992-08-17) 17 August 1992
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014–17 Newcastle Knights 13 7 0 0 28
As of 23 November 2017
Source: [2]

Background

Mata'utia was born in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Samoan descent. He is the younger brother of former Knights teammate Peter Mata'utia, now of Castleford Tigers in the European Super League, and is the older brother of Knights teammates Pat Mata'utia and Sione Mata'utia.[4]

He played his junior football for the Bankstown Cougars,[5] before moving to Newcastle, New South Wales at a young age and playing for the South Newcastle Lions in the Newcastle Rugby League. He was then signed by the Newcastle Knights.

Playing career

Early career

From 2010 to 2012, Mata'utia played for the Newcastle Knights' NYC team.[6][7] On 21 April 2012, he played for the New South Wales Under-20s team against the Queensland Under-20s team and scored a try.[8]

Mata'utia playing for the Knights in 2013

In 2013, he moved on to the Knights' New South Wales Cup team.[9] On 16 October 2013, he re-signed with the Knights on a 1-year contract,[10] later extending it by another year in 2014.[11] On 9 July 2014, he played for the New South Wales Residents against the Queensland Residents and scored two tries.[12]

2014

In Round 20 of the 2014 NRL season, Mata'utia made his NRL debut for the Knights against the Sydney Roosters,[13] alongside his brother Sione Mata'utia who also debuted for the Knights in the same game.[14] This was the first time since Round 1 of the 1942 NSWRFL season, that two brothers had debuted in the same game together, Bill and Doug McRitchie debuting for the St. George Dragons on that day.[15] On 9 September 2014, he was named in the Samoa train-on squad for the 2014 Four Nations,[16] but didn't make the final 24-man squad. Late in September 2014, he signed a letter of intent to join the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on a 4-year contract starting in 2016, along with his brothers Sione and Pat.[17][18] However, the NRL's rules didn't allow the Bulldogs to register the contracts until 30 June 2015, leaving the option of staying at the Knights open for the Mata'utias.[19]

2015

On 19 March, Mata'utia re-signed with the Knights on a 3-year contract, along with his brothers Sione and Pat.[20] In May, he again played for the New South Wales Residents against the Queensland Residents and scored two tries, this time alongside his brother Peter.[21] Chanel managed to play only 1 NRL game in the 2015 season.[22]

2016

After impressing the new coaching staff in pre-season, Mata'utia was selected to play in the Knights' round 1 side against the Gold Coast Titans, though he was injured during the game. Multiple injuries throughout the year meant the round 1 match would be his only NRL match for the season.[23]

2017

After another injury plagued season, Mata'utia was able to break back into the Knights' NRL side in round 18 of the 2017 season, going on to play 4 NRL matches for the year and scoring two tries.[24] On 23 November, it was announced that he would be retiring from the professional level of the game and joining the local Newcastle Rugby League, after being granted a release from the final year of the Knights contract. Mata'utia said after being released “The club has been great to me and I will miss everyone, but it is the right time for me to step away from the game at this level”.[25][26]

2018

In 2018, Mata'utia joined the Cessnock Goannas.[27]

References
  1. "Auckland could one day warrant NRL round of its own, promoters say". brisbanetimes.com.au. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Chanel Mata'utia - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  3. "Double debut for Mata'utias – Knights". Newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  4. "Sione's set to debut – Knights". newcastleknights.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  5. Michael Carayannis (11 October 2014). "Sione Mata'utia may yet back out of agreement to join Canterbury Bulldogs". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  6. "M". Nycdatabase.org. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  7. "Chanel Mata'utia player results, scores, news and statistics". rleague.com. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  8. "NSW secure an impressive victory over Queensland in the Toyota Under 20's State of Origin clash". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  9. NRL. "Vb Nsw Cup Team Lists – Round Nineteen". NSWRL.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  10. "Mata'utia trio plus Tetevano re-sign – Knights". newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  11. Keeble, Brett (18 August 2014). "Knights aim to lock in Mata'utia brothers | Newcastle Herald". Theherald.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  12. "VB NSW Cup Rep Team go down to QLD Residents". NSWRL.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  13. "LATE MAIL: Knights v Roosters – Knights". newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  14. "Double debut for Mata'utias – Knights". newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  15. "Brothers Sione and Chanel Mata'utia make history with Knights debut | Newcastle Herald". theherald.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  16. "Knights a plenty in Samoan train on squad – Knights". Newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  17. "Bulldogs secure Knights' band of brothers Sione, Chanel and Pat Mata'utia". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  18. "Newcastle Knights rising star Sione Mata'utia to let mum decide his long-term playing future". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  19. Keeble, Brett (18 December 2014). "Agent tussle holds up Mata'utia talks | Newcastle Herald". Theherald.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  20. "Mata'utia brothers re-sign – Knights". Newcastleknights.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  21. "Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  22. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Custom Match List - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  23. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Custom Match List - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  24. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Custom Match List - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  25. "Newcastle Knights: Chanel Mata'utia quits NRL club, 2018 roster overhaul continues". 22 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  26. TOOHEY, BARRY (23 November 2017). "Chanel Mata'utia quits Knights". Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  27. DILLON, ROBERT (2 April 2018). "Backs to the wall for Knights after Moga's injury". Retrieved 4 April 2018.
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