Mike Kuiti

Michael James Kuiti[3] (born 18 March 1963 in Foxton, New Zealand[4]) is a New Zealand rugby league player who played professionally in England and represented New Zealand, including in test matches that counted towards the 1992 World Cup.[1] Currently living in Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

Mike Kuiti
Personal information
Full nameMichael James Kuiti
Born (1963-03-18) 18 March 1963
Foxton, New Zealand
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1980–92 Upper Hutt Tigers
1990–91 Leeds 41 16 0 0 64
1985,1991–93 Rochdale Hornets 65 14 0 0 56
1993–95 Oldham 69 11 0 0 44
1995–96 Wakefield Trinity 30 3 0 0 12
Batley 38 3 0 1 13
Total 243 47 0 1 189
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1981–93 Wellington 59
New Zealand Māori
1984–87 Central Districts 4
1989–92 New Zealand 6 1 0 0 4
Source: [1][2]

Playing career

Kuiti was a member of the Upper Hutt club in the Wellington Rugby League competition, making his senior début in 1980. He was part of premiership wins in 1986 and 1987. Kuiti played for the club until 1992, becoming club captain.[5]

On 8 January 1990 Kuiti signed with the Leeds club. He spent three seasons at the club before joining Rochdale Hornets.[6] Mike Kuiti played, and scored a try in Rochdale Hornets 14-24 defeat by St. Helens in the 1991 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1991–92 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, on Sunday 20 October 1991. Kuiti then spent three years at Oldham before joining Wakefield Trinity (captain) (Heritage № 1075) in 1996.[7] Kuiti also played for the Batley Bulldogs [5] and Swinton Lions.

Representative career

Kuiti represented Wellington, making his début in 1981.[8][9] Kuiti went on to play in 59 games for Wellington and is the sixth highest capped player.[5] He played for Central Districts four times between 1984 and 1987 and also played for New Zealand Māori, including at the 1986 Pacific Cup.[10]

Kuiti made his long-awaited New Zealand national rugby league team début on the 1989 tour of Great Britain and France. He played in eleven games on tour, including two test wins over France. He was dropped in 1990 for home tests against Great Britain before being reinstated for the 1990 tour of Papua New Guinea. He finished his international career with two tests against the touring Great Britain Lions in 1992.[5]

Coaching career

Kuiti was the head coach of the Porirua Pumas in the 2000 Bartercard Cup.[11]

In 2010 Kuiti was the coach of the Hutt International Boys' School side in the Wellington Rugby League's Stephen Kearney Cup.[12]

He coached the Wellington Orcas in the 2013 National Competition.

Legacy

In 2012 he was named in the Wellington Rugby League's Team of the Century.

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Kuiti, Michael James 1989 - 90, 1992 - Kiwi #619 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  4. Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Division 2, 1 December 1991
  5. Team of Century Week 8 Wellington Rugby League
  6. Team-by-team guide to the Stones Bitter Championship The Independent, 28 August 1993
  7. Forwards persuaded to learn the art of communication The Independent, 7 February 1996
  8. Wellington Grand Final Programme rleague.com, 2 September 2002
  9. Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1993, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1993. p.p.180-191
  10. John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. pp. 224–226. ISBN 9781869693312.
  11. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.328.
  12. Williams, Colin (8 September 2010). "Four from four in college league". Upper Hutt Leader. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
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