Name Leilani Latu Career start 2013 Weight 120 kg | Height 1.9 m Role Rugby league rugby prop | |
"He's got springs in his palms" - Huge hand off from Taupau
Leilani Latu (born 5 February 1993) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He is a Tongan national representative who plays at prop.
Contents
- Hes got springs in his palms Huge hand off from Taupau
- Pepper stadium james tamou vs leilani latu
- Background
- Early career
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- References
Pepper stadium james tamou vs leilani latu
Background
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Latu is of Tongan, Italian, and Torres Strait Islander descent. He played his junior rugby league for St. John Eagles, Punchbowl, before being signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Early career
In 2011, Latu captained the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to the grand final of the S. G. Ball Cup, before moving into their National Youth Competition team, where he stayed until 2012. In 2013, he graduated to the Bulldogs' New South Wales Cup team.
In 2014, he joined the Penrith Panthers on a 2-year contract.
2015
On 3 May, Latu played for the New South Wales Residents against the Queensland Residents. In Round 21 of the 2015 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Panthers against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. On 14 September, he re-signed with the Panthers on a 2-year contract until the end of 2017. On 27 September, he was named at lock in the 2015 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year. On 9 October, Latu was named to make his international debut for Tonga in their 2017 World Cup qualifying match against the Cook Islands, though he was replaced by 18th man David Fifita in a late change.
2016
On 13 February, Latu played for the Indigenous All Stars against the World All Stars, playing off the interchange bench and scoring a try i his team's 8-12 loss at Suncorp Stadium. On 20 July, he extended his contract with the Panthers from the end of 2017 until the end of 2020.
2017
On 10 February 2017, Latu played for the Indigenous All Stars against the World All Stars in the 2017 All Stars match, coming off the interchange bench in the 34-8 win at Hunter Stadium. On 6 May 2017, Latu made his international debut for Tonga, scoring 2 tries in their 2017 Pacific Test against Fiji.