Glen Fisiiahi

Glen Fisiiahi
Fisiiahi playing for the Auckland Vulcans in 2012
Personal information
Nickname Fish, The Flying Fish
Born 2 December 1990
Auckland, New Zealand
Height 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Position Fullback, Wing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011– NZ Warriors 24 15 0 0 60
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013 Tonga 3 2 0 0 8
Source: [1]

Glen Fisiiahi is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays professionally for the New Zealand Warriors. Fisiiahi primarily plays at wing and fullback. Fisiiahi has represented the Tongan international rugby league team.

Early years

Fisiiahi is from a well known league family that includes the twin brothers Paul and David Fisiiahi.[2] Fisiiahi was an Ellerslie Eagles junior in Auckland Rugby League competitions and represented the Counties Manukau under-18's. Fisiiahi also played rugby union at his high school, Wesley College, and represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sevens side.[2][3] Fisiiahi was the school's sports dux in 2008. He is eligible for New Zealand,Tonga and Niue. While playing for the Junior Warriors Fisiiahi completed a Diploma in Sport and Recreation at AUT University.[4] Fisiiahi made his debut for the New Zealand Warriors Toyota Cup side in 2009, playing in three matches. He also played for the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.[5][6] In 2010 he became one of the stars of the side, scoring 20 tries in 26 matches, and was a part of the grand final winning team.[7] Fisiiahi was also involved in an embarrassing moment that saw him celebrate a try before scoring, only to be tackled and have the ball knocked out of his hands.[8] Fisiiahi finished his Toyota Cup career with twenty eight appearances and twenty tries.[9] At the end of 2010 Fisiiahi was named in the Junior Kiwis squad that drew a two match series with the Junior Kangaroos.[10]

Playing career

2011

After scoring five tries in four trials during the 2011 pre-season, Fisiiahi made his National Rugby League debut for the New Zealand Warriors in Round 1 of the 2011 NRL season against the Parramatta Eels at Eden Park on the wing in the Warriors 24-18 loss.[11] Fisiiahi being named ahead of Kevin Locke, Krisnan Inu and Bill Tupou.[12] After playing only one NRL match, On 30 March 2011, Fisiiahi signed a four-year deal to keep him at the Warriors until the end of 2015.[13] In Fisiiahi’s next match in Round 5 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Owen Delany Park at Taupo, Fisiiahi scored his first and second NRL tries in the Warriors 26-18 win.[14] Fisiiahi played in the Auckland Vulcans 30-28 New South Wales Cup Grand Final loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[15] Fisiiahi finished his debut year in NRL with him playing in 4 matches and scoring 2 tries (8p) for the Warriors in the 2011 NRL season.

2012

Fisiiahi played in 4 matches and scored 1 try (4p) for the Warriors in the 2012 NRL season. In a NSW cup match against the Western Suburbs Magpies, Fisiiahi scored 6 tries in the Auckland Vulcans 42-20 win.[16]

2013

On 20 April 2013, Fisiiahi made his international debut, playing for Tonga in the Pacific Rugby League International against pacific rivals Samoa, playing at fullback in Tonga's 36-4 win at Penrith Stadium. After Round 19 against the Wests Tigers, Fisiiahi suffered a season ending torn pectoral muscle injury in the Warriors 24-14 win at Leichhardt Oval.[17] Fisiiahi finished the Warriors 2013 NRL season with him playing in 11 matches and scoring 5 tries (20p). Later in the year, Glen played for Tonga in their 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign. Fisiiahi played in 2 of Tonga's 3 world cup matches. Fisiiahi scored his first international try against Scotland in Tonga's opening 26-24 match defeat.[18] In his second World Cup appearance Fisiiahi scored another try, this time against pacific rivals Cook Islands in Tonga's 22-16 win.[19]

2014

In February 2014, Fisiiahi was selected for the Warriors inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[20] In Round 4 of the 2014 NRL season, Fisiiahi scored four tries against the Wests Tigers in the Warriors 42-18 victory at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.[21] Fisiiahi's season was again ended early this time by a shoulder reconstruction, after suffering nerve damage in Round 9 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium, in the Warriors 37-6 loss.[22][23] Fisiiahi finished the Warriors 2014 NRL season with him playing in 5 matches and scoring 7 tries (28p).

References

  1. RLP
  2. 2.0 2.1 Glen Fisiiahi warriors.co.nz
  3. "Sevens double boosts trophy cabinet". Stuff.co.nz. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  4. Brown, Michael (3 October 2010). "NRL: Well-educated juniors seek NRL graduation". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  5. Jets Keep on Track for the Finals nzwarriors.co.nz, 20 July 2009
  6. New South Wales Cup Round # 16 vulcans.co.nz, 20 July 2009
  7. Shattered Inu left out sportal.co.nz, 8 March 2011
  8. "Junior Warrior tackled during pre-try celebration". 3 News. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  9. Glen Fisiiahi nzleague.co.nz
  10. Junior Kiwis Named nzrl.co.nz, 6 October 2010
  11. "NRL: Fisiiahi to debut for Warriors". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  12. Johnstone, Duncan (8 March 2011). "Warriors star urges rookie wing to enjoy debut". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  13. http://m.nrl.com/warriors-re-sign-fisiiahi-and-rapira/tabid/10874/newsid/62012/default.aspx
  14. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-04-03/warriors-open-account-against-sharks/2633144
  15. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/canterbury-bankstown-clinch-nsw-cup-with-miraculous-30-28-victory-over-auckland-vulcans/story-e6freuy9-1226156033770
  16. http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/warriors-fullback-glen-fisiiahi-scores-an-incredible-six-tries-for-auckland-vulcans-in-nsw-cup-match/story-e6frf3ou-1226302727043
  17. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/rugby-league-match-centre/live-wests-tigers-v-new-zealand-warriors-20130719-2q9q4.html
  18. http://www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/match_report/0,,11070_3539246,00.html
  19. http://leagueunlimited.com/live-update/show/178/1211/LiveUpdate
  20. http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/squads-auckland-nines/
  21. http://www.runitonthelast.co.nz/2014/03/29/fisiiahi-scores-four-in-wellington-win-dampened-by-ropati-injury/
  22. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/rugby-league-match-centre/cronulla-sharks-v-new-zealand-warriors-20140405-363yi.html
  23. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10177860/NZ-Warriors-wing-Fisiiahi-ruled-out-for-season