Omar Slaimankhel

Omar Slaimankhel

Personal information
Born	4 March 1992 Kalu Khurd, Pakistan
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	fullback, wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2012	NZ Warriors	5	0	0	0	0
2015–	Sydney Roosters	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	5	0	0	0	0
Rugby union
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2013–15	Canon Eagles	17	17	8	2	107
As of 15 April 2015
Source: [1]

Omar Slaimankhel (born 4 March 1992) is an New Zealand professional rugby footballer who currently plays rugby league for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. Slaimankhel previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and Canon Eagles.

Early life

Slaimankhel was born in Pakistan to Afghan refugees. When he was two years old his family moved to New Zealand.^[2]

Slaimankhel grew up playing rugby union until he switched codes to join the New Zealand Warriors rugby league development side. He played in the first XV for Auckland Grammar School, where he was also a track athlete and weightlifter.^[3]

Playing career

Slaimankhel made his first grade debut for the Warriors on 16 June 2012 against the Cronulla Sharks. He played five games for the Warriors before taking up a lucrative deal with Japanese rugby union club Canon Eagles.^[4][5]

In mid-2015 Slaimankhel returned to rugby league, signing with the Sydney Roosters.^[6] He played for the Roosters feeder club, the Wyong Roos, in the New South Wales Cup. On 27 September, he was named at fullback in the 2015 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year.^[7] Slaimankhel played for the Roosters in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines; however, he suffered an arm injury on the second day of competition.^[8]

References

1. "Omar Slaimankhel - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
2. Honeysett, Stuart. "A Warrior's family was forced to flee the war in Afghanistan". theaustralian.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
3. Stanley, Ben. "From Pakistan hinterland to NRL heartland". stuff.co.nz. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
4. Brianna Parkins (30 Oct 2015). "Slaimankhel could be new Roosters No.1". AAP. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
5. Stanley, Ben. "Slaimankhel exits Warriors for rugby in Japan". stuff.co.nz. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
6. "Roosters Sign Omar Slaimankhel". rugbyleagueweek.com.au. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
7. "2015 VB NSW Cup Team of the Year". NSWRL. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
8. Jack Brady (7 Feb 2016). "Auckland Nines Day 2 casualty ward". NRL.com. Retrieved 9 February 2016.