Name Sebastine Ikahihifo Career start 2012 Weight 96 kg | Height 1.83 m Role Rugby league second row | |
 | ||
Nines post match interview sebastine ikahihifo
Sebastine Ikahihifo (born 27 January 1991) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League. He plays at second-row and lock, and previously played for New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.
Contents
Background
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Ikahihifo is of Tongan descent and played his junior rugby league for the Mangere East Hawks. He signed for the New Zealand Warriors in 2010 and played 36 games in the Toyota Cup, being part of the 2010 and 2011 Grand Final victories. In 2012, Ikahihifo played for the Auckland Vulcans.
Due to the difficulty of some in pronouncing his surname, Huddersfield fans nicknamed him "Derek"
2012
In Round 21 of the 2012 NRL season, Ikahihifo made his first grade début for the New Zealand Warriors against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles playing off the interchange bench in the Warriors' 24-22 loss at NIB Stadium in Perth. Ikahihifo played in 4 matches for the Warriors in the 2012 NRL season.
2013
Ikahihifo finished the 2013 NRL season with him playing in 8 matches for the Warriors.
2014
In February 2014, Ikahihifo was selected in the Warriors' inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad. In June 2014, Ikahihifo had his contract extended to the end of the 2015 season. Ikahihifo finished off the Warriors' 2014 NRL season with him playing in 18 matches.
2015
On 16 January, Ikahihifo was named in the Warriors' 2015 NRL Auckland Nines wider training squad but did not make the final squad. In Round 5 against the Melbourne Storm, he scored his first NRL career try in the Warriors' 30-14 loss at AAMI Park. He finished off the season having played in 9 matches and scoring 1 try. On 23 September, he signed a 2-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2016.
2016
On 29 January, Ikahihifo was named in the Dragons 2016 Auckland Nines squad. He was released from his Dragons contract without making an appearance for the club in order to join the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League as a mid-season transfer.