Jason Temu
Encyclopedia
Jason Temu is a former Cook Island rugby league
player. His position of preference was at Prop.
in the Auckland Rugby League
. In 1994 he followed his coach, Stan Martin
, to the Counties Manukau Heroes in the new Lion Red Cup
competition. After several strong seasons with the Heroes he was offered a professional contract to play for Oldham
in the English First Division. At Oldham Temu made an immediate impression, playing the first 22 consecutive games. Temu was to play for the club for the next three years.
In 1995, after a season with Oldham, Temu was selected by the Cook Island team
to play in the Emerging Nations Tournament
. The Cook Islands won the tournament.
. Temu played 15 games for the club that year.
In 1999 Temu moved to Australia and joined the Newcastle Knights
in the National Rugby League
competition. His time at the club was plagued by injury and over two seasons he only played 3 first grade games. He was released at the end of 2000.
team for the World Cup
and was made vice-captain of the squad.
The Wigan Warriors
were interested in signing Temu, who did not count as a quota player due to the time he had spent in Great Britain
. However he was denied a work permit due to the little game time he had had at Newcastle and so the deal fell through.
Instead, Temu signed with the new New Zealand Warriors
club and provided experience to the younger props in the side. When not selected by the first grade side he played for the Marist Richmond Brothers
in the Bartercard Cup
. He played four first grade games for the Warriors and subsequently decided to retire at the end of the 2001 season.
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. His position of preference was at Prop.
Early years
Temu grew up in New Zealand and played for the Marist SaintsMarist Saints
The Marist Saints is a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. They regularly feature in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
. In 1994 he followed his coach, Stan Martin
Stan Martin (rugby league)
Stan Martin is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player who coached the Cook Islands in the 2000 World Cup.-Playing career:A Richmond Bulldogs player in the Auckland Rugby League competition, Martin won the Rothville Trophy in 1980 as the Premier One player of the year...
, to the Counties Manukau Heroes in the new Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup
The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...
competition. After several strong seasons with the Heroes he was offered a professional contract to play for Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
in the English First Division. At Oldham Temu made an immediate impression, playing the first 22 consecutive games. Temu was to play for the club for the next three years.
In 1995, after a season with Oldham, Temu was selected by the Cook Island team
Cook Islands national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:See 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifyingThe Cook Islands played Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji and Tonga qualified, and Samoa earned a second chance in the repecharge round...
to play in the Emerging Nations Tournament
1995 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
The 1995 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament was held alongside the Centenary Rugby League World Cup. Although the competition received little build-up or promotion, the novelty value of the teams taking part encourage relatively large crowds, and the competition was a success...
. The Cook Islands won the tournament.
Hull & Newcastle
In 1998 Temu made the move to the Hull Sharks and the Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. Temu played 15 games for the club that year.
In 1999 Temu moved to Australia and joined 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...
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...
competition. His time at the club was plagued by injury and over two seasons he only played 3 first grade games. He was released at the end of 2000.
World Cup & Warriors
At the end of 2000 Temu was selected in the Cook IslandCook Islands national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:See 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifyingThe Cook Islands played Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji and Tonga qualified, and Samoa earned a second chance in the repecharge round...
team for the World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
and was made vice-captain of the squad.
The Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
were interested in signing Temu, who did not count as a quota player due to the time he had spent in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. However he was denied a work permit due to the little game time he had had at Newcastle and so the deal fell through.
Instead, Temu signed with the new 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...
club and provided experience to the younger props in the side. When not selected by the first grade side he played for the Marist Richmond Brothers
Marist Richmond Brothers
The Marist Richmond Brothers were a New Zealand rugby league franchise that played in the Bartercard Cup. They were a joint venture between two Auckland Rugby League clubs, the Richmond Bulldogs and the Marist Saints. In 2005 the competition was reorganised and the club, along with the Mt Albert...
in 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...
. He played four first grade games for the Warriors and subsequently decided to retire at the end of the 2001 season.
External links
- Jason Temu bio rugbyleague.co.nz
- Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk