Ben Matulino
Encyclopedia
Benedict Andrew Matulino (born 3 January 1989 in Wellington
, New Zealand
) is a rugby league
player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors
in the National Rugby League
. His position of preference is in the second-row.
and was educated at St Bernard's College
, playing 1st XV rugby union
for the College. Matulino decided to convert to rugby league due to lack of game time in Union. This decision paid off as he won the College Sport Wellington Rugby League
player of the year in 2006. He played for Te Aroha Eels and Randwick Kingfishers before making the Wellington Orcas
squad for the Bartercard Cup
.
Ben was originally signed to the Newcastle Knights
but turned down the offer because of personal reasons. Matulino was signed by the Warriors in 2006, but did not join the squad until the 2008 season as they allowed him to stay in Wellington to play for the Wellington Orcas in the Bartercard Cup.
debut in Round 14 against the Cronulla Sharks
at Toyota Stadium on the 14th of June 2008. He scored his first try in first grade in his 8th game against the Brisbane Broncos. In his 9th game, Ben made the starting line up for the Warriors for the first time due to the injury of Micheal Luck
.
Ben was named in the Toyota Cup Under 20 Team of the Year in 2008 alongside teammate Russell Packer
. He finished his Toyota Cup career with thirteen appearances and two tries.
Ben has extended his contract with the Warriors until 2013.
and in 2007 he played for the New Zealand under 18's.
In 2008 he was named in both the Samoan and New Zealand training squads for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
but was not selected in either final 24 man squad.
He was named in the New Zealand Kiwis 2009 Four Nations squad and made his debut against France
on 1 November 2009.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. His position of preference is in the second-row.
Early years
Matulino, a New Zealand born Samoan, is from Lower HuttLower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
and was educated at St Bernard's College
St. Bernard's College, Lower Hutt
St Bernard's College is a Catholic Year 7 to 13 secondary School for Boys, located on Waterloo Rd, Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand. The Marist Brothers, in response to Archbishop McKeefry's call, opened St Bernard's School in 1946...
, playing 1st XV rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for the College. Matulino decided to convert to rugby league due to lack of game time in Union. This decision paid off as he won the College Sport Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.- Local Senior Competition :The...
player of the year in 2006. He played for Te Aroha Eels and Randwick Kingfishers before making the Wellington Orcas
Wellington Orcas
The Wellington rugby league team are a rugby league team that represents the Wellington Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They currently compete in the National Zonal Competition as the Wellington Orcas.-Early years:...
squad for the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
.
Ben was originally signed to the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
but turned down the offer because of personal reasons. Matulino was signed by the Warriors in 2006, but did not join the squad until the 2008 season as they allowed him to stay in Wellington to play for the Wellington Orcas in the Bartercard Cup.
Warriors
Ben started the 2008 season playing for the Junior Warriors in the Toyota Cup. With stand out performances, Matulino made his first gradeNational Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
debut in Round 14 against the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
at Toyota Stadium on the 14th of June 2008. He scored his first try in first grade in his 8th game against the Brisbane Broncos. In his 9th game, Ben made the starting line up for the Warriors for the first time due to the injury of Micheal Luck
Micheal Luck
Micheal Luck is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors. Micheal Luck's position of choice is as a lock or in the second-row.-Queensland:...
.
Ben was named in the Toyota Cup Under 20 Team of the Year in 2008 alongside teammate Russell Packer
Russell Packer
Russell Packer is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League competition...
. He finished his Toyota Cup career with thirteen appearances and two tries.
Ben has extended his contract with the Warriors until 2013.
International
Ben was named in the squad to attend the 2005 New Zealand under-16 high performance camp, showing that he was on the national selectors radar. In 2006 Ben made the Junior KiwisJunior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
and in 2007 he played for the New Zealand under 18's.
In 2008 he was named in both the Samoan and New Zealand training squads for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
but was not selected in either final 24 man squad.
He was named in the New Zealand Kiwis 2009 Four Nations squad and made his debut against France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
on 1 November 2009.