Simaima Taufa-Kautai (born 28 April 1994) is a rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL Women's Premiership and Mounties RLFC in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Simaima Taufa-Kautai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 April 1994 Tofoa, Tonga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 153 cm (5 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (12 st 13 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock, Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: RLP As of 14 November 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
She is an Australian and New South Wales representative.
Background
editTaufa was born in Tonga and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to Sydney with her family.[1]
She grew up playing rugby union, playing for the Western Sydney Two Blues in Sydney's Jack Scott Cup competition.[2]
Playing career
editIn 2014, Taufa began playing rugby league for the Canley Heights Dragons.[3] On 19 July 2014, she made her debut for New South Wales in a 10–26 loss to Queensland.[4] On 9 November 2014, she made her Test debut for Australia in an 8–12 win over New Zealand.[5][6]
On 27 September 2017, Taufa won the Dally M Female Player of the Year medal at the Dally M awards.[7] On 2 December 2017, Taufa started at lock in Australia's World Cup final win over New Zealand.[8]
On 17 June 2018, Taufa was announced as one of fifteen marquee signings by the Sydney Roosters NRL Women's Premiership team.[9] On 2 September 2018, she was named captain of the side.[10]
In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Roosters in a 4–10 loss to the New Zealand Warriors.[11] On 30 September 2018, she started at lock in the Roosters 12–34 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos.[12]
In 2020, Taufa joined the North Sydney Bears in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.[13] On 25 October 2020, Taufa started at prop in the Roosters 10–20 Grand Final loss to the Broncos.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Simaima Taufa". NRL.com. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ "Featuring NRL Part 2". FOX SPORTS. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Interstate Challenge: Canley Heights Dragons". Fairfield Champion. 30 July 2014.
- ^ "2014 Women's Interstate Challenge". NRL. 13 July 2014.
- ^ "NSW Stars In Jillaroos Squad". NSWRL. 21 October 2014.
- ^ Media, NRL Digital (21 October 2014). "Six new faces for Australian Jillaroos". NRL CLUBS. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ^ "Simaima Taufa rugby league 'Female Player of the Year'". Matangi Tonga. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ^ "Jillaroos named". Rugby League World Cup. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ^ "Roosters announce NRLW marquee signings". Sydney Roosters. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ^ "Simaima Taufa named captain of Women's Premiership team". Sydney Roosters. 2 September 2018.
- ^ "NRLW Late Mail Round 1". Sydney Roosters. 8 September 2018.
- ^ "NRLW Late Mail Grand Final". Sydney Roosters. 30 September 2018.
- ^ "Women's Origins - Simaima Taufa". NSWRL. 26 August 2020.
- ^ "NRLW Late Mail Grand Final". Sydney Roosters. 25 October 2020.