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Wes Naiqama

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Wes Naiqama
Personal information
Full nameWaisele Ligani Naiqama
Born (1982-10-19) 19 October 1982 (age 42)
Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
PositionCentre, Fullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005–07 St. George Illawarra 38 16 48 0 160
2008–12 Newcastle Knights 75 15 60 0 180
2013–14 Penrith Panthers 8 2 1 0 10
2015–16 London Broncos 40 12 138 0 324
Total 161 45 247 0 674
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–14 Fiji 14 7 52 0 132
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2019– Kaiviti Silktails 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]
EducationJames Cook Boys Technology High School
RelativesKevin Naiqama (brother)

Wes Naiqama (born 19 October 1982) is a Fijian Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the London Broncos in the English Championship. He won 14 caps for the Fiji national rugby league team.[4] He primarily played as a centre, fullback and winger, but can also fill in at second-row. He is the older brother of Huddersfield Giants player and fellow Fiji international, Kevin Naiqama.[5]

Background

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Naiqama was born in Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia.

Playing career

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Early career

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Naiqama played his junior football for the Arncliffe Scots and attended James Cook Boys Technology High School before being signed by the St. George Illawarra Dragons. In 2002, he scored 38 points, 5 tries and 9 goals in a Jersey Flegg game for the St. George club against the North Sydney Bears.

St. George Illawarra Dragons

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In Round 4 of the 2005 NRL season he made his NRL debut for St. George Illawarra against the Canberra Raiders. Naiqama played 20 games for the club in his debut season including their shock preliminary final loss against the Wests Tigers. The following year, he was limited to only nine games but he did feature in the clubs finals campaign which reached the preliminary final stage before they were defeated 24-10 by Melbourne. In his final year at the club, Naiqama was once again limited to only nine appearances.[6]

Naiqama in 2012 playing for the Newcastle Knights in the NSW Cup.

Newcastle Knights

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In 2007, Naiqama signed a contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2008, to be a part of the new Brian Smith era at the Newcastle outfit. In 2008, Naiqama regularly started in the centres or at fullback. He was also chosen as the replacement goal kicker after Kurt Gidley. He was frequently used as a bench utility player in 2009 and 2010 before gaining his spot back in the starting team in 2011, playing in career best form as a centre or fullback. In Round 16 of the 2011 season, Naiqama got the chance to captain the Newcastle Knights for the first time after captain Kurt Gidley and vice-captain Jarrod Mullen were both injured at the same time. He again was named captain in Round 17. In June 2011, after career best form, Naiqama re-signed with the Newcastle side for three-years after rejecting a contract with his former club, the St. George Illawarra Dragons.[7] In 2012, after injuries and form loss, Naiqama was demoted to the NSW Cup after Round 9 by new head coach Wayne Bennett.

Penrith Panthers

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On 13 July 2012, Naiqama was released from the remaining two years of his contract with the Newcastle Knights and signed a two-year contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2013.[8]

London Broncos

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On 27 August 2014, Naiqama signed a two-year contract with the London Broncos in the 2015 Kingstone Press Championship. On 21 December 2015, Naiqama became the captain of London Broncos.[9]

Naiqama playing for Fiji in 2008

Representative career

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Naiqama made his Fiji debut in 2006. In 2008, Naiqama was named in the Fiji squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[10]

On 3 November 2011, the annual RLIF Awards dinner was held at the Tower of London and Naiqama was named Fiji's Player of the Year.[11]

He was named vice-captain for Fiji's 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign.[12]

In October 2014, Naiqama captained Fiji in their Hayne/Mannah Cup test match against Lebanon.

Personal life

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In December 2006, Naiqama was arrested but not charged over an alleged assault in Sydney's King Cross.[13]

His relationship with Australian/Fijian pop star Paulini Curuenavuli ended in 2006 with domestic violence speculations, and the singer has admitted to writing a song about the situation and abuse.[14]

On 28 February 2007, Naiqama was convicted by a Sydney court for driving a car while his license was disqualified. The court sentenced Naiqama to serve a maximum of eight months periodic detention, with a non-parole period of four months. This was the fourth time Naiqama had been convicted of such an offence.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ "Rugby League Project". Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Players". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Elusive Naiqama even has his mates guessing". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 September 2005. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  4. ^ Keeble, Brett (3 September 2010). "Knights name Kevin Naiqama to make NRL debut". Newcastle Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  5. ^ "YOUNG GUN GETS FIRST RUN". Newcastle Knights. 3 September 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Rleague.com - Naiqama, Wes". Archived from the original on 29 May 2006.
  7. ^ "Motorsport Video |Motorsport Highlights, Replays, News, Clips".
  8. ^ "Knights Release Wes Naiqama". Newcastle Knights. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Naiqama named Broncos captain | Total Rugby League". www.totalrl.com. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads". BBC. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  11. ^ "Slater scoops player award". Sky Sports. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  12. ^ "Civoniceva, Wes Naiqama to lead Fiji Bati". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Dragons' Naiqama lands in trouble again". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 December 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  14. ^ Paulini Sings Of Nrl Bad Boys Abuse The Daily Telegraph [dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Weekends off for league: Naiqama gets PD". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 2007. Story: "Wes Naiqama gets sentence reduced on appeal"[1]
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