Whetu Taewa
Encyclopedia
Whetu Taewa is a former professional rugby league
player who represented his country six times between 1989 and 1996.
and made the Junior Kiwis
in 1988. In 1987 Taewa made the New Zealand under 17's training squad and also debuted in the West Coast rugby union side. In 1989 he moved to Christchurch
and played for the Hallswell club. This was the year he first made the New Zealand Kiwis, joining their tour to Great Britain
. From 1990 to 1993 he was part of the successful Canterbury
side of the era and again joined the Kiwis on the 1993 tour. He played 4 games for the West Coast and 37 games for Canterbury. He played in the 1992 Pacific Cup
for the New Zealand Māori
side. In 1993 he was invited to be part of an Auckland Invitational XIII side that drew 16-all with the Balmain Tigers
.
premiership. He moved up to Auckland and played for the Counties Manukau Heroes in the Lion Red Cup
that year and represented Auckland
in their Rugby League Cup challenge. In 1995 he was in the inaugural run on side for the Warriors in their first match against the Brisbane Broncos
.
However in 1996 he was released from the club and he joined the North Queensland Cowboys
. Taewa toured PNG in 1996 with the New Zealand Māori
.
in the Super League
competition. Taewa played Centre in Sheffield Eagles
' 17-8 victory over Wigan
in the 1998 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 2 May 1998.
In 1999 he joined the Hull Kingston Rovers
who played in the Northern Ford Premiership, the division below the Super League. He became the captain in 2000, before retiring at the end of the 2002 season.
before he returned home to New Zealand. Taewa left Hull KR after a family friend fell ill in New Zealand. He now resides in Cromwell
.
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 represented his country six times between 1989 and 1996.
New Zealand
Whetu started playing on the West Coast where he played all grades up to the West Coast Representative sideWest Coast rugby league team
The West Coast rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the West Coast Rugby League. They have been nicknamed the Chargers.-History:...
and made the Junior Kiwis
Junior 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...
in 1988. In 1987 Taewa made the New Zealand under 17's training squad and also debuted in the West Coast rugby union side. In 1989 he moved to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and played for the Hallswell club. This was the year he first made the New Zealand Kiwis, joining their tour to 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...
. From 1990 to 1993 he was part of the successful Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
side of the era and again joined the Kiwis on the 1993 tour. He played 4 games for the West Coast and 37 games for Canterbury. He played in the 1992 Pacific Cup
1992 Pacific Cup (rugby league)
-Section 2:An opening ceremony was held at Carlaw Park before the New Zealand Māori v Australian Aboriginies match.-Finals:-Semi Finals:-Third place playoff:-Final:...
for the New Zealand Māori
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...
side. In 1993 he was invited to be part of an Auckland Invitational XIII side that drew 16-all with the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
.
Australian Rugby League
In 1994 he signed with the Auckland Warriors who were to be a new team in the Australian Rugby LeagueAustralian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
premiership. He moved up to Auckland and played for the Counties Manukau Heroes in the 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...
that year and represented Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
in their Rugby League Cup challenge. In 1995 he was in the inaugural run on side for the Warriors in their first match against the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
However in 1996 he was released from the club and he joined the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. Taewa toured PNG in 1996 with the New Zealand Māori
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...
.
England
In 1997 he joined the Sheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
in the 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...
competition. Taewa played Centre in Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
' 17-8 victory over Wigan
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....
in the 1998 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on 2 May 1998.
In 1999 he joined the Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
who played in the Northern Ford Premiership, the division below the Super League. He became the captain in 2000, before retiring at the end of the 2002 season.
Coaching & Later Years
In 2003 he was an assistant coach for Hull KRHull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
before he returned home to New Zealand. Taewa left Hull KR after a family friend fell ill in New Zealand. He now resides in Cromwell
Cromwell, New Zealand
Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand.It is situated between State Highway 6 and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge...
.