Tevita Latu
Encyclopedia
Tevita Leo-Latu is a professional rugby league
footballer for the Central Queensland Comets of the Queensland Cup
. He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors
and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League
. His usual position is at hooker though he can also play in the halves.
club in the New Zealand Bartercard Cup competition. It was there where his skills were noticed by the New Zealand Warriors
whom immediately signed him up to their playing roster for the beginning of the 2003 season.
He spent the next two seasons at the club falling both in and out of favour with the team's selectors seeing him make only a further thirteen appearances from 2003-2004 for the club after his début.
After some loss of form and falling out of favour with the Warriors coaching staff during the 2005 season where he was only given a mere eight appearances, the club decided to release Latu at the completion of the NRL season.
on the field for the Sharks adding a much needed attacking spark. Latu played a total of ten games for the club before being involved in an off field assault and subsequently having his contract terminated by the club.
As further details emerged, it was revealed that Latu and the alleged victim Brooke Peninton had both been present at Cronulla's Kingsway BP service station at 3.am. the previous Sunday. Allegedly the two individuals had been in discussion before an altercation arose ending with Latu assaulting Peninton, punching her in the face, resulting in a broken nose and other minor injuries.
Latu was arrested the following day at 11.30 p.m. and charged by police with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had been granted police bail to face Sutherland Local Court on 15 June.
Latu had his contract with the Cronulla Sharks terminated as a result of the incident. On Wednesday, 24 May The Sydney Morning Herald announced that the NRL
had de-registered Latu as a player, and stated that it would refuse to register him if he signed with another club. Other sporting codes were urged to follow the NRL's lead .
He was sentenced to eight months' periodic detention for his actions but was later reduced to community service after an appeal on 10 July 2006.
After serving his time, Latu was signed by Super League
club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
, where he currently plays.
2. On Tuesday, 7 August 2007, Tevita Leo-Latu received a six-match ban for making a racist remark toward Warrington's Kevin Penny
on 17 June earlier that year.
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Tonga squad.
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...
footballer for the Central Queensland Comets of the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
. He previously played 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...
and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 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 usual position is at hooker though he can also play in the halves.
Childhood and early career
Latu began playing rugby league at a young age in Auckland for his local club side Richmond, though he did not start to seriously contemplate a professional career in league until his late teens when he started playing for the BrothersMarist 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...
club in the New Zealand Bartercard Cup competition. It was there where his skills were noticed by 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...
whom immediately signed him up to their playing roster for the beginning of the 2003 season.
New Zealand Warriors
Latu made his début for the New Zealand side coming off the bench during round twelve of the 2003 season against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, a match in which Latu helped his club to a good victory of 23 to 6.He spent the next two seasons at the club falling both in and out of favour with the team's selectors seeing him make only a further thirteen appearances from 2003-2004 for the club after his début.
After some loss of form and falling out of favour with the Warriors coaching staff during the 2005 season where he was only given a mere eight appearances, the club decided to release Latu at the completion of the NRL season.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tevita signed for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at the beginning of the 2006 season, immediately becoming a regular selection in the Sharks seventeen. He was often used as an interchange hooker often replacing Kevin KingstonKevin Kingston
Kevin Kingston is an Australian professional rugby league player for Pia XIII and the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League competition. He has previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Parramatta Eels. Kingston primarily plays at hooker.He played in the Eels 2009 NRL...
on the field for the Sharks adding a much needed attacking spark. Latu played a total of ten games for the club before being involved in an off field assault and subsequently having his contract terminated by the club.
Controversies
1. On Tuesday, 23 May 2006, it was reported that Latu had been involved in an altercation in the early hours of the morning before with a 19-year-old woman in Cronulla.As further details emerged, it was revealed that Latu and the alleged victim Brooke Peninton had both been present at Cronulla's Kingsway BP service station at 3.am. the previous Sunday. Allegedly the two individuals had been in discussion before an altercation arose ending with Latu assaulting Peninton, punching her in the face, resulting in a broken nose and other minor injuries.
Latu was arrested the following day at 11.30 p.m. and charged by police with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had been granted police bail to face Sutherland Local Court on 15 June.
Latu had his contract with the Cronulla Sharks terminated as a result of the incident. On Wednesday, 24 May The Sydney Morning Herald announced that the NRL
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...
had de-registered Latu as a player, and stated that it would refuse to register him if he signed with another club. Other sporting codes were urged to follow the NRL's lead .
He was sentenced to eight months' periodic detention for his actions but was later reduced to community service after an appeal on 10 July 2006.
After serving his time, Latu was signed by Super League
Super 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...
club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
, where he currently plays.
2. On Tuesday, 7 August 2007, Tevita Leo-Latu received a six-match ban for making a racist remark toward Warrington's Kevin Penny
Kevin Penny
Kevin Penny is an English rugby league for Swinton in rugby league's Championship. He has previously played for Warrington, Wakefield Trinity and on loan for Harlequins RL and Widnes. Penny is also a youth level international for England....
on 17 June earlier that year.
New Zealand
After some impressive performances for his club during the 2004 season Latu was called up to the New Zealand international side for the middle of the year one off test match against the Australians. Latu started on the bench eventually coming on to make his international début.Tonga
In August 2008, Leo-Latu was named in the Tonga training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup2008 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...
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Tonga squad.