Glen Fisiiahi

Glen Fisiiahi
Fisiiahi playing for the Auckland Vulcans in 2012
Personal information
Nickname The Flying Fish
Born (1990-12-02) 2 December 1990
Auckland, New Zealand
Height 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position Fullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–15 NZ Warriors 25 15 0 0 60
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013 Tonga 3 2 0 0 8
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2016– Chiefs 3 1 0 0 5
Source: [1]

Glen Fisiiahi is a New Zealand professional rugby footballer of Tongan[2] and Niue descent who currently plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby. He previously played rugby league professionally for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League where he played as a fullback and winger and 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.[3] 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.[3][4] Fisiiahi was the school's sports dux in 2008. While playing for the Junior Warriors Fisiiahi completed a Diploma in Sport and Recreation at AUT University.[5] 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 New South Wales Cup.[6][7] 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.[8] 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.[9] Fisiiahi finished his Toyota Cup career with twenty eight appearances and twenty tries.[10]He is eligible for New Zealand, Tonga and Niue. At the end of 2010 Fisiiahi was named in the Junior Kiwis squad that drew a two match series with the Junior Kangaroos.[11]

Rugby league career

2011

After scoring five tries in four trials during the 2011 pre-season, Fisiiahi made his NRL 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.[12] Fisiiahi being named ahead of Kevin Locke, Krisnan Inu and Bill Tupou.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] Fisiiahi played in the Auckland Vulcans 30-28 New South Wales Cup Grand Final loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[16] Fisiiahi finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 4 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Warriors.

2012

Fisiiahi played in 4 matches and scored a try for the Warriors in the 2012 NRL season. In an NSW cup match against the Western Suburbs Magpies, Fisiiahi scored an incredible 6 tries in the Auckland Vulcans 42-20 win.[17]

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.[18] Fisiiahi finished the Warriors 2013 NRL season with him playing in 11 matches and scoring 5 tries. 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. He scored his first international try against Scotland in Tonga's opening 26-24 match defeat.[19] and scored another try in his second appearance, this time against pacific rivals Cook Islands in Tonga's 22-16 win.[20]

2014

In February 2014, Fisiiahi was selected for the Warriors inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[21] 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.[22] Fisiiahi's season was again ended early, this time suffering nerve damage to his shoulder (which necessitated a shoulder reconstruction) in Round 9 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium, in the Warriors 37-6 loss.[23][24] Fisiiahi finished the Warriors 2014 NRL season with him playing in 5 matches and scoring 7 tries.

Rugby union career

In 2016, Fisiiahi switched to rugby union, joining the Chiefs and Counties Manukau,[25] joining another former NRL player, Sonny Bill Williams, at the Chiefs.[26]

References

  1. ↑ Glen Fisiiahi rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. ↑ "Tonga name 58-man squad for Cook Islands qualifier". theroar.com.au. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 Glen Fisiiahi warriors.co.nz
  4. ↑ "Sevens double boosts trophy cabinet". Stuff.co.nz. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Brown, Michael (3 October 2010). "NRL: Well-educated juniors seek NRL graduation". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Jets Keep on Track for the Finals nzwarriors.co.nz, 20 July 2009
  7. ↑ New South Wales Cup Round # 16 vulcans.co.nz, 20 July 2009
  8. ↑ Shattered Inu left out sportal.co.nz, 8 March 2011
  9. ↑ "Junior Warrior tackled during pre-try celebration". 3 News. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  10. ↑ Glen Fisiiahi nzleague.co.nz
  11. ↑ Junior Kiwis Named nzrl.co.nz, 6 October 2010
  12. ↑ "NRL: Fisiiahi to debut for Warriors". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Johnstone, Duncan (8 March 2011). "Warriors star urges rookie wing to enjoy debut". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  14. ↑ http://m.nrl.com/warriors-re-sign-fisiiahi-and-rapira/tabid/10874/newsid/62012/default.aspx
  15. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-04-03/warriors-open-account-against-sharks/2633144
  16. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/canterbury-bankstown-clinch-nsw-cup-with-miraculous-30-28-victory-over-auckland-vulcans/story-e6freuy9-1226156033770
  17. ↑ 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
  18. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/rugby-league-match-centre/live-wests-tigers-v-new-zealand-warriors-20130719-2q9q4.html
  19. ↑ http://www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/match_report/0,,11070_3539246,00.html
  20. ↑ http://leagueunlimited.com/live-update/show/178/1211/LiveUpdate
  21. ↑ http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/squads-auckland-nines/
  22. ↑ http://www.runitonthelast.co.nz/2014/03/29/fisiiahi-scores-four-in-wellington-win-dampened-by-ropati-injury/
  23. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/rugby-league-match-centre/cronulla-sharks-v-new-zealand-warriors-20140405-363yi.html
  24. ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10177860/NZ-Warriors-wing-Fisiiahi-ruled-out-for-season
  25. ↑ "New Zealand Warrior Glen Fisiiahi signs for Super Rugby side the Chiefs". stuff.co.nz. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  26. ↑ "Warrior to become Chief". Radio New Zealand. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.

External links

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