Enari Tuala

Enari Tuala (born 19 October 1998) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL.

Enari Tuala
Personal information
Born (1998-10-19) 19 October 1998
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017–19 North Qld Cowboys 18 2 0 0 8
2020– Newcastle Knights 20 11 0 0 44
Total 38 13 0 0 52
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
As of 18 November 2020
Source: [1]

He previously played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League, and has represented the Prime Minister's XIII.

Background

Tuala was born in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, and is of Samoan descent.

He played his junior rugby league for the Edmonton Storm, before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.[2]

Playing career

Early career

After being signed by the Cowboys, Tuala moved to Townsville, where he attended Kirwan State High School and played for the Townsville Stingers' Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cup sides. In 2014, Tuala represented the Queensland under-16 team.[3] In 2015, Tuala scored a hat trick in the Stingers' Mal Meninga Cup Grand Final victory and was selected for the Queensland under-18 team.[4] Later that year, he scored twice in Kirwan's ARL Schoolboy Cup final victory over Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.[5] In 2016, Tuala played for the Cowboys' NYC side, scoring 12 tries in 15 games. He was again selected for the Queensland under-18 side but was later ruled out through injury.[6][7][8]

2017

In early 2017, Tuala trained during the pre-season with the Cowboys' first grade squad.[9] He played in their first NRL trial against the Sydney Roosters, scoring a try in the 11-10 win.[10]

In May, Tuala played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis,[11] before re-signing with the Cowboys on a 2-year contract until the end of 2019.[12] In round 24 of the 2017 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Cowboys against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[13][14]

2018

In Round 13 of the 2018 NRL season against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Tuala scored his first NRL try in the Cowboys' 26-12 win at Brookvale Oval.[15]

On October 6, Tuala made his senior representative debut for the Prime Minister's XIII, coming off the bench and assisting a try in the side's 34–18 win over the PNG Prime Minister's XIII.[16][17] A week later, on 13 October, he scored a double in the Junior Kangaroos 40–24 win over the Junior Kiwis.[18]

2019

Tuala played just seven NRL games for the Cowboys in 2019. He spent the majority of the season playing for the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup.[19]

On 13 September, it was announced that he would not be re-signed by the Cowboys.[20]

2020

Tuala joined the Newcastle Knights on a 1-year contract ahead of the 2020 season.[21]

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2019 season[22]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2017 North Queensland 100—00
2018 North Queensland 1020—08
2019 North Queensland 700—00
Career totals 18 2 0 — 0 8

References
  1. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Enari Tuala - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  2. "Edmonton Storm Juniors Success - Edmonton Storm Rugby League Club Inc - SportsTG". SportsTG. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  3. "Queensland wins Under-16s Origin". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  4. Media, NRL Digital. "Queensland Under 18 team". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  5. "Kirwan SHS crowned champions". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  6. Media, NRL Digital. "Qld Under 18 team". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  7. "T". 27 December 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  8. "Holden Cup Under 20's - 2017 Round 1 SQUADS » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  9. "Hard road to success for Cowboys sensation". www.cairnspost.com.au. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  10. "North Queensland Cowboys hold on for narrow NRL trial victory over Sydney Roosters". 11 February 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
  11. "Junior Kangaroos team named". NRL.com. 1 May 2017. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  12. "Cowboys re-sign teenager Enari Tuala - Zero Tackle". 17 May 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  13. "Updated team lists: Cowboys v Sharks". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  14. Media, NRL Digital. "Final team: Cowboys v Sharks". Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  15. "Jason Taumalolo powers North Queensland Cowboys to victory over Manly Sea Eagles". 31 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  16. "PM's XIII Announcement". National Rugby League. 26 September 2018.
  17. "After pitch invasion, PM's XIII prevail". National Rugby League. 6 October 2018.
  18. "Junior Roos defeat Junior Kiwis despite incredible try". National Rugby League. 13 October 2018.
  19. "What Tuala will bring the Cowboys when he charges into the Storm". www.cairnspost.com.au.
  20. "Cowboys to farewell eight departing players". North Queensland Cowboys. 13 September 2019.
  21. "Knights sign exciting centre Enari Tuala". Newcastle Knights. 12 November 2019.
  22. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Enari Tuala - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
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