- Matt Utai
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Matt Utai 
Utai in 2008 Personal information Full name Matthew Okeuy Utai[1] Born 25 May 1981
Auckland, New ZealandHeight 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) Weight 96 kg (15 st 2 lb) Playing information Position Wing Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2002–2009 Bulldogs 124 71 0 0 284 2011– Wests Tigers 17 6 0 0 24 Total 141 77 0 0 308 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2002–05 New Zealand 4 2 0 0 8 2008 Samoa 3 2 0 0 8 As of 30 August 2011 Source: League Central RLP Matthew Utai (born 25 May 1981 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wests Tigers in the NRL and has previously represented both New Zealand and Samoa. His usual position is on the wing.
Contents
Playing career
Utai was a Berala Bears and came through the development squads at the Canterbury Bulldogs.[2] In 2000, Utai started the year in Jersey Flegg, but his form warranted promotion to the Reserve Grade side and he played in 16 matches including scoring two tries in the Grand Final victory against the Penrith Panthers.
He made his first grade debut in 2002.
He was a member of the Bulldogs' 2004 Premiership winning team in their 16–13 win over the Sydney Roosters, scoring two tries in the match.
In a 2006 match Utai became the first player that season to be sent off, for a swinging arm on the Wests Tigers' Stuart Flanagan. Utai was suspended for five weeks.
In 2009 Utai spent most of the season playing for the Bankstown City side in the NSW Cup. He became the only Bulldogs player to win five premierships across all grades when Bankstown City won the grand final that year.[2]
He originally signed the Crusaders Super League club for 2010 but failed to recover from a knee injury.[3][4][5] Instead Utai joined NSW Country Rugby League Club, Young in Group 9.[6] Utai was then released from Young and joined the Auburn Warriors.[7] He would have signed with the Wests Tigers but Welsh Super League club Crusaders demanded a compensation fee of $130,000.
Utai joined the Wests Tigers in 2011, making his first appearance in the first round of the season.
Representative career
Utai was selected to represent the New Zealand National Team on four occasions between 2002 and 2005, all matches against Australia.
Utai is of Samoan descent and has made himself available for Samoa's 2008 Rugby League World Cup campaign.[8]
He has been named in the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[9]
He has been named in the Samoa squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[10]
Career highlights
- First Grade Debut: 2002 - Round 4, Bulldogs vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Aussie Stadium, 5 April.
- Premierships: 2004 - Bulldogs vs Sydney Roosters.
- Representative Selection: 2002 - New Zealand vs Australia, Wellington, New Zealand, scoring one try.
- Awards: 2002 - Dally M Rookie of the Year.
References
- ^ UTAI, MATTHEW OKEUY 2002 - 2005 - KIWI #694 nzleague.co.nz
- ^ a b Matt Utai Tribute rleague.com, 10 October 2009
- ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/bulldogs-star-matt-utai-signs-with-celtic-crusaders-in-super-league/story-e6frexnr-1225787368206
- ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby/2009/11/21/matt-set-for-crus-control-115875-21838504/
- ^ "Clock ticking for Crusaders". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5814305,00.html.
- ^ http://www.youngwitness.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/cherrypickers-sign-utai/1712169.aspx
- ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/bungle-dogs-matt/story-e6freye0-1225853871102
- ^ "Mateo forced to declare his allegiance". LeagueHQ. 2008-04-30. http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/australia-or-else/2008/04/29/1209234862114.html. Retrieved 2008-04-29.[dead link]
- ^ "Samoa name World Cup Squad". League Unlimited. 2008-08-05. http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=16750. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ "Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads". BBC. 2008-10-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7658506.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
External links
Wests Tigers – Farah (c) • Akeripa • Ayshford • Brown • Daniela • Dwyer • Ellis • A. Fifita • Flanagan • Fulton • Galloway • Gibbs • Groat • Heighington • Hyland • Latu • Samoa squad – 2008 Rugby League World Cup Bulldogs squad - 2004 NRL Premiers (8th title) 1. Luke Patten • 2. Hazem El Masri • 3. Ben Harris • 4. Willie Tonga • 5. Matt Utai • 6. Braith Anasta • 7. Brent Sherwin
8. Mark O'Meley • 9. Adam Perry • 11. Willie Mason • 14. Reni Maitua • 12. Andrew Ryan (c) • 13. Tony Grimaldi
15. Corey Hughes • 16. Roy Asotasi • 17. Sonny Bill Williams • 18. Johnathan Thurston
Coach: Steve FolkesCategories:- 1981 births
- New Zealand people of Samoan descent
- People from Auckland
- New Zealand national rugby league team players
- New Zealand rugby league players
- Samoa national rugby league team players
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players
- Wests Tigers players
- Living people
- Samoan rugby league players
- Bay Roskill Vikings players
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