Tevita Latu

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Tevita Latu
Tevita Latu
Personal information
Full name Tevita Latu
Date of birth April 17, 1985
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.73 cm
Weight 88 kg
Nickname Tee/Vita
Position Hooker
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (points)
2003 - 2005
2006
2006 - 2007		 Warriors
Cronulla
Wakefield		 22 (12)
10 (4)
7 (4)
Representative teams
2004 New Zealand 1 (0)

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Tevita Latu (born July 3, 1981 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League competition, Latu previously played for the New Zealand Warriors. His position of choice is at hooker though he can also play in the halves.

Contents

[edit] Childhood and early career

Latu began playing rugby league at a young age in Auckland for his local club side Richmond, though he did not start to seriously contemplate a professional career in league until his late teens when he started playing for the Brothers club in the New Zealand Bartercard Cup competition. It was there where his skills were noticed by the New Zealand Warriors whom immediately signed him up to their playing roster for the beginning of the 2003 season.

[edit] New Zealand Warriors

Latu made his debut for the New Zealand side coming off the bench during round twelve of the 2003 season against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, a match in which Tevita helped his club to a good victory of 23 to 6.

He spent the next two seasons at the club falling both in and out of favour with the team's selectors seeing him make only a further thirteen appearances from 2003-2004 for the club after his debut.

After some loss of form and falling out of favour with the Warriors coaching staff during the 2005 season where he was only given a mere eight appearances, the club decided to release Latu at the completion of the NRL season.

[edit] Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Tevita signed for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at the beginning of the 2006 season, immediately becoming a regular selection in the Sharks seventeen. He was often used as an interchange hooker often replacing Kevin Kingston on the field for the Sharks adding a much needed attacking spark. Latu played a total of ten games for the club before being involved in an off field assault and subsequently having his contract terminated by the club.

[edit] Controversy

On Tuesday, May 23, 2006, it was reported that Latu had been involved in an altercation in the early hours of the morning before with a 19-year-old woman in Cronulla.

As further details emerged, it was revealed that Latu and the alleged victim Brooke Peninton[1] had both been present at Cronulla's Kingsway BP service station at 3.am. the previous Sunday. Allegedly the two individuals had been in discussion before an altercation arose ending with Latu assaulting Peninton, punching her in the face, resulting in a broken nose and other minor injuries[2].

Latu was arrested the following day at 11.30 p.m. and charged by police with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had been granted police bail to face Sutherland Local Court on June 15.[3]

Latu had his contract with the Cronulla Sharks terminated as a result of the incident. On Wednesday, May 24 The Sydney Morning Herald announced that the NRL had de-registered Latu as a player, and stated that it would refuse to register him if he signed with another club. Other sporting codes were urged to follow the NRL's lead [4].

He was sentenced to eight months' periodic detention for his actions but was later reduced to community service after an appeal on July 10, 2006.

[edit] New Zealand

After some impressive performances for his club during the 2004 season Latu was called up to the New Zealand international side for the middle of the year one off test match against the Australians. Latu started on the bench eventually coming on to make his international debut.

[edit] Career playing statistics

[edit] Point scoring summary

Games Tries Goals F/G Points
32 4 - - 16

[edit] Matches played

Team Matches Years
New Zealand Warriors 22 2003 - 2005
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10 2006
New Zealand 1 2004

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. "Footy player charged with assault on teen" May 23, 2006, News.com.au, retrieved June 18, 2006
  2. "Blues selectors scratching their heads" June 18, 2006, AAP, retrieved June 18, 2006
  3. "Blues selectors scratching their heads" June 18, 2006, AAP, retrieved June 18, 2006
  4. "NRL sacks Latu for bashing woman" by Jacquelin Magnay May 24, 2006, Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved June 18, 2006
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