Dene Halatau

Dene Halatau (born 27 January 1983) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who previously played for the Wests Tigers and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League.

In Round 13 of the 2003 NRL season, Halatau made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval off the interchange bench in the Tigers 38–30 loss.

In Halatau's third match in Round 18 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Leichhardt Oval, he scored his first and second tries in the 44–12 win.

He finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 9 matches and scoring 3 tries.

Halatau finished the year with 22 matches and 4 tries.

In November, he was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team making his test debut at against France in the 24–20 win at Stade d'Albert Domec.

He later said, "I made my debut, had to learn the haka and was pretty nervous. I roomed with Wairangi Koopu from the Warriors and he taught me in France. His advice was don't worry about the mistakes, just do it with pride and passion. As long as you do that the mistakes don't matter."

Halatau was part of the Wests Tigers team that won the 2005 NRL Premiership.

Halatau played off the interchange bench for New Zealand in the 2005 ANZAC Test at Suncorp Stadium, as the Kiwis lost 32–16.

Halatau said, "I've grown up going to Australian schools and most of my friends are Aussies, but I've always held my New Zealand passport and I've never got Australian citizenship. I don't know why, but other than my immediate family, all of my other relatives live in New Zealand."

Later in the season Halatau was moved from the interchange bench to forward for the finals campaign.

Halatau was awarded the Man of the Match for his two try effort against St George Illawarra Dragons in the Preliminary Final 20–12 victory and a week later in the 2005 NRL Grand Final, he played at lock in the Wests Tigers 30–16 win over the North Queensland Cowboys.

Halatau finished the year with 4 tries from 22 matches.

Playing in 14 NRL matches in 2006, Halatau also played 3 matches at hooker for New Zealand in the Tri-Nations.

Halatau was selected to play for New Zealand at hooker in the 2007 ANZAC Test in the Kiwis 30–6 loss at Suncorp Stadium.

Halatau finished 2007 with one try from 21 matches.

He also went on the 2007 All Golds tour, playing at hooker in all the 5 matches.

Halatau is New Zealand national representative who was part of their 2008 Rugby League World Cup winning squad.

Born in Invercargill, New Zealand, Halatau moved to Australia as a 4-year-old and played his junior rugby league for the Merrylands Rams and North Ryde Hawks before being signed by the Wests Tigers.

Halatau was educated at Westfields Sports High School.

He is of Niuean descent.

Halatau finished the 2008 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring three tries.

Halatau was a member of the New Zealand team which defeated Australia 34–20 in the 2008 World Cup Final at Suncorp Stadium.

Halatau played in the 2009 ANZAC Test at Suncorp Stadium in the Kiwis 38–10 loss.

He finished the season with 18 matches and 2 tries.

Halatau signed a three-year deal with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs commencing in 2010.

He said, "I just needed a change. I'd been at the Tigers since I was a teenager and played under Tim Sheens for a while. I was comfortable and but '09 I was inconsistent and didn't think I was in a good place."

In Round 3 against the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium, Halatau made his club debut for Canterbury-Bankstown in the 60–14 win.

Halatau played in eight matches for Canterbury-Bankstown in an injury interrupted season.

He later conceded, "When I moved to the Bulldogs I tore the MCL in my right knee six times. I had surgery twice and had two repairs done. That was the most frustrating, I almost gave up then and there and almost called it quits."

In Round 23 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium, Halatau scored his first try as a Canterbury player before succumbing to a season ending ankle injury.

He finished the season with one try from 19 appearances.

In 2012, Halatau was playing second-row in the starting team.

He injured his knee in round 19 and was unable to return to first grade.

Halatau was named 18th man for Canterbury's 2012 NRL Grand Final team against the Melbourne Storm with the club losing 14–4.

He finished the season with him playing 17 matches and scoring a try.

Halatau played exclusively from the interchange bench in 2013, but made appearances in all 25 of Canterbury's matches and scored two tries.

On 28 July, it was announced that Halatau would be returning to his previous club Wests Tigers on a two-year contract from 2014.

CEO Grant Meyer said, "His experience and leadership as a senior player is going to be invaluable for some of our younger players. We have been very clear that we are investing very heavily in our juniors and a player like Dene will provide leadership and mentoring for the group."

In Round 15 against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Halatau played his 100th NRL career match and scored a try in the Tigers 19–18 loss.