Tesi Niu

Fanitesi Niu (born 11 August 2001) is an Australian-born Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Tesi Niu
Personal information
Full nameFanitesi Niu
Born11 August 2001 (2001-08-11) (age 22)[1]
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
PositionFullback, Wing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2020–22 Brisbane Broncos 32 11 0 0 44
2023– Dolphins 22 8 0 0 32
Total 54 19 0 0 76
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019 Tonga 9s 3 1 0 0 4
2019–22 Tonga 3 4 0 0 16
Source: [2]
As of 4 May 2024

He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL as a fullback.

Background

Niu was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was educated at Marsden State High School and played his junior rugby league for the Forest Lake Magpies.[3] He is a first cousin of David Fifita.

Niu also represented the 2018 Australian Schoolboys.

Playing career

2019

Niu represented Tonga in 2019 Great Britain Lions tour making his international debut. He then played for Tonga 9s in the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[4]

Brisbane Broncos (2020-2022)

On 4 June 2020, Niu made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos, coming off the interchange bench in a record 59-0 home defeat against the Sydney Roosters. On 27 June 2020, he made his starting debut at fullback against the Gold Coast Titans.

Niu made a total of six appearances for Brisbane in the 2020 NRL season after suffering a season-ending wrist injury in round 10, as the club finished last on the table and claimed its first-ever wooden spoon.[5]

In round 16 of the 2021 NRL season, Niu scored two tries in a 26-18 victory over Cronulla-Sutherland.[6]

Niu played a total of ten games for Brisbane in the 2022 NRL season scoring three tries as the club finished 9th on the table and missed out on the finals.[7] In the third group game at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Niu scored a hat-trick for Tonga in their 92-10 victory over the Cook Islands at the Riverside Stadium.[8]

Dolphins (2023-present)

Niu joined the newly-licensed Dolphins after he was granted an early release by Brisbane.[9][10][11] In round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, Niu made his club debut for the Dolphins in their inaugural game in the national competition, defeating the Sydney Roosters 28-18 at Suncorp Stadium. In round 3 of the 2023 NRL season, he became the first player in the Dolphins NRL history to score a hat-trick when they defeated the Newcastle Knights 36-20.[12] In total, Niu played seventeen games and scored five tries for the Dolphins in 2023. His contract was extended until the end of 2024.[13] In round 7 of the 2024 NRL season, Niu scored two tries in the Dolphins 44-16 victory over Parramatta.[14]

Further information: List of Dolphins (NRL) players

References
  1. Ray, Jamie-Lee (31 May 2019). "Tesi Niu draws Origin inspiration from Fifita". QRL. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. "TESI NIU – THRILLING YOUNG TALENT – Souths".
  4. "Thrills, spills and huge upsets: Every World Nines score and report". Fox Sports. 19 October 2019.
  5. "Brisbane get wooden spoon as North Queensland finish on a high". www.nrl.com. 24 September 2020.
  6. "South Sydney defeats Wests Tigers 38-22, Brisbane Broncos score 26-18 victory over Cronulla". www.abc.net.au. 4 July 2021.
  7. "NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos season review". www.sportingnews.com. 14 September 2022.
  8. "Tonga 92-10 Cook Islands: Tonga close Rugby League World Cup group in style". BBC Sport. 30 October 2022.
  9. "Tesi Niu granted early release from Broncos, joins Dolphins for 2023". www.sportingnews.com. 5 January 2023.
  10. "Niu departs Broncos". Brisbane Broncos. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  11. "Niu kid on the block for Dolphins NRL debut". The Dolphins. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  12. "Sydney Roosters triumph over Rabbitohs 20-18 in tense NRL battle, Dolphins stay unbeaten with 36-20 win over Newcastle Knights". ABC News. 17 March 2023.
  13. "Niu earns contract extension". 30 June 2023.
  14. "Dolphins stun with nine-try onslaught to leave Eels shell-shocked in 'demoralising loss'". www.foxsports.com.au.
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