Weller Hauraki

Weller Hauraki (born 18 February 1985) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row or loose forward and played for the New Zealand Māori at international level.

Weller "Wello" Hauraki
Personal information
Full nameWeller Hauraki
Born (1985-02-18) 18 February 1985
Dannevirke, New Zealand
Playing information
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb)[1]
PositionSecond-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–09 Parramatta Eels 32 4 0 0 16
2010 Crusaders RL 28 11 0 0 44
2011–12 Leeds Rhinos 39 6 0 0 24
2013–14 Castleford Tigers 56 9 0 0 36
2015–18 Salford Red Devils 73 14 0 0 56
2018(loan) → Widnes Vikings 13 2 0 0 8
2019–20 Hull Kingston Rovers 43 6 0 0 24
Total 284 52 0 0 208
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005–10 New Zealand Māori 5 1 0 0 4
Source: [2][3]

He has played for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL, and Crusaders RL, Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers (Heritage № 936), Hull Kingston Rovers and the Salford Red Devils in the Super League, spending time on loan from Salford at the Widnes Vikings in 2018.

Background

Hauraki was born in Dannevirke, New Zealand.

Manawatu (2002)
Weller Hauraki in action

2002

Hauraki played for Manawatu in the 2002 North Island Super 6 competition.[4]

Parramatta Eels (2007-09)
Hauraki playing in 2009

2007-09

Hauraki began his career in the National Rugby League playing for the Parramatta Eels, he made his début against the New Zealand Warriors during the 2007 season, and he went on to make 32 appearances over three seasons. Hauraki also won the 2007 Intrust Super Premiership NSW competition with Parramatta, scoring a try right on the final siren to defeat the North Sydney Bears, 20-15.[5] His most memorable game for the Eels came in round 6 of the 2009 season, when he scored two tries against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, after replacing his injured teammate Nathan Hindmarsh.

Crusaders RL (2010)

2010

In 2010, to ease pressure on the Parramatta Eels' salary cap, Hauraki was released and went on to sign a two-year contract with the Crusaders RL club in the Super League.

He made his début for the Crusaders against the Wigan Warriors on 5 February 2010, at the DW Stadium.[6]

Leeds Rhinos (2011–12)

2011

After his very impressive first season in the Super League, Hauraki signed a three-year contract to play for the Leeds Rhinos.

He made his début from off the interchange bench against Hull F.C. and he scored in the Rhinos' 32-18 victory.[7]

He played at loose forward for Leeds in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Wembley Stadium.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Castleford Tigers (2013–14)

2013

Hauraki then joined the Castleford Tigers ahead of the 2013 season.

Weller quickly established himself in what surprisingly became one of the Super League's most feared packs, helping the Castleford Tigers cement their highest-ever Super League finish of 4th.

2014

He was also instrumental in a run to the 2014 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium,[23] with that ending in a 23-10 defeat by his former club and rivals the Leeds Rhinos.

Salford Red Devils (2015–18)

2015-18

Hauraki represented the Salford Red Devils for four consecutive seasons, recording 73 appearances and scoring 14 tries for the club in total.

Widnes Vikings (2018)

2018

During the 2018 season, Hauraki was sent out on loan from the Salford Red Devils to the struggling Widnes Vikings, where he subsequently suffered relegation from the Super League with the Vikings at the end of the campaign.

Hull Kingston Rovers (2019–2020)

2019

It was revealed on 3 October 2018, that Hauraki had committed to a two-year deal to join Hull Kingston Rovers ahead of the 2019 Super League season.[24]

Hauraki made his Hull Kingston Rovers début on 1 February 2019, in round 1 of the Super League season against cross-city rivals Hull F.C. He started the game at loose forward and went on to record a thrilling 18-16 victory at Craven Park.

Weller scored his first try for the Hull Kingston Rovers on 23 February 2019, in a 22-24 Super League round 4 defeat by the Salford Red Devils.

2020

Hauraki was released by Hull KR at the end of the 2020 season.

2021

On 9 Feb 2021 it was reported that Weller had decided to retire.[25]

Representative career (2005–10)

Hauraki was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but did not make the final squad.[26]

However, Hauraki did play for the New Zealand Māori in their 34-26 defeat by the Indigenous All Stars before the start of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, having previously represented the side in 2005.[27]

Hauraki again played for the New Zealand Māori in 2010, in the 18-18 draw against England.[28]

References
  1. "Weller Hauraki Salford Red Devils". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. RLP
  3. Love Rugby League
  4. Wellington and Manawatu Teams rleague.com, 20 September 2002
  5. "Peachey falls short in farewell appearance". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 September 2007.
  6. http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=16453
  7. Hadfield, Dave (26 January 2011). "Hauraki's charge for Rhinos halted". The Independent. London.
  8. "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  9. Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Wigan's Challenge Cup win a team effort - Joel Tomkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  10. skysports.com (27 August 2011). "Maguire salutes Wembley heroes". Sky Sports. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  11. ESPN staff (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup glory for Wigan Warriors". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  12. wiganwarriors.com (28 August 2011). "Wigan are 2011 Cup Champions". rleague.com. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  13. Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  14. Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
  15. therfl.co.uk (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup: Lima inspires Wigan win". rleague.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  16. Brown, Oliver (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 18 Wigan Warriors 28". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  17. Chisnall, Craig (28 August 2011). "Lima double inspires Wigan to Cup win". Wide World of Sports. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  18. Henson, Mike (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  19. Brown, Oliver (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final 2011: Wigan's warrior spirit shades controversy in emphatic win over Leeds Rhinos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  20. Press Association (27 August 2011). "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". Free Press. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  21. "O'Loughlin savours special cup win". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  22. bbc.co.uk (30 August 2011). "Wigan's Sam Tomkins punished for gesture at Leeds fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  23. "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  24. "Jimmy Keinhorst, Weller Hauraki & Ryan Lannon: Hull Kingston Rovers make triple signing". BBC Sport. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  25. "Weller Hauraki: Ex-Hull KR and Salford Red Devils forward retires". BBC Sport. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  26. "Kiwis select Sonny Bill". Sky Sports. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  27. John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 332. ISBN 9781869693312.
  28. "Maori draw with England". The New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
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