Sione Mata'utia

Sione Mata'utia (pronounced ma-ta-oo-tee-a)^[1] (born 25 June 1996) is a Samoan Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. He primarily plays centre, fullback and wing.

Background

Born in Liverpool, New South Wales, Mata'utia moved to Newcastle, New South Wales when he was 5-years-old.^[2][3] He played his junior football for Raymond Terrace and the South Newcastle Lions in the Newcastle Rugby League before being signed by the Newcastle Knights.

Playing career

In 2011, Mata'utia played for the Newcastle Knights' Harold Matthews Cup team. At the end of the year, he won the Knights' Harold Matthews Cup Players' Player Award.^[4] As a schoolboy, Mata'utia played for the New South Wales Combined High Schools team. In 2011 and 2012, Mata'utia played for the New South Wales Under 16s team.^[5] In 2012, Mata'utia captained the Harold Matthews Cup team^[6] and scored a hat-trick of tries in the Knights' 2012 Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final loss to the Parramatta Eels.^[6] In 2013, Mata'utia moved on to the S. G. Ball Cup team. He then played for the NYC team to finish off 2013, continuing into 2014. On 16 October 2013, Mata'utia extended his contract with the Knights from the end of 2014 to the end of 2015.^[7] At the end of 2013, Mata'utia won the Brian Carlson Club-Andrew Johns Medal as the Knights' best under-17 player.^[8] In 2013 and 2014, Mata'utia played for the New South Wales Under 18s team. In 2013, Mata'utia captained the Australian Schoolboys.^[9][10]

2014

On 3 May 2014, Mata'utia played for the New South Wales Under 20s team, playing at centre and scoring a try in the Blues 30-8 win at Penrith Stadium.^[11] In Round 20 of the 2014 NRL season, Mata'utia made his NRL debut for the Knights against the Sydney Roosters at fullback,^[12] alongside his brother Chanel Mata'utia who also debuted for the Knights in the same game in the Knights 16-12 upset win.^[13] This was the first time since Round 1 of the 1942 NSWRFL season, that two brothers had debuted in the same game together, Bill and Doug McRitchie debuting for the St. George Dragons on that day.^[14] In Round 23 against the New Zealand Warriors at Hunter Stadium, Mata'utia scored his first NRL career try in his 3 try effort in the Knights 28-22 win.^[15] On 2 September 2014, Mata'utia was named at centre in the 2014 NYC Team of the Year.^[16] On 8 September 2014, Mata'utia was named in the Samoa train-on squad for the 2014 Four Nations,^[17] later being also named in the Junior Kangaroos train-on squad.^[18] On 12 October 2014, Mata'utia played for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea.^[19] On 14 October 2014, Mata'utia was named in the 2014 Australian Four Nations squad.^[20] He became Australia's youngest ever Test player when he played against England, aged 18 years and 129 days, eclipsing Israel Folau's seven-year-old record by 65 days.^[21]

Late in September 2014, Mata'utia signed a letter of intent to join the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on a 4-year contract starting in 2016, along with his brothers Chanel and Pat.^[22][23] However, the NRL's rules didn't allow the Bulldogs to register the contracts until 30 June 2015, leaving the option of staying at the Knights open for the Mata'utias.^[24]

On 19 March 2014, Mata'utia re-signed with the Knights on a 3-year contract, along with his brothers Chanel and Pat.^[25]

Personal life

Mata'utia is the younger brother of fellow Newcastle Knights player Chanel Mata'utia and St. George Illawarra Dragons player Peter Mata'utia.^[26]

References

External links

• 2015 Newcastle Knights profile