Kylie Leuluai

Kylie Leuluai
Personal information
Full name Kylie Macgraff Leuluai
Nickname Hulk[1]
Born 29 March 1978
Auckland, New Zealand
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 109 kg (17 st 2 lb)[2]
Playing information
Position Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999 Balmain Tigers 7 0 0 0 0
2000 Wests Tigers 2 0 0 0 0
2002 Sydney Roosters 5 0 0 0 0
2003 Parramatta Eels 7 0 0 0 0
2004–06 Manly-Warringah 57 4 0 0 16
2007– Leeds Rhinos 228 19 0 0 76
Total 306 23 0 0 92
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1998–00 New Zealand Māori 2 0 0 0 0
2006–2008 Samoa 1 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Exiles 2 0 0 0 0
As of 8 May 2014
Source: NRL Stats, RLP, SL Stats

Kylie Leuluai (born 29 March 1978 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Leeds Rhinos of Super League. A New Zealand and Samoa international representative prop forward, he previously played club football in Australia for National Rugby League clubs Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Playing career

Kylie Leuluai has played for the Parramatta Eels, Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL. In 2007 he joined Super League juggernauts the Leeds Rhinos.

In 2007 Leuluai played for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2007 Super League Grand Final victory over St Helens. The Rhinos defeated the Saints 33-6.

In 2008 Leuluai played for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2008 World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm. The Leeds Rhinos defeated Melbourne Storm 18-10. Later that year, the Rhinos once again made it to the 2008 Super League Grand Final against St Helens. The Leeds Rhinos defeated Saints 24-16.

In 2009 Leuluai played for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2009 World Club Challenge against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. The Leeds Rhinos were defeated by Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 28-20. Later that year, the Leeds Rhinos once again made it to the 2009 Super League Grand Final against St Helens. The Leeds Rhinos defeated Saints 18-10.

In 2010 Leuluai played for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2010 World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm. The Rhinos were defeated by Melbourne Storm 18-10. It was later found that Melbourne Storm were in serious breach of the NRL Salary Cap Rules and they had the Title stripped from them. It is well known, yet unofficial that this action automatically made the Rhinos World Club Champions of 2010.

In June 2011 Leuluai announced he will retire at the end of the 2012 season, signing a new one year contract with Leeds Rhinos in the process. Later that year he played at prop forward for Leeds in the 2011 Challenge Cup final which was lost to Wigan Warriors. The Rhinos went on to win the Super League Grand Final in 2011. Towards the end of 2011, Leuluai announced he would play on into 2012, but would retire at the end of the 2013 Super League Season.

In 2012 Leuluai played for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2012 World Club Challenge against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The Leeds Rhinos beat Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 26-12. Later that year, the Rhinos once again made it to the 2012 Challenge Cup final which was lost to Warrington Wolves. The Rhinos went on to win the 2012 Super League Grand Final again against Warrington Wolves. Towards the end of 2012, Leuluai announced he would play on into 2013, but would retire at the end of the 2014 Super League Season.

In 2013 Leuluai played for the Rhinos in the 2013 World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm. The Rhinos were defeated by Melbourne Storm 18-14. Leuluai once again halted his retirement plans by announcing he would play on into the 2014 Super League Season, but would hang up his boots at the end of 2014.

In 2014 Leuluai played for the Rhinos in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final again Castleford Tigers. The Rhinos beat the Tigers 23-10. Surprisingly enough, Leuluai halted his retirement plans yet again and announced he would play on into the 2015 Super League Season, but would most definitely hang up his boots at the end of 2015 along with fellow Prop Forward Jamie Peacock MBE.

At the end of 2015 Leuluai finally retired from Rugby League as a player. He was a great servant to the Leeds Rhinos Club. He plans to enter the Building Trade.

Representative career

Leuluai played for New Zealand Māori in 1998 and at the 2000 World Cup.[3]

Leuluai was named in the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[4]

In 2009 he was named as part of the Samoan side for the Pacific Cup.[5] He was named Samoan player of the year for 2009.[6]

Rugby League International Origin Match

Kylie Leuluai was selected for the Exiles squad for the Rugby League International Origin Match against England at Headingley on 10 June 2011.[7]

Personal life

James Leuluai is his uncle and his cousins are Thomas Leuluai and Macgraff Leuluai.

Kylie belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is renowned for being able to bench press 225 kg – the heaviest weight lifted by an NRL player.[8]

Career highlights and Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Rhinos squad: Kylie Leuluai". Yorkshire Post. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  2. ↑ "Leeds Rhinos Players & Coaches 1st Team". web page. Leeds Rhinos. 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  3. ↑ New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.118
  4. ↑ "Samoa name World Cup Squad". League Unlimited. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  5. ↑ Poching names strong Samoan squad therhinos.co.uk, 6 October 2009
  6. ↑ "Hayne named Player of the Year". Daily Telegraph. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Warrington dominate Exiles picks for Origin fixture". BBC Sport. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Hooper, James (15 September 2006). "The Eagle Rock". The Daily Telegraph.

External links