- Tony Puletua
Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Tony Puletua
fullname = Tony Puletua
nickname = T
caption =
country =
position = Second row
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|6|25|df=yes
placeofbirth =Auckland
countryofbirth =New Zealand
height = convert|192|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|110|kg|stlb|abbr=on
club1 = leagueicon|Penrith|size=16 Penrith
year1start = 1997
year1end = 2008
appearances1 = 211
tries1 = 40
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 160
teamA = leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16New Zealand
yearAstart = 1998
yearAend = 2007
appearancesA = 11
triesA = 1
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 4
teamB = leagueicon|Samoa|16Samoa
yearBstart = 2007
yearBend =
appearancesB =
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB =
updated = 14:29, 8 September 2008 (UTC)
source =Tony Puletua (born
25 June 1979 inAuckland, New Zealand ) is aNew Zealand professionalrugby league player for thePenrith Panthers in theNational Rugby League (NRL) competition and a New Zealand international. His position of choice is in the second row.He will join St Helens in the
European Super League from the 2009 season.cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-04]Penrith Panthers
Puletua has been captain of the Panthers since January, 2006.
Puletua's brother, Frank, also plays for the Penrith Panthers.
Representative football
Puletua has represented the New Zealand national team on eleven occasions since 1998 as well as in the 2000 World Cup. His most recent selection was for New Zealand against Australia in the ANZAC Test on the 20th April 2007 as a replacement for the injured
David Kidwell .He is eligible to represent Samoa.cite web|url=http://www.samoaobserver.ws/local/LNPages/0308/2808ln013.htm|title=NRL’s island talent|publisher=Samoa Observer|date=2008-03-28|accessdate=2008-08-04]
He has been named in the Samoa training squad for the
2008 Rugby League World Cup .cite web|url=http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=16750|title=Samoa name World Cup Squad|publisher=League Unlimited|date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-08-06]He has been named in the Samoa 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=2008-10-09]2008
Puletua will join St Helens at the end of the 2008 season on a three-year deal.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7362436.stm|title=St Helens bring in Kiwi Puletua|publisher=BBC|date=2008-04-23|accessdate=2008-04-23]
Puletua was contracted to the Panthers until the end of the 2009 season. He was a target for the
St. George Illawarra Dragons .cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23409879-23214,00.html|title=Dragons chasing Puletua|publisher=Fox Sports|date=2008-03-21|accessdate=2008-03-20] cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23448847-23214,00.html|title=Penrith players in coaching meltdown|publisher=Fox Sports|date=2008-03-29|accessdate=2008-03-29] cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23472478-23214,00.html|title=Lewis set to become bunny|publisher=Fox Sports|date=2008-04-02|accessdate=2008-04-02] He has also been linked to a mid-season transfer toHarlequins Rugby League amongst other Super League clubs.cite web|url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/panthers-face-exodus-of-stars/2008/03/28/1206207406094.html|title=Panthers face exodus of stars|publisher=LeagueHQ|date=2008-03-29|accessdate=2008-04-02] A move at the end of the 2008 season may have seen the Samoan international move to Saints, Huddersfield orHull FC .cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23519333-23214,00.html|title=Puletua will be allowed to leave|publisher=Fox Sports|date=2008-04-11|accessdate=2008-04-11]Career highlights
* "First Grade Debut:" 1997 - Round 10, Penrith v Perth Reds at the WACA, 4 May
* "Representative Debut:" 1998 - Australia vs New Zealand,Suncorp Stadium , 9 October
* "Premierships:" 2003 - member of the Grand final winning Panthers team that defeated theSydney Roosters , 18–6References
External links
* [http://www.panthers.com.au/default.aspx?id=51 Tony Puletua Official Player Profile]
* [http://nzrl.sitesuite.ws/page/tony_puletua.html Tony Puletua NZRL Player Profile]
* [http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/07/10/04/RUGBYL_World_Cup.html Warriors prop opts for Samoa]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
