Krisnan Inu

Krisnan Inu

Inu in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Krisnan Nevada Inu
Nickname	Smiling Assassin, Kris
Born	(1987-03-17) 17 March 1987 Auckland, New Zealand
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	99 kg (15 st 8 lb)[1]
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	centre, wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007–10	Parramatta Eels	78	37	60	0	268
2011–12	NZ Warriors	21	12	0	0	48
2012–14	Canterbury	40	16	70	2	206
2015–	Catalans Dragons	15	8	2	0	36
	Total	154	73	132	2	558
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007–13	New Zealand	6	1	13	0	30
2014	Samoa	1	0	6	0	12
Rugby union
Position	Fullback, Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2014–15	Stade Français	10	4	0	0	20
As of 14 February 2016
Source: Rugby League Project & NRL Stats

Krisnan Nevada Inu (born 17 March 1987) is a New Zealand professional rugby league player for the Catalans Dragons in Super League. He has previously played for Stade Français of the Top 14 in rugby union and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels and New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League. Inu was a member of the 2008 World Cup-winning New Zealand team.

Playing career

Parramatta Eels

A Parramatta Eels junior, Inu made his first grade debut in the 2007 NRL season against the Canberra Raiders. After just one first grade match he was named to play for New Zealand in the ANZAC Day Test against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Kangaroos ran out easy 30-6 winners over the Kiwis. After the test, Inu was dropped back to Premier League but returned to first grade through a series of injuries to regular players. Inu took on the kicking duties as Parramatta's primary kicker and full-back, Luke Burt, was injured mid-season. In Round 25 Inu scored three tries and kicked seven goals in Parramatta's 46-point win over Brisbane.^[2] In 2007, along with Hayne, Inu was the Eels top try-scorer. Inu's successful season was recognised when he was nominated for Rookie of the Year at the 2007 Dally M awards, however the award went to Melbourne Storm centre Israel Folau. Inu did receive the 2007 Parramatta Eels season's rookie of the year award.

In August 2008, Inu was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[3] and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad.^[4]

After a 2-4 start to the 2009 season, the Eels decided to re-tool their line-up, dropping Inu to the New South Wales Cup, with Taulima Tautai replacing him for the Round 7 match against the Brisbane Broncos.^[5] However, Inu returned to first grade from Round 10 onwards and was a large part of the Eels run to the 2009 NRL Grand Final where they were beaten 23-16 by the Melbourne Storm (the Storm would eventually be stripped of both their 2007 and 2009 premierships due to salary cap breaches, with no NRL premier recorded for either season).

New Zealand Warriors

In May 2010, Inu signed a 3-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors from the 2011 NRL season.

Inu's up-and-down tenure at the Warriors was curtailed in May 2012 with his release and immediate signing with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.^[6]

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Inu was released by the Warriors in May 2012 so he could immediately join the Des Hasler coached Bulldogs. He signed with the Bulldogs until the end of the 2015 season.^[7]

In October and November 2013, Inu represented New Zealand at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

In May 2014, Krisnan played for Samoa in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International. Krisnan converted all of Samoa's 5 tries and 1 penalty goal in Samoa's 32-16 win.

Inu switched to rugby union at the end of the 2014 NRL season, signing with Stade Français.

Catalans Dragons

Inu returned to rugby league and was signed by Catalans Dragons in June 2015 to add depth to a depleted squad.^[8]

References

External links

• Parramatta Eels profile