| Franklin Pele | |
| Fullname: | Franklin Pele Poutasi |
| Birth Date: | 2000 12, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Height: | 1.91abbr=onNaNabbr=on[1] |
| Weight: | 132abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Year1start: | 2021 |
| Appearances1: | 1 |
| Tries1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals1: | 0 |
| Points1: | 0 |
| Club2: | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| Year2start: | 2023 |
| Appearances2: | 6 |
| Tries2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals2: | 0 |
| Points2: | 0 |
| Club3: | Hull F.C. |
| Year3start: | 2024 |
| Appearances3: | 9 |
| Tries3: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals3: | 0 |
| Points3: | 4 |
| Year4start: | 2024 |
| Appearances4: | 2 |
| Tries4: | 1 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals4: | 0 |
| Points4: | 4 |
| Year5start: | 2024 |
| Year5end: | present |
| Appearances5: | 15 |
| Tries5: | 9 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals5: | 0 |
| Points5: | 0 |
| New: | yes |
| Source: | [2] |
| Updated: | 19 June 2024 |
Franklin Pele Poutasi (born 18 December 2000) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for Bradford Bulls in the RFL Championship.
He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL and for Hull F.C. in the Super League.
Pele was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is of Samoan descent.[3] When Franklin was the age of seven, his family moved from South Auckland to settle in Sydney, Australia.[3] [4]
He played junior rugby league for the Otahuhu Leopards in Auckland,[5] and St Patrick's Sutherland and the Gymea Gorillas in Sydney.
He attended Endeavour Sports High School and played for the Australian Schoolboys in 2018.[6]
In round 12 of the 2021 NRL season, Pele made his debut for Cronulla-Sutherland against the Gold Coast.[7] He was later sidelined for 9–12 weeks after undergoing surgery for an injury sustained in a reserve grade game, effectively ending his debut season.[8]
In 2023, Pele joined Canterbury. He made his club debut in round 1 of the 2023 NRL season against Manly at Brookvale Oval. Pele made a total of six appearances for the club. On 6 September 2023, Pele signed a two-year deal with English side Hull FC.[9]
In round 1 of the 2024 Super League season, Pele made his club debut for Hull F.C. against arch-rivals Hull Kingston Rovers but was sent off in the 39th minute for a deliberate high tackle.[10] On 20 February 2024, Pele was suspended for three matches in relation to the tackle and fined £750.[11] In round 5 of the 2024 Super League season, Pele was given a yellow card for a dangerous high tackle during the Hull's 54-4 defeat against Leigh. Pele was later suspended for one game.[12] In round 7 of the season, Pele scored his first try for Hull in their 56–22 loss to Huddersfield.[13] [14]
On 16 May 2024 it was reported that he had signed for York RLFC in the RFL Championship on a two-week loan.[15] York won both matches during his loan period and Pele scored a try in the match against Swinton Lions.[16]
On 19 June 2024, it was reported that he had signed for Bradford in the RFL Championship for the remainder of the 2024 season after being released by Hull F.C..[17]
Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2022 season
| width=2% | Season | width=8% | Team | width=2% | Matches | width=2% | T | width=2% | G | width=2% | GK % | width=2% | F/G | width=2% | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cronulla Sharks | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Career totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||||||||