Anthony Tupou

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Anthony Tupou
fullname = Anthony Tupou
nickname = Toops


caption =
country =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|3|1|df=yes
placeofbirth = Newcastle
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on
position = rlp|SR
club1 = leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|16 Sydney Roosters
year1start = 2004
year1end = 2008
appearances1 = 111
tries1 = 19
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 76
teamA = leagueicon|Country|16 Country
yearAstart = 2005
yearAend =
appearancesA = 1
triesA = 0
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 0
teamB = leagueicon|New South Wales|16 New South Wales
yearBstart = 2007
yearBend = present
appearancesB = 3
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB = 0
teamC = leagueicon|Australia|16 Australia
yearCstart = 2006
yearCend = present
appearancesC = 6
triesC = 1
goalsC = 0
fieldgoalsC = 0
pointsC = 4
updated = 30 March 2008
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=440224 NRL Stats] , [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Anthony_Tupou.html RLP]

Anthony Tupou (born 1 March 1984) is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition.

He will join the Cronulla Sharks 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]

Domestic career

Early career

Before joining the Roosters in 2004, Tupou played for Newcastle rugby league team Wests which he spent most of his childhood and teenage years.

ydney Roosters

Tupou made his first-grade debut in 2004 against South Sydney, [ [http://www.nrl.com/Clubs/Roosters/RoostersPlayerProfile/tabid/221/playerid/148/Default.aspx NRL Profile] ] and was a member of the Roosters' grand final team in that season. In 2005, Tupou made his representative debut in the Country Origin team. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/Country-boy-chips-away-and-gets-a-jersey-to-diet-for/2005/05/02/1114886315557.html Country Origin] ]

In the September 2004 issue of Big League magazine, after making his debut with the Roosters, Tupou claimed that growing up his favourite player to watch was Queensland legend Mal Maninga. He also claimed that his biggest influence on his football was his father and current (now former) Rooster's coach Ricky Stuart.cite web|url=http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/players/player_profile.php?grade=first_grade&player_name=Anthony%20Tupou|publisher=Sydney Roosters|date=2006-03-26|accessdate=2008-05-03}]

Cronulla Sharks

On 22 April 2008, Tupou announced that he had accepted a 4 year deal with the Cronulla Sharks worth 1.5 million dollars.cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,23578177-14823,00.html|title=$1.5m makes Tupou a Shark|publisher=Herald Sun|date=2008-04-22|accessdate=2008-05-12]

Representative career

Australia

At the end of the 2006 season, Tupou was selected for the Australian team [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/injury-to-maitua-opens-door-for-tupou/2006/10/17/1160850901184.html Injury to Maitua Opens Door for Tupou] ] , as a replacement for Reni Maitua. He played four matches, scoring one try. Tupou retained his Test spot in 2007 for the Anzac Test against New Zealand.

In August 2008, Tupou was named in the Australia training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/01/sports/AS-RGL-Australia-Squad.php|title=Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=2008-08-01|accessdate=2008-08-02]

He has been named in the Australia squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, replacing Mick Crocker who withdrew through injury.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656211.stm|title=Australia recall Tupou from Tonga|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-09|accessdate=2008-10-09]

New South Wales

Tupou made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2007 season. Interestingly, his Test debut came before his Origin debut. However, he was dropped for Game 2.

Tonga

He has been named in the Tonga training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3935853,00.html|title=Tug-of-war over Mason|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-08-06]

He withdrew from the Tonga squad to take a place in the Australia squad.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656211.stm|title=Australia recall Tupou from Tonga|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-09|accessdate=2008-10-09]

References

External links

* [http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/players/player_profile.php?grade=first_grade&player_name=Anthony%20Tupou Sydney Roosters profile]