Wes Naiqama

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Wes Naiqama
fullname = Wesley J. Naiqama
nickname = Bulla, Coconutcite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/elusive-naiqama-even-has-his-mates-guessing/2005/09/13/1126377314458.html|title=Elusive Naiqama even has his mates guessing|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2005-09-14|accessdate=2008-07-28]


caption =
country =
position = Wing / Centre
currentclub = leagueicon|Newcastle|size=16 Newcastle Knights
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|10|19
placeofbirth = Sutherland, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)
weight = 15 st 0 lb (95 kg)
club1 = leagueicon|St George|size=16 St George Illawarra
year1start = 2005
year1end = 2007
appearances1 = 38
tries1 = 16
goals1 = 48
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 160
club2 = leagueicon|Newcastle|size=16 Newcastle Knights
year2start = 2008
year2end = present
appearances2 = 19
tries2 = 6
goals2 = 8
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 40
teamA = leagueicon|Fiji|size=16 Fiji
yearAstart = 2003
yearAend =
appearancesA =
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA =
updated = 09:29, 9 September 2008 (UTC)
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=160010 NRL Stats]

Wes Naiqama (born October 19, 1982 in Sydney, New South Wales to Fijian parents) is a Fijian rugby league player for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition. Naiqama has represented Fiji on several occasions including the World Sevens, his position of choice is on the wing.

Career highlights

*"Junior Club:" Arncliffe Scots
*"First Grade Record:" 29 appearances scoring 13 tries & 32 goals
*In 2002 he scored 38 points (5 tries and 9 goals) in a Jersey Flegg for St George Illawarra against North Sydney.

Controversy

Recent public outbursts with his current lover, 4th placee in the first series of Australian Idol, Paulini Curuenavuli (who is a Young Diva), have seemingly unaffected his on-field abilities. However his future with the St George Illawarra Dragons is in doubt following more off-field incidents.

In December, 2006, Naiqama was arrested but not charged over an alleged assault in Sydney's King Cross. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Dragons-Naiqama-lands-in-trouble-again/2006/12/17/1166290409898.html The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 December, 2006. "Dragons' Naiqama lands in trouble again"] ]

On 28 February, 2007, Wes Naiqama was convicted by a Sydney court for driving a car while his license was disqualified. The court sentenced Naiqama to serve a maximum of eight months periodic detention, with a non-parole period of four months. This was the fourth time Naiqama had been convicted of such an offence. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/dragons-stand-by-wes-for-now/2007/02/28/1172338694876.html The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 February, 2007. "Weekends off for league: Naiqama gets PD"] ] [Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 2007. Story: "Wes Naiqama gets sentence reduced on appeal" [http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/wes-naiqama-gets-sentence-reduced-on-appeal/2007/06/05/1180809478771.html] ]

As a child, Wes Naiqama attended James Cook Boys Technology High School.

Fiji

He has been named in the Fiji training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=96697|title=Bati pencil in new Newcastle pace ace Uate|publisher=Fiji Times Online|date=2008-08-01|accessdate=2008-08-08] cite web|url=http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/08/06/fijian-preliminary-squad.aspx|title=Fijian preliminary squad|publisher=RLWC08.com|date=2008-08-06|accessdate=2008-08-02]

He has been named in the Fiji squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7658506.stm|title=Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-08|accessdate=2008-10-10]

References

External links

* [http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/Wes_Naiqama Newcastle Knights profile]
* [http://www.nrl.com/myclub/players.cfm?TeamID=13&PlayerID=1207 Wes Naiqama NRL Profile]
* [http://www.gowes.net Wes Naiqama Official Fan Club]