Thomas Leuluai

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Tommy Leuluai
fullname = Thomas Leuluai
nickname = Tommy, Lulu, Shoulders

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image_size = 250px
caption =
country =
position = Half-Back
currentclub = leagueicon|Wigan|size=16 Wigan Warriors
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|6|22
placeofbirth = Auckland
countryofbirth = New Zealand
height = 5 ft 7 in (1.71 m)
weight = 13 st 6 lb (85 kg)
club1 = leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|size=16 NZ Warriors
year1start = 2003
year1end = 2004
appearances1 = 22
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 8
club2 = leagueicon|Harlequins|size=16 Harlequins RL
year2start = 2004
year2end = 2006
appearances2 = 38
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 76
club3 = leagueicon|Wigan|size=16 Wigan Warriors
year3start = 2007
year3end =
appearances3 = 19
tries3 =
goals3 =
fieldgoals3 =
points3 = 20
teamA = leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16 Junior Kiwis
yearAstart =
yearAend =
appearancesA =
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA =
teamB = leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16 New Zealand
yearBstart = 2003
yearBend =
appearancesB = 6
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB = 6
updated =
source =
new = yes

Thomas Leuluai (born June 22 1985 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player for Wigan Warriors in the English Super League competition. His position is half-back.

His father is former New Zealand international James Leuluai

Career

New Zealand Warriors Career

He started his professional career at National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors in 2003. At the time of his debut he was the youngest player to play for the club, coincidentally in the same game Mark Robinson became the oldest player to make his debut for the club.

He had limited first team experience at New Zealand Warriors with competition from New Zealand internationals Stacey Jones and Lance Hohaia. He spent most of the 2003 season in the Bartercard Cup playing for his youth club Otahuhu-Ellerslie playing 10 games and scoring 5 tries.

At the end of 2004, he left the Warriors after playing 22 first grade games; scoring 2 tries and kicking 24 goals.

London Broncos Career

In 2004, Tommy signed a contract with Super League side London Broncos (now called Harlequins Rugby League) as a replacement for Dennis Moran who had left the Broncos to join Wigan Warriors.

He spent two years at the club playing 38 games and scoring 19 tries. Both seasons were affected by injury. In 2005, his season was cut short by a broken ankle while his 2006 campaign was disrupted by a hamstring injury sustained while playing for New Zealand. His contract was not extended and he agreed to join Wigan Warriors for the 2007 season.

Wigan Warriors Career

Thomas agreed a three year deal with Wigan Warriors in December 2006 after months of speculation and rumours, he would replace Australia Michael Dobson and partner Trent Barrett in the half back during the 2007 season.

Leuluai made his Wigan, Super League debut in a 16-10 defeat against Warrington at the JJB Stadium on 9th February 2007.

He scored the game winning try against St Helens at the JJB stadium and scored Wigans first against Bradford in the history breaking 30-31 comeback win in the Play Offs

Representative career

Thomas is the second youngest player ever to represent the Kiwis, which he has done six times to date.

On 9th May 2008, Leuluai played for New Zealand against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the Centenary Test representing 100 years to the day that the New Zealand 'All Golds' first met Australia.

He has been named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3949034,00.html|title=Kiwis select Sonny Bill|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-08]

He has been named in the New Zealand squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656238.stm|title=Kiwis to wait on Webb and Matai|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-07]

References

External links

* [http://www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMember.asp?teamid=1&id=251 Thomas Leuluai Official Player Profile]
* [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/Thomas_Leuluai.html NRL stats]