Willie Talau

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Willie Talau
fullname = Willie Talau
nickname = Loaf, Tea Towel


image_size= 200px
caption =
country =
position = Centre
currentclub = leagueicon|St Helens|size=16 St Helens
clubnumber = 4
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|1|25
placeofbirth = Apia
countryofbirth = Samoa
height = convert|5|ft|11.5|in|cm|abbr=on
weight = convert|14|st|10|lb|kg|abbr=on
club1 = Leagueicon|Bulldogs|size=16 Canterbury Bulldogs
year1start = 1998
year1end = 2003
appearances1 = 101
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 152
club2 = leagueicon|St Helens|size=16 St Helens
year2start = 2003
year2end = present
appearances2 = 123
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 200
teamA = Flagicon|New Zealand New Zealand
yearAstart = 1999
yearAend = 2006
appearancesA = 13
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA = 13
teamB = Flagicon|Samoa Samoa
yearBstart = 2007
yearBend =
appearancesB =
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB =
updated =
source =
new = yes

Willie Talau (born 25/1/1976 in Samoa) is a rugby league player who plays for St Helens and New Zealand.

Talau will join European Super League side Salford City Reds for the 2009 season.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/salford/7657003.stm|title=Salford snap up Talau from Saints|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-10] cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby_league/s/1069907_reds_in_talau_swoop?rss=yes|title=Reds in Talau swoop|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=2008-10-01|accessdate=2008-10-01]

Wille is a strong-running centre, renowned for his strong defence and his clinical finishing close to the opposition line. Willie Talau has 13 New Zealand caps and played for the Kiwis at Old Trafford in the 2000 World Cup Final.

He signed for St Helens in late 2003, having previously played for Canterbury Bulldogs. He made his Super League debut on 24 August 2003 against Hull FC.

Talau scored 2 tries in the 2004 Challenge Cup Final, and participated in St Helens' 2006 historic treble, scoring in both the Challenge Cup Final and the Super League Grand Final. Willie Talau scored 11 tries in 29 games during the 2006 season.

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 played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final defeat to the Leeds Rhinos.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642170.stm|title=2008 Grand Final|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-05]

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]

References

External links

* [http://www.bulldogs.com.au/main.php?page=player&id=625 Willie Talau Bulldogs Profile]