Thomas Leuluai
Personal information
Full nameThomas James Leuluai[1]
Born (1985-06-22) 22 June 1985
Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height5 ft 9 in (1.76 m)
Weight13 st 8 lb (86 kg)[2]
PositionScrum-half, Hooker, Stand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–04 New Zealand Warriors 21 2 0 0 8
2005–06 London Broncos 40 21 0 0 84
2007–12 Wigan Warriors 189 60 0 0 240
2013–16 New Zealand Warriors 64 10 0 0 40
2017–22 Wigan Warriors 134 14 0 1 57
Total 448 107 0 1 429
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–22 New Zealand 40 3 0 0 12
2011–12 Exiles 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [3][4]

Thomas James Leuluai (born 22 June 1985) is a New Zealand professional rugby league coach who is the assistant coach of the Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Super League and a former professional rugby league footballer who played for New Zealand at international level.

He played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL in two separate spells in Auckland, the London Broncos in the Super League, before moving to Wigan for the first of his two spells at the club. Leuluai was a member of the 2008 World Cup-winning New Zealand team and has also played for the Exiles.

Background

Leuluai was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is of Samoan and Māori descent.

Leuluai's father is former Maori representative/New Zealand international James Leuluai, who scored two tries for Hull F.C. in the 1985 Challenge Cup Final 6 weeks before Thomas was born. Thomas was educated at Mount Albert Grammar School where he attended school with fellow rugby league players Sonny Bill Williams, Steve Matai and Tevita Latu. Leuluai's brother Macgraff Leuluai currently plays for Widnes Vikings, his uncle Phillip Leuluai played for Salford City Reds and his cousin Kylie Leuluai played for the Leeds Rhinos.

Playing career

New Zealand Warriors

Leuluai started his professional career at National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors in 2003. He also played for the Junior Kiwis. At the time of his début he was the youngest player to play for the club, coincidentally in the same game Mark Robinson became the oldest player to make his début for the club. With competition from New Zealand internationals Stacey Jones and Lance Hohaia he had limited first team experience at New Zealand Warriors and consequently he spent most of the 2003 season in the Bartercard Cup playing for his youth club Otahuhu-Ellerslie, playing 10 games and scoring 5 tries. Leuluai became the second youngest player ever to represent the Kiwis when he made his début that year.

Leuluai playing for the Warriors at the SFS

At the end of 2004, he left the Warriors after playing 21 first grade games and scoring two tries.

London Broncos

In 2004, Leuluai signed a contract with Super League side London Broncos as a replacement for Dennis Moran who had left the Broncos to join the Wigan Warriors. He spent two years at the club playing 38 games and scoring 19 tries. Both seasons were affected by injury. In 2005, his season was cut short by a broken ankle[5] while his 2006 campaign was disrupted by a hamstring injury sustained while playing for New Zealand. His contract was not extended and he agreed to join the Wigan Warriors for the 2007 season.

Wigan Warriors

Leuluai agreed a three-year deal with Wigan Warriors in December 2006 after months of speculation and rumours. He would replace Australians Michael Dobson and partner Trent Barrett in the halves during the 2007 season. Leuluai made his Wigan Super League début in a 16–10 defeat by the Warrington Wolves at the JJB Stadium on 9 February 2007. He scored the game-winning try against St. Helens at the JJB stadium and scored Wigan's first against the Bradford Bulls in the history breaking 31–30 comeback win in the Play-offs.

Leuluai playing for the Wigan Warriors in 2008

On 9 May 2008 Leuluai played for New Zealand against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the Centenary Test, which took place 100 years to the day after the New Zealand 'All Golds' first met Australia.

Tommy Leuluai playing for the Kiwis at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

At the end of 2008 Leuluai played for the New Zealand team which won the 2008 World Cup.[6][7]

In April 2009, having made over seventy appearances for the club, Leuluai extended his contract with the Wigan Warriors by three years to last him until the 2012 season.[8]

He helped Wigan to their first Championship since 1998 with a man-of-the-match performance in the 2010 Super League Grand Final earning him the Harry Sunderland Trophy in the victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.[9][10]

The 2011 Wigan Warriors season started against St Helens R.F.C. in the opening fixture of the season, with his first try coming a week later at Bradford Bulls in Round 2.[11] As well as playing in the 2011 World Club Challenge, Leuluai scored a brace in Round 4 against Salford City Reds.[12][13] A try against Hull Kingston Rovers was followed with another against Crusaders RL in Rounds 10 and 13 respectively.[14][15] He then claimed two more braces in consecutive matches, firstly against Barrow Raiders in the Challenge Cup fourth round, then against Harlequins in Round 14 of 2011's Super League XVI.[16][17]

Leuluai was selected for the Exiles squad for the Rugby League International Origin Match against England at Headingley on 10 June 2011.[18]

Leuluai played as a hooker in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos, scoring a try at Wembley Stadium.[19][20]

Return to New Zealand

In November 2011 Leuluai announced that he had signed a three-year contract with the New Zealand Warriors starting in 2013.[21]

Leuluai playing for Warriors in 2013

In 2016 he was linked with a move back to Super League with St Helens,[22] However, in July 2016, Leuluai announced he would be re-joining the Wigan Warriors in 2017.[23]

Wigan comeback

Having been awarded the number 7 jersey on his return to Wigan he made his second début against Salford Red Devils in Round 1 of the 2017 Super League season. A week later he helped Wigan to lift the World Club Challenge against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks scoring his first try of the season a week later against Widnes Vikings. Leuluai suffered a broken jaw in Round 11 of the Super League just six months after suffering the same injury playing for New Zealand.[24] He made his comeback just four weeks later against St Helens, scoring his second try of the season against Wakefield Trinity.

He played in the 2017 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium.[25] He scored his third and final try of the season against Castleford Tigers in the sixth round of the Super 8's. His good form saw his called up to the New Zealand World Cup squad playing twice for the Kiwis. After telling coach Shaun Wane he felt more comfortable in the hooker role he was handed the number 9 shirt after the departure of Michael McIlorum.[26] He played in the 2018 Super League Grand Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.[27] He played in the 2020 Super League Grand Final which Wigan lost 8-4 against St Helens.[28] On 28 May, Leuluai played for Wigan in their 2022 Challenge Cup Final win over Huddersfield.[29]

Retirement and Wigan assistant coach

On 1 September 2022, it was announced that Leuluai would be retiring at the end of the 2022 season, to replace Lee Briers as the assistant manager. Leuluai also announced that he will lead out New Zealand in a World Cup warm up match, against Leeds Rhinos on 8 October 2022, before joining the coaching staff at New Zealand.[30]

In 2023, Leuluai came out of retirement to play for Wigan RU with fellow assistant coach Sean O'Loughlin, scoring on his debut.[31]

Career statistics

[32][3]

SeasonTeamLeagueAppsTriesGoalsDGPoints
2003New Zealand WarriorsNational Rugby League121004
200491004
2005London BroncosSuper League22140056
20061870028
2007Wigan Warriors34110044
200832120048
200934100040
20103180032
201135110044
20122380032
2013New Zealand WarriorsNational Rugby League2460024
2014120000
2015101004
20161830012
2017Wigan WarriorsSuper League3130113
20183040016
Total37510001401

Honours

Wigan

New Zealand

Individual

References

  1. ↑ LEULUAI, THOMAS JAMES 2003 – 2010 – KIWI #704 Archived 23 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  2. ↑ "Wigan Warriiors Player Profile Thomas Leuluai". web page. wiganwarriors.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Player Summary: Thomas Leuluai". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Rae, Richard (5 February 2006). "London calling". From The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  6. ↑ "Kiwis select Sonny Bill". Sky Sports. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  7. ↑ "Kiwis to wait on Webb and Matai". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  8. ↑ "Leuluai pens new deal". www.wigantoday.net. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  9. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (4 October 2010). "Maguire proves the guiding light as revitalised Wigan roll back the years". The Independent. UK: independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 October 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Andy (2 October 2010). "Wigan turn St Helens into sinners with Super League Grand Final win". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  11. ↑ Scott, Ged (12 February 2011). "St Helens 16–16 Wigan". BBC. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Andy (27 February 2011). "Wigan Warriors make brave attempt but Dragons are still worlds apart". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "Salford City Reds 16–32 Wigan Warriors". BBC. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "Hull KR 16–28 Wigan". BBC. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  15. ↑ Wilson, Andy (1 May 2011). "Sam Tomkins dazzles as Wigan Warriors crush Crusaders". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  16. ↑ "Wigan 52–0 Barrow". BBC. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  17. ↑ "Wigan 54–6 Harlequins". BBC. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "Warrington dominate Exiles picks for Origin fixture". bbc.co.uk. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  19. ↑ Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  20. ↑ Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
  21. ↑ Thomas Leuluai signs with Warriors for 2013 stuff.co.nz, 20 November 2011
  22. ↑ "Leuluai linked with St Helens - Love Rugby League". 14 April 2016.
  23. ↑ "Warriors lead the race for Leuluai". www.wigantoday.net. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  24. ↑ "Injury blow for Leuluai". www.wigantoday.net. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  25. ↑ "Hull FC 18-14 Wigan recap as the Black and Whites claim back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs". Mirror. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  26. ↑ "2018 Squad Numbers | News | Wigan Warriors". wiganwarriors.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  27. ↑ "Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington – as it happened". Guardian. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  28. ↑ "Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens". BBC Sport.
  29. ↑ "Challenge Cup final: Huddersfield Giants 14-16 Wigan Warriors". www.bbc.co.uk. 28 May 2022.
  30. ↑ "Wigan Warriors legend to retire at end of season & join coaching staff". www.bbc.co.uk. 1 September 2022.
  31. ↑ "Watch Tommy Leuluai score superb individual try in rugby union debut". 5 February 2023.
  32. ↑ "Thomas Leuluai". Wigan Warriors. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
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