Sisa Waqa

Sisa Waqa
Waqa in 2013
Personal information
Full name Sisa Ledua Waqa
Born (1986-04-29) 29 April 1986
Suva, Fiji
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Playing information
Position Wing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–10 Sydney Roosters 7 2 0 0 8
2011–14 Melbourne Storm 67 41 0 0 164
2015–16 Canberra Raiders 21 6 0 0 24
Total 95 49 0 0 196
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–16 Fiji 5 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Sisa Waqa (born 29 April 1986) is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for FC Grenoble in French Rugby Union. A Fiji national representative, Waqa primarily plays on the wing. Waqa previously played for the Sydney Roosters in 2009 and the Melbourne Storm between 2011 and 2014, where he won the 2012 NRL premiership.

Background

The son of former Fiji rugby union international and former Fiji national sevens side assistant coach Etuate Waqa, he grew up in a rugby oriented family so it wasn't long before he followed suit. Waqa attended Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) and had a stellar secondary school rugby career in the local Deans Trophy competition. He was a star at flyhalf modelling his game after Stephen Larkham and leading his RKS under-19 side to the finals, eventually sharing the trophy with Suva Grammar School (SGS) in 2005. His first representative honours for Fiji was at the under-17 level. Waqa then moved to Sydney in 2008, where he played for Gordon RFC. Waqa again starred as the top second grade flyhalf in the country's most elite second grade competition the Shute Shield and was offered a contract with the ACT Brumbies in the Super 15 competition. The ARU refused to register the contract as Waqa had played for Fijian youth sides[2] thus was deemed an international player.[3] Sisa Waqa did make a brief appearance for the Fiji rugby union team in 2007, coming off the bench as Fly Half in the 78th minute against Australia A.[4]

Playing career

2009

On 3 December 2008, Waqa signed a 2-year contract with the Sydney Roosters starting from the 2009 season.[5] In Round 4 of the 2009 NRL season against the Parramatta Eels, Waqa made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters on the wing in the Roosters 24-6 win at SFS.[6] In Round 14 against the Gold Coast Titans, Waqa scored his first and second NRL career tries in the Roosters 24-20 loss at Central Coast Stadium.[7] Waqa finished the 2009 NRL season with him played in 7 matches and scored 2 tries for the Sydney Roosters.

2010

Waqa then signed a three-year contract to play for French top-14 club Montauban, however that fell through due to the club experiencing financial difficulties. Waqa then played in Sydney for the 2010 season in the local competition for Southern Districts before Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy was notified of his availability.[8]

2011

After a three-month trial during the pre-season, Waqa was signed to a one-year contract after impressing throughout the trial matches.[9] Waqa has been playing in the NSW Cup for Melbourne Storm feeder team Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, who have a joint venture with the Melbourne Storm. In Round 9 of the 2011 NRL season, Waqa made his club debut for the Melbourne Storm against the Brisbane Broncos on the wing, scoring a try in the Storms' 29-22 win at Suncorp Stadium.[10] After the Storms' match against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval, Waqa was suspended for one week over the incident between Adam Blair and Glenn Stewart after he came from the bench to pull players off and to assist Blair in the 5-on-1 fight in the Storms' 18-4 loss.[11][12] Waqa finished the 2011 NRL season with him playing in 10 matches and scoring 4 tries for the Storm.

2012

In Round 4 against his former club the Sydney Roosters, Waqa played his first match in the 2012 NRL season in the Storms’ 44-4 win over the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park.[13] Since that game Waqa struggled to make it into the first grade side and was playing in the NSW Cup for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Waqa returned to first grade in Round 19 against the North Queensland Cowboys in the Storms' 20-16 loss at AAMI Park.[14] Waqa retained his wing spot for the rest of the 2012 season after when regular Storm winger Matt Duffie suffered a shoulder injury.[15] Waqa starred on the wing in the Melbourne Storms' 2012 NRL Grand Final win over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, his outstanding defensive strategy, which assisted the Storm to a 14-4 point win over the minor premiers.[16][17] Waqa finished the 2012 NRL season with him played in 11 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Storm.

2013

On 22 February 2013, Waqa played in the Storm's World Club Challenge match against 2012 Super League premiers Leeds Rhinos, Waqa played on the wing in the Storms' 18-14.[18] After the WCC victory, Waqa injured his hand on a piece of glass in a hotel room incident missed first 8 weeks of the 2013 season.[19] Waqa played in 22 matches and scored 12 tries for the Storm in the 2013 NRL season. Waqa was named in the Fiji squad for the 2013 World Cup.[20] Waqa played in 4 matches.

2014

In February 2014, Waqa was included in the Storms' inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[21] On 21 July 2014, Waqa announced that he signed a 2-year deal with the Canberra Raiders commencing in 2015.[22] In Round 22 against the Newcastle Knights, Waqa scored 4 tries in the Storms' shock 32-30 loss after giving away a 30-20 lead with 3 minutes to go at Hunter Stadium.[23] Waqa scored a try in his final match for the Storm in Melbourne’s 28-4 Finals Week 1 loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at AAMI Park.[24] Waqa finished the 2014 NRL season as the Storms' highest tryscorer with 18 in 24 matches.

2015

On 17 January 2015, Waqa was named in the Raiders 2015 Auckland Nines squad.[25] In Round 1 of the 2015 NRL season against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Waqa made his club debut for the Canberra Raiders on the wing, scoring a try in the Raiders 24-20 win at Remondis Stadium.[26] In August 2015, there were rumours about Waqa was seeking a release from the Raiders to sign a 3-year deal with a French rugby union club but later decided to stay out his 2-year commitment with the club.[27] Waqa finished his first year with the Canberra Raiders with him playing 21 matches and scoring 6 tries in the season.

2016

On 30 January 2016, Waqa was named in the Raiders 2016 Auckland Nines squad.[28] On March 14, Waqa was confirmed to be released from his contract at the end of June to join Top 14 rugby union side, Grenoble.[29][30] On 7 May 2016, Waqa played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in the 2016 Melanesian Cup where he played at centre in the 24-22 loss at Parramatta Stadium.[31]

References

  1. ↑ "Sisa Waqa - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  2. ↑ http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/80708.html
  3. ↑ "Sisa Waqa promises Canberra Raiders he won't backflip for French rugby". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  4. ↑ http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/80708.html
  5. ↑ "Roosters Huge New Signing". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  6. ↑ "Roosters Thrash Eels". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  7. ↑ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  8. ↑ "Sisa Waqa an Arresting Sight for Melbourne Storm". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  9. ↑ "Sisa Waqa Has Eye on Car After signing Melbourne Storm Deal". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  10. ↑ "Griffin sticks by choice to rest wounded stars". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  11. ↑ "Storm, Manly brawl erupts". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  12. ↑ Paxinos, Stathi. "Storm, Manly cop $50,000 fines". Watoday.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  13. ↑ "Slater in Two Try Haul as Melbourne Storm Crush Sydney Rooster 44-4". The Australian. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  14. ↑ "North Queensland Cowboys Edge Melbourne Storm 20-16". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  15. ↑ "Melbourne Storm Winger Matt Duffie Out of Finals With Shoulder Injury". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  16. ↑ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  17. ↑ "Melbourne Storm beat Canterbury Bulldogs in 2012 NRL grand final". News.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  18. ↑ "Storm Ready for More Success After Beating Leeds Rhinos in World Club Challenge". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  19. ↑ "Storm winger Sisa Waqa suffers hand injury in hotel room incident". News.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  20. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  21. ↑ "SQUADS FOR AUCKLAND NINES - Rugby League Week". Rugbyleagueweek.com.au. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  22. ↑ "Canberra Raiders sign Sisa Waqa to two-year deal". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  23. ↑ "Knights Snatch Victory at the Death Against the Storm". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  24. ↑ "The Bulldogs Have beaten the Storm 28-4". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  25. ↑ "RAIDERS UNVEIL 2015 NINES SQUAD - Rugby League Week". Rugbyleagueweek.com.au. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  26. ↑ "Sharks v Raiders : Cronulla a Long Way Off the Pace in Loss to Canberra Short of Highlights". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  27. ↑ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  28. ↑ "Raiders name 2016 Nines squad - Rugby League Week". Rugbyleagueweek.com.au. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  29. ↑ "NRL: Canberra Raiders release Sisa Waqa to French rugby". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  30. ↑ "Raiders to Release Waqa". Raiders.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  31. ↑ "Papua New Guinea Hold On to Upset Fiji in Pacific Test Thriller". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
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