Steve Berryman is a Cook Islander

Cook Islanders

Cook Islanders or Cook Islands Māori are residents of the Cook Islands, which is composed of 15 islands and atolls in Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean.- Citizenship and nationality :...

 former professional rugby football

Rugby football

Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...

er who at representative level has played 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...

 for the New Zealand Māori team

New Zealand Maori rugby league team

-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...

 and the Cook Islands

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...

.

Playing career

Berryman attended Huntly College

Huntly College

Huntly College is a state owned school located in the Waikato, New Zealand town of Huntly.The wide variety of programmes available recognises the differing abilities and needs of those attending the school, and ensures that all students have the chance to succeed at their own level and in their...

 and started his career playing for the Taniwharau Rugby League Club

Taniwharau Rugby League Club

The Taniwharau Rugby League Club is a rugby league club from Huntly, New Zealand. They compete in the Waikato Rugby League club competition. The club plays in a green and gold strip and are based at Waahi Pa.-History:...

 in the Waikato Rugby League

Waikato Rugby League

Waikato Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The WRL are represented by the Waikato rugby league team...

 competition in 1993.

Berryman quickly became a Waikato Cougars

Waikato Cougars

The Waikato rugby league team is a New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Waikato Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They competed in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996, the Super League Challenge Cup in 1997 and the Bartercard Premiership in 2008 and 2009...

 representative. Berryman moved to the Wainuiomata Lions

Wainuiomata Lions

The Wainuiomata Lions are a New Zealand rugby league club based in Wainuiomata, Wellington. They compete in the Wellington Rugby League competition.-Noted Players:...

 in 2000 so he could play in the inagural season of 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 captained the Lions, pairing David Faiumu

David Faiumu

David Faiumu is a professional rugby league footballer for the Huddersfield Giants of Super League...

 in the halves.

Berryman signed with the Manly Sea Eagles in 2001, playing in the NSWRL First Division

NSWRL Premier League

The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...

. He remained with the Northern Eagles

Northern Eagles

The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...

 in 2002.

Representative career

Berryman played for the New Zealand Māori rugby league team

New Zealand Maori rugby league team

-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...

 in 1999 and 2000 before switching allegance to the Cook Islands.

Berryman subsequently won caps for the Cook Islands

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...

 in the 2000 Rugby League 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...

.

Later years

Berryman later switched to 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...

, playing for the Te Whanau side in the Central Coast Sevens Rugby Festival.

Berryman is currently the captain-coach of the Toukley Hawks in the Central Coast Division of Country Rugby League and has convinced former teammate John Hopoate

John Hopoate

John Hopoate is a former professional rugby league footballer and boxer. He played club football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles in the National Rugby League competition. Hopoate also gained selection for Tonga, in the Australian national team and in the New...

to join the club.