Tohu Harris

Tohu Harris (born 7 January 1992) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock forward and captains the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Tohu Harris
Personal information
Born (1992-01-07) 7 January 1992
Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Lock, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–17 Melbourne Storm 117 18 8 0 88
2018– New Zealand Warriors 103 12 0 0 48
Total 220 30 8 0 136
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–16 New Zealand 16 2 0 0 8
2019 Māori All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 23 September 2023

He previously played for the Melbourne Storm with whom he won the 2017 NRL Grand Final and represented New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.

Background

Harris was born in Hastings, New Zealand, and is of Maori descent.

Harris played his junior football for the Tamatea rugby union club and attended Hastings Boys' High School before being signed by the Melbourne Storm. In 2007, Harris played for the New Zealand U15's team. Harris played for the Storm's NYC team from 201.[2]

Playing career

2013

Harris played as a second-row and scored a try in the Melbourne Storm's 2013 World Club Challenge 18-14 win over the Leeds Rhinos.[3] In Round 1 of the 2013 NRL season, Harris made his NRL debut for the Storm against the St. George Illawarra Dragons at second-row in the 30-10 win at AAMI Park.[4] Harris was called up to the New Zealand national rugby league team squad as 18th man for the 2013 Anzac Test, replacing Jeremy Smith. Harris was promoted to the playing squad on the day of the test match when captain Simon Mannering was ruled out with a calf injury and made his debut for New Zealand on 19 April 2013 in the Kiwis 32-12 loss against Australia.[5] In Round 13 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Harris scored his first NRL career try in the Storm's 38-6 win at AAMI Park.[6] Harris finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 25 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Melbourne Storm in the 2013 NRL season. On 9 October, Harris was dropped from the New Zealand side for the 2013 World Cup, which had been announced a day earlier. The decision was made following the controversial change of mind of Sonny Bill Williams, who had previously ruled himself out of the competition, to join the squad.[7] Harris turned down a position to tour with the squad and play in a pre-tournament match against the Cook Islands in order to have minor surgery and rest before the 2014 NRL pre-season began.[8][9] Harris also refused to respond to Williams after the latter tried to reach out to him after the much publicized U-turn.[10]

2014

In February, Harris was included in the Storm's inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[11] In Round 4 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, after Cameron Smith suffered a back spasm in the warm up, Harris was appointed the goal kicker; he kicked 2 goals in the 40-12 loss.[12] In the 2014 Anzac Test, Harris was selected to play off the interchange bench but was shifted to start at five-eighth over debutant Isaac John. He scored a try in the Kiwis 30-18 loss.[13] On 7 May, Harris re-signed with the Storm on a 3-year contract keeping him with the club till the end of the 2017 season.[14] Harris played in all of the Storm's 25 matches, kicking 2 goals.

Harris played for New Zealand in the 2014 Four Nations.[15][16][17] He came off the interchange bench in the Kiwis' 22-18 final win over Australia.[18]

2015

On 3 May, Harris played for New Zealand in the 2015 Anzac Test, playing at second-row in the Kiwis' 26-12 win.[19] In July, the Storm played the first ever NRL game at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand, against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Harris designed the team's jersey for the occasion.[20] The Storm won the match 22-4.[21] Harris played in all of the Storm's 26 matches for the season, scoring 5 tries and kicking 3 goals.[22] He was selected in the 23-man New Zealand squad to tour England,[23] playing in all 3 matches of a 2-1 Baskerville Shield series loss. He scored 1 try, in the first test.[24]

2016

In the pre-season, Harris played in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[25] On 6 May, Harris played at centre for New Zealand in the 2016 Anzac Test, as they lost 16-0.[26] In Round 26 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, he played his 100th NRL match in a 26-6 win at AAMI Park.[27][28] On 2 October, in the Storm’s 2016 NRL Grand Final against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Harris started at second-row in the 14-12 defeat.[29]

Harris playing for the Kiwis in 2016

Harris again played in all the Storm’s 27 matches for the season, scoring 8 tries and kicking 1 goal. In the 2016 Four Nations tournament,[30] he played in 4 matches, including starting at five-eighth in the 34-8 final loss against Australia.[31]

2017

On 31 January, it was announced that Harris signed a lucrative 4-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors, starting in 2018. Harris said about of the signing, "I’ve had a great time with the Storm and I owe them so much for what they’ve done for me. Coming home to play for the Warriors is a fantastic opportunity, though. The club has a great roster with so many Kiwi boys there and being back in New Zealand closer to family is a big attraction".[32][33] Harris missed the first two months of the season after suffering a foot injury in the off-season.[34] He made his first appearance of the season in Round 10 against the Gold Coast Titans, in a shock 38-36 upset loss at Suncorp Stadium.[35] On 1 October, in the Storm’s 2017 NRL Grand Final against the North Queensland Cowboys, Harris started at second-row and had a blinder of a performance in the 34-6 victory.[36][37] In his last year with the Melbourne Storm he played in 14 matches, scoring 3 tries and kicking 1 goal. After the grand final victory, Harris was ruled out of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup due to niggling shoulder and foot injuries.[38]

2018

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, Harris made his club debut for the New Zealand Warriors against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, starting at second-row in the 32-20 win at Perth Stadium.[39]

2019 & 2020

In the 2019 NRL season, he made 13 appearances as the club missed out on the finals. In the 2020 NRL season, Harris played 20 games as the New Zealand Warriors again missed out on the finals.[40]

2021

On 18 July, Harris was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021 NRL season after suffering an ACL injury in the club's loss against Penrith.[41]

2022

Harris made a total of 15 appearances for the New Zealand Warriors in the 2022 NRL season as they finished 15th on the table.[42]

2023

Harris played 23 matches for the New Zealand Warriors in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals. Harris played in all three finals games as the club reached the preliminary final stage before being knocked out by Brisbane.[43]

Honours

Personal life

Harris married his wife Natalie in January 2014.[44]

References
  1. "Tohu Harris - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  2. "Grandstand Forums". rleague.com. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  3. "Storm Ready for More Success After Beating Leeds Rhinos in World Cup Challenge". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  4. "Storm Beat Illawarra to Start Premiership Defence". The Australian. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  5. Phil Mitchell (19 April 2013). "Live: Australia v New Zealand". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  6. Shane Brady (9 June 2013). "Live: Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  7. "NZRL defends SBW decision". New Zealand Herald. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  8. "New Zealand axes Tohu Harris to pick Sonny Bill Williams for World Cup". The Australian. 9 October 2013.
  9. "Sonny Bill Williams eclipses Tohu Harris's rugby league World Cup dream". The Australian. 9 October 2013.
  10. "SBW: I'm in love with league again". Perthnow.com.au. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  11. "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  12. "Craig Bellamy Slams his Melbourne Storm Team After Thrashing by Canterbury Bulldogs". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  13. Chris Barclay (4 May 2014). "Kiwis' Tohu Harris takes new role in his stride". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  14. "Storm to Lose a Gun Backrower After Re-Signing a New Zealand Star, Tohu Harris". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  15. "NZ Kiwi Four Nations train-on squad announcement". League Unlimited. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  16. "Four rookies in Kiwis Four Nations squad". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  17. "New Zealand name Four Nations squad | NRL". Zero Tackle. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  18. "Roos denied as Kiwis claim Four Nations crown". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  19. "New Zealand Kiwis claim third straight win over Australian Kangaroos for first time since 1953". Smh.com.au. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  20. "Kiwis forward Tohu Harris designs Melbourne Storm jersey for Napier match". Stuff.co.nz. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  21. "Storm v Dragons: Five key points". NRL.com. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  22. "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  23. "Kiwis name squad for England tour". NRL.com. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  24. Fletcher, Paul (1 November 2015). "International Series 2015: England 26-12 New Zealand - BBC Sport". Bbc.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  25. "Storm name youthful Nines squad". NRL.com. February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  26. "Kangaroos victorious in lacklustre Test". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  27. "Storm well equipped to handle Sharks". Nrl.com.au. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  28. Ward, Roy. "Melbourne Storm take minor premiership over Cronulla Sharks, set up Cowboys rematch". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  29. "NRL 2016 grand final: Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks player ratings". Fox Sports. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  30. "Four Nations: New Zealand Kiwis David Kidwell names rookies Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine". Fox Sports. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  31. "Rampant Roos humiliate New Zealand". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  32. "A Strong Nines Tournament from Winger Josh Addocarr". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  33. Ward, Roy (1 February 2017). "Melbourne Storm lose homebound star Tohu Harris to New Zealand Warriors". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  34. Ward, Roy (24 February 2017). "Melbourne Storm star Tohu Harris out for more than two months as injury list grows". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  35. Ward, Roy (20 May 2017). "Melbourne Storm forward Tohu Harris returns from injury for final Storm season". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  36. "Ryan Girdler's Tohu Harris Warriors dig, Cooper Cronk's lucky undies, Macklemore and Matt Cooper". Fox Sports. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  37. "NRL 2017 grand final: Storm player ratings v Cowboys". Fox Sports. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  38. "Kiwis set to snub star, lose another forward". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  39. "RTS stars but did refs rob Rabbitohs?". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023. (subscription required)
  40. "Warriors to make finals in 2021". www.nrl.com. December 2020.
  41. "Season-ending blows for Harris, Egan pour salt in Warriors wounds". www.nrl.com. 18 July 2021.
  42. "Warriors farewell 15 players after return to New Zealand". www.foxsports.com.au. 6 September 2022.
  43. "NRL 2023: New Zealand Warriors season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  44. "The Retention of Tohu Harris Represents the Generational Shift at the Melbourne Storm". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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