Thomas Leuluai
Leuluai playing for Wigan in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Leuluai
Nickname	Tommy
Born	22 June 1985 (1985-06-22) (age 24)
	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.71 m)
Weight	13 st 6 lb (85 kg)
Playing information
Position	Halfback, Hooker
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–04	NZ Warriors	26	2	0	0	8
2004–06	Harlequins	37	19	0	0	76
2007–	Wigan Warriors	100	33	0	9	132
	Total	163	54	0	9	216
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–09	New Zealand	22	1	0	0	4
As of 4 October, 2009
Source: RLP

Thomas Leuluai (born 22 June 1985 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player for Wigan Warriors in the English Super League competition. His position is half-back. Leuluai,is a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team beating Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

His father is former New Zealand international James Leuluai who scored two tries for Hull FC in the 1985 Challenge Cup final 6 weeks before Tommy was born. Hull's opponents that game were Wigan.

[edit] Career

[edit] New Zealand Warriors

He started his professional career at National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors in 2003. He also played for the Junior Kiwis. At the time of his debut he was the youngest player to play for the club, coincidentally in the same game Mark Robinson became the oldest player to make his debut for the club.

He had limited first team experience at New Zealand Warriors with competition from New Zealand internationals Stacey Jones and Lance Hohaia. He spent most of the 2003 season in the Bartercard Cup playing for his youth club Otahuhu-Ellerslie playing 10 games and scoring 5 tries.

At the end of 2004, he left the Warriors after playing 21 first grade games; scoring 2 tries and kicking 24 goals.

Tommy Leuluai playing for the Kiwis at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup

[edit] London Broncos

In 2004, Tommy signed a contract with Super League side London Broncos (now called Harlequins Rugby League) as a replacement for Dennis Moran who had left the Broncos to join Wigan Warriors.

He spent two years at the club playing 38 games and scoring 19 tries. Both seasons were affected by injury. In 2005, his season was cut short by a broken ankle^[1] while his 2006 campaign was disrupted by a hamstring injury sustained while playing for New Zealand. His contract was not extended and he agreed to join Wigan Warriors for the 2007 season.

[edit] Wigan Warriors

Thomas agreed a three year deal with Wigan Warriors in December 2006 after months of speculation and rumours, he would replace Australia Michael Dobson and partner Trent Barrett in the half back during the 2007 season.

Leuluai made his Wigan Super League debut in a 16-10 defeat against Warrington at the JJB Stadium on 9 February 2007.

He scored the game winning try against St Helens at the JJB stadium and scored Wigan's first against Bradford in the history breaking 30-31 comeback win in the Play Offs.

In April 2009, having made over seventy appearances for the club, Leuluai extended his contract with the Wigan Warriors by three years to last him until the 2012 season.^[2]

[edit] Representative career

Thomas is the second youngest player ever to represent the Kiwis, which he has done six times to date.

On 9 May 2008, Leuluai played for New Zealand against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the Centenary Test representing 100 years to the day that the New Zealand 'All Golds' first met Australia.

In 2008 Leuluai played for New Zealand in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup team which won the tournament.^[3][4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Thomas Leuluai Official Player Profile
• Thomas Leuluai Wigan Career Page on the CherryandWhite.co.uk Wigan RL Fansite.
• NRL stats