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| Full name | Iasa Losia Soliola[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1986-08-04)4 August 1986 (age 38) Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 104 kg (16 st 5 lb)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Centre, Prop, Lock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Iosia Soliola (born 4 August 1986) is a former professionalrugby league footballer who last played for theCanberra Raiders in theNational Rugby League (NRL). He played forNew Zealand andSamoa at international level.
He previously played as acentre for theSydney Roosters in the NRL, and as asecond-row forward forSt Helens in theSuper League, with whom he won the2014 Super League Grand Final. Whilst playing in Europe he gained selection for theExiles.[4]
Soliola was born inAuckland, New Zealand. He is ofSamoan descent.[5]
After making his début in Jersey Flegg, Soliola moved ontoPremier League in which he played with Eli Hayes and won a premiership with the Roosters in 2004.
In 2005, Soliola made his NRL début for the Roosters againstSouth Sydney, and went on to play 19 games for the club that season.
He was chosen to make his international début at the age of 19 forNew Zealand in theTri-nations series of 2005, however was forced to pull out due to injury.
Soliola then went on to represent New Zealand in the2006 Tri-nations tournament. In 5 games, Soliola scored 4 tries including a double against theAustralians at theTelstra Dome inMelbourne.
Soliola was selected to play for theNew Zealand national team at centre in the 2007ANZAC Test loss againstAustralia.[6] He was dropped to premier league in the middle of the 2007 season before returning to first grade in round 14 and regained his form before he badly injured his knee in round 22 against theWests Tigers. He missed the rest of the 2007 season.
Soliola returned from his lengthy spell on the sidelines in the off season to come off the bench in the Roosters' opening centenary clash against South Sydney in round 1. He also represented the Kiwis in the 100 year centenary test match where he scored one try.
In August, 2008 Soliola was named in theNew Zealand training squad for the2008 Rugby League World Cup,[7] and in September, 2008 he was selected in the final 24-manNew Zealand.[8] He was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a shoulder injury.[9]
The Sydney Roosters confirmed that Soliola had signed a three-year deal to play with EnglishSuper League clubSt. Helens midway through the2009 NRL Season. Soliola played his last match for the tri colours against theNorth Queensland Cowboys, ending his 6-year stint with the club. Soliola also represented the Kiwis in the2009 Four Nations tournament.
Soliola officially made his début forSt. Helens in 2010 making the 2010 engage super league championship final.
Iosia Soliola was selected for theExiles squad for the inauguralRugby League International Origin Match againstEngland.
In the 2011 game Soliola was supposed to play in the 2nd Row alongsideWillie Manu, but due to the birth ofWarrington Wolves'Matt King's baby, Soliola was moved by coachBrian McLennan to the centre.
New Exiles coachDaniel Anderson selected Soliola at centre for Game 1 of the International Origin. However he was moved into the loose forward role for Game 2 in which the Exiles won 32-20.
He played in the2011 Super League Grand Final defeat by theLeeds Rhinos atOld Trafford.[10][11]
He captainedSamoa in the2013 Rugby League World Cup.
On 12 April 2014, Iosia announced he would end hisSuper League career at the conclusion of the 2014 season.,[12][13] He agreed join theCanberra Raiders in 2015 on a two-year deal.[14]
St Helens reached the2014 Super League Grand Final, and Soliola was selected to play at second-row forward, scoring atry in their 14-6 victory over theWigan Warriors atOld Trafford.[15][16][17][18]
Soliola came back to Australia to play with theCanberra Raiders. In his first season back in theNRL, Soliola made 19 appearances and scored 4 tries.[4]
In the2016 NRL season, Soliola was part of the Canberra side which made it through to their first preliminary final in nearly 20 years. Canberra went on to lose the match against Melbourne 14-12.[19][20]
In the2017 NRL season, Soliola was suspended for 5 weeks after a high shot on Melbourne'sBilly Slater.[21] On 2 September 2017, Soliola made his 150th appearance in theNRL for Canberra in their match against theMelbourne Storm.[22]
On 3 July, Soliola signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at Canberra until the end of the 2020 season.[23]
Soliola made 26 appearances for Canberra in the2019 NRL season as the club reached the grand final for the first time in 25 years. Soliola played at prop in the club's2019 NRL Grand Final defeat by theSydney Roosters atANZ Stadium. Soliola was awarded theKen Stephen Medal at the official awards ceremony following the game for his involvement with the community in relation torugby league.[24][25][26]
After playing the first eight games of the2020 NRL season for the Raiders, Soliola suffered a horrific facial fracture during their 22-16 win againstSt. George Illawarra on 3 July. He returned from the injury for Canberra's round 20 match against theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks and played a part in the side's finals campaign. On 6 October it was announced Soliola had re-signed with Canberra for the 2021 NRL season.[27]
He played in all three of Canberra's finals games including the preliminary final defeat against Melbourne.[28]
On 28 September, Soliola announced his retirement from rugby league.[29]