Tawera Nikau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (1967-01-01)1 January 1967 (age 58) Huntly, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tawera Nuieia Nikau[4]MNZM (born 1 January 1967) is a New Zealand former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s.[1] ANew Zealand international representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including theMelbourne Storm's victory in the1999 NRL season Grand Final.
Nikau was born inHuntly, New Zealand. He began his career playing rugby league for theOtara Scorpions andrugby union for the East Tamaki Rugby Union club inAuckland before his family moved to theWaikato.[5]
AWaikato andAuckland representative, Nikau played his early club football for theOtahuhu Leopards,Sheffield Eagles,York Wasps (1990-1) andCastleford Tigers. Tawera Nikau playedloose forward inNew Zealand's 0–17 defeat byGreat Britain atWembley Stadium on Saturday 16 October 1993.[6] Tawera Nikau playedloose forward inCastleford's 12–28 defeat byWigan in the1992 Challenge Cup Final during the1991–92 season atWembley Stadium,London on Saturday 2 May 1992, in front of a crowd of 77,386.[7] Tawera Nikau playedloose forward inCastleford Tigers' 33–2 victory overWigan in the1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the1993–94 season atHeadingley,Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.[8] He spent the 1988 season with theCanterbury Bulldogs on theNew Zealand Rugby League's "Rookie Scheme".[9] Having already spent several seasons playing in England, during which time he earned representative honours forNew Zealand, from 1996 to 1999, Nikau played in the Australian NRL, spending the 1996–1997 with theCronulla Sharks, losing the 1997 Super League Grand Final to the Broncos in Brisbane. He joined theMelbourne Storm team in its 1998 inaugural year, helping the team reach a third-place finish in the minor premiership. Melbourne also did well the following season and Nikau played as alock in the1999 NRL Grand Final victory over theSt. George-Illawarra Dragons. Nikau's performance has been credited with sparking Melbourne's second-half comeback.[10] From 1999 to 2001, Nikau was under contract withSuper League franchise, theWarrington Wolves.
As a player, he was known for his high energy, fearless charges and his sometimes terrifying facial expressions while playing. In defense he was often seen to be "everywhere"; making a tackle on one side of the field and the following the ball to complete a tackle on the other.
Nikau suffered a personal tragedy on 5 April 2001, when his wife Letitia died by suicide. After taking some time from rugby to spend with his children in New Zealand, Nikau completed the season. He won in a charity boxing match in June 2002 against Samoan rugby union footballerPeter Fatialofa, supporting the Yellow Ribbon Fight for Life to prevent youth suicide.
Between 1989 and 1997 Nikau was aNew Zealand national rugby league team representative, although his international career was hindered by a dispute withRichie Blackmore that resulted in his refusal to play in the same side as Blackmore.
Nikau toured with theNew Zealand Māori side in 1996 and 1998 and played at the1986 Pacific Cup.
Nikau attended the2000 World Cup as captain of theAotearoa Māori side.[11][12]
In 2008, Nikau was part of the Pacific Island Barbarians team at theWheelchair Rugby League World Cup.[13]
In 2004 Nikau was the inaugural coach of theWaicoa Bay Stallions in theBartercard Cup. In 2004 and 2005 he coached theNew Zealand Māori rugby league team.
In November 2006, Tawera was appointed New Zealand and Islander Liaison Officer with theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs.
In 2010 Nikau was appointed aNew Zealand national rugby league team selector for two years.[14] Nikau also completed theNew York City Marathon withFrank Bunce.[15]
In 2011 he was added as a consultant to the board of directors of the newly formed USARL.[16]
In 2003 Nikau had a motorcycle accident which resulted in an amputation of his right leg. Nevertheless, he participated in the 2004 Yellow Ribbon Fight for Life, defeatingTea Ropati. In that same year, his athletic career to date and the details of the tragedies he had survived were described in the biographyStanding Tall.
In 2012, Nikau was found guilty of assaulting his estranged daughter Heaven-Leigh outside theHuntly police station,[17] he was convicted and fined after he failed to get a discharge without conviction.[18] This conviction was later quashed on appeal.
Nikau previously worked forMāori Television and previously provided NRL match commentary forSky Sports. He is the chief executive of Aotearoa Construction and owner and managing director of Team One Corporate Development, a training company.[19]
In 2022, Nikau was the coach that lead the Rugby League team in Match Fit 2 in 2022 after the Rugby Union team was unable to secure an alumni match with the Wallabies alumni due to border restrictions in place due toCOVID-19 pandemic. They also played a two-day multisport tournament instead of full contact rugby due to social-distancing concerns.[20]
In 2023, Nikau participated in season 3 ofMatch Fit, where former rugby league players return to play against the Australian counterparts. He officially joined in the first season that featured formerrugby league stars as the Head Coach. He also admitted that he started becoming a heavy drinker after 2001 when he lost his wife.[21]
In 2024, Nikau returned in Nikau participated in season 4 ofMatch Fit, where former rugby league players return to play against the All Black alumni. He is the Head Coach and narrator for the series.
In the2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, Nikau was appointed aMember of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby league and the community.[22]
In 2008 Nikau was inducted as one of theNZRL Legends of League.[23]
Nikau is also aTigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.[24]
He won a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for emerging leaders in 2011.[19]
In 2023, Nikau was inducted as a life member of the Melbourne Storm.[25]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Aotearoa Māori rugby league team coaches | |
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