Daniel Fepuleai

Daniel Fepuleai (born 25 November 1988) is a Cook Islands professional rugby league footballer for the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup. He previously played with Sydney Roosters in Australasia's National Rugby League, and the St. George Illawarra Dragons as well as a stint with the New Jersey Turnpike Titans in the USA Rugby League. He plays primarily as a hooker. Despite never featuring for the Dragons' first grade team, Fepuleai reached the final of the 2009 Pacific Cup with the Cook Islands. He made his NRL debut for Sydney Roosters against the Penrith Panthers in round 5 of the competition in 2010.

Daniel Fepuleai
Personal information
Born (1988-11-25) 25 November 1988
Sydney, Australia
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Playing information
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010 Sydney Roosters 1 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–13 Cook Islands 6 4 2 0 20
Source:

Background

Fepuleai is of Cook Island heritage and played for Hurstville United as a junior. He won the Arrive Alive Cup for his school Endeavour Sports High School in 2006.[1] He is the cousin of new Dragons youth signing Hayden Fepuleai, who joined the Dragons from Hurstville as well.[2]

Playing career

Fepuleai signed for the Dragons as an 18-year-old in 2006 but could not force his way into first-grade reckoning. He played for the S. G. Ball Cup team and later the National Youth Competition (under 20's) team as he could not gain first team football. In 2009, however, after playing for the Dragon's feeder team, Shellharbour Dragons, he was selected to play for the Cook Islands in the 2009 Pacific Cup. Fepuleai signed with the Sydney Roosters for the 2010 season and made his first-grade début in football in round five of this particular season, coming off the interchange bench in a 28–6 loss to the Penrith Panthers.[3]

Representative career

During the Pacific Cup, he played in the victory over Samoa, in which he scored in a 22–20 win that qualified the Cooks for the tournament proper.[4] He then scored twice and kicked two goals in a 24–22 win over Fiji in a man-of-the-match performance.[5][6][7] His side were defeated in the final, 44–14 by Papua New Guinea.[8] Additionally, he finished as top points scorer in the tournament with 16. He was recontracted to the Dragons for the 2009 NRL season but is currently out of contract for next season.

Daniel played for 'the Kukis' at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. He was an influential player throughout the campaign, and he scored a try in their last game against Wales

References
  1. "2006 Arrive Alive Cup Grand Final". ourfootyteam.com. 22 September 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  2. "Mathew Head to Re-join the Dragons in 2009". leagueunlimited.com. 28 November 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  3. "New coach Brian Smith rebuilding the Roosters after their horror season". dailytelegraph.com.au. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  4. "Cook Islands progress to Pacific Cup". nrl.com. 4 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  5. "Cook Islands continue run of upsets". news.theage.com.au. 24 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  6. "Giant killers strike again – Cook Islands defeat Fiji". nrl.com. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  7. "Cook Islands snatch 24–22 win over Fiji". nrl.com. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  8. "PNG win place in Four Nations". dailytelegraph.com.au. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
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