Iosia Soliola

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Iosia Soliola
fullname = Iosia Soliola
nickname = CC, Sia, Man Beast


caption =
country =
position = Centre/Second Row
currentclub = leagueicon|Sydney|16 Sydney Roosters
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1986|8|4|mf=y
placeofbirth = Auckland
countryofbirth = New Zealand
height = convert|190|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on
club1 = leagueicon|Sydney|16 Sydney Roosters
year1start = 2005
year1end = present
appearances1 = 75
tries1 = 20
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 80
teamA = leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16 Junior Kiwis
yearAstart =
yearAend =
appearancesA =
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA =
teamB = leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16 New Zealand
yearBstart = 2006
yearBend = present
appearancesB = 7
triesB = 5
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 20
updated = 12:17, 17 September 2008 (UTC)
source =

Iosia Soliola is a New Zealand international (of Samoan heritage) rugby league player who plays for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition.

Early life

Discovery

Iosia Soliola was discovered by Ricky Stuart, Roosters chief scout Arthur Beetson and Roosters football manager Steve Gigg when on a tour of New South Wales with the Ponsonby Under-18 side in 2003.

The trio had been tipped off about this hulking centre and the fact Soliola didn't return to New Zealand with Ponsonby suggests they liked what they saw. He was quickly signed, enrolled at Marcellin College Randwick in Sydney's eastern suburbs and billeted at a team house in Bondi.

After making his debut in Jersey Flegg and proving too good for that comp, Soliola moved onto Premier League in which he won a premiership with the Roosters in 2004.

In 2005, Soliola made his first grade debut for the Roosters against South Sydney and went on to play 19 games for the club that season, crossing the line 6 times and making more tackles than any other centre in the game that year with 19.7 per game. Fact|date=June 2007

He was chosen to make his international debut at the age of 19 for New Zealand in the Tri-nations series of 2005, however was forced to pull out due to injury.

Soliola then went on to represent New Zealand in the 2006 Tri-nations tournament. In 5 games, Soliola scored 4 try's including a double against the Australians at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne. He was close to being named in the World 13 team but was just pipped by both Mark Gasnier and Justin Hodges.

2007

Soliola was dropped to premier league in the middle of the 2007 season before returning back to first grade in round 14 and hit career best form before he badly injured his knee in round 22 against the West Tigers missing the rest of the 2007 season and also missing out on New Zealand selection for the tour of Great Britain and France

2008

Soliola returned from his lengthy spell on the sidelines in the off season to come off the bench in the Roosters opening centenary clash against South Sydney in round 1. Coach Brad Fittler debuted Soliola in the backrow as he played 25 minutes in his new role. He also represented the kiwi's in the 100 year centenary test match where he scored one of the best tries of his short career.

World Cup

Soliola has been named in the New Zealand Kiwi's 49 man World Cup Squad.

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]

Career playing statistics

Point Scoring Summary - Sydney Roosters

References

External links

* [http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/players/player_profile.php?grade=first_grade&player_name=Iosia%20Soliola Iosia Soliola Official Player Profile]