Toluta'u Koula (rugby league) explained

Tolu Koula
Fullname:Tolutau Koula Jr
Birth Date:2 September 2002
Birth Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height:180cm (70inches)
Weight:88kg (194lb)
Club1:Manly Sea Eagles
Year1start:2022
Year1end:present
Appearances1:60
Tries1:21
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:84
Teama:Tonga
Yearastart:2022
Yearaend:2024
Appearancesa:6
Triesa:2
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:8
New:yes
Source:[1]
Updated:22 October 2024

Tolutau Koula (born 2 September 2002) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a and for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Koula's parents represented Tonga at multiple Olympic Games. His father, Tolutau Koula Sr, was a sprinter and his mother, Ana Siulolo Liku, was a hurdler.[2]

Koula Jr set the GPS sprint record in 2019 at 10.58 seconds (his father's fastest 100 metre time was a 10.56).[3] He graduated from Newington College in 2020, where he was the Athletics Captain[4] [5]

Playing career

2022

Koula made his debut in round 1 of the 2022 NRL season for Manly-Warringah in a 28–6 loss to Penrith.[6] Following this, he was announced as a member of the Tongan national rugby league team, where he will start at fullback against New Zealand on June 25.[7]

Koula played 20 games for Manly in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table and missed out on the finals.[8] He was one of seven players involved in the Manly pride jersey player boycott.[9]

2023

In round 15 of the 2023 NRL season, Koula scored two tries for Manly in their 58–18 victory over the Dolphins.[10] In round 21, Koula scored two tries for Manly in their 30–26 victory over rivals Cronulla in the battle of the beaches game.[11] In round 27, Koula scored two tries in Manly's 54–12 victory over the Wooden Spoon side Wests Tigers.[12] Koula played 19 games for Manly in the 2023 NRL season and scored eight tries as the club finished 12th on the table and missed the finals once again.[13]

2024

He played a total of 21 games for Manly in the 2024 NRL season as they finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. Manly would be eliminated in the second week of the finals by the Sydney Roosters.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tolutau Koula – Career Stats & Summary. Rugby League Project.
  2. Web site: Proszenko. Adrian. 9 March 2022. Olympic bloodlines put Koula on fast track to top with Sea Eagles. limited. Sydney Morning Herald. 4 June 2022.
  3. Web site: Manly to unleash the "quickest" player in the NRL in trial match . SEN . Lachlan . Geleit . 14 February 2022.
  4. Web site: Tolutau Koula . 2022-06-12 . Manly Warringah Sea Eagles . en.
  5. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/olympic-bloodlines-put-koula-on-fast-track-to-top-with-sea-eagles-20220308-p5a2w5.html SMH Olympic bloodlines put Koula on fast track to top with Sea Eagles
  6. Web site: NRL 2022, Round 1 Team Lists . NRL.com . 8 March 2022.
  7. Web site: Tongan stars set for huge Origin call as Kiwis swing axe on Warriors star: Test teams named . foxsports.com.au . 15 June 2022.
  8. Web site: NRL 2022: Manly Sea Eagles season review. www.sportingnews.com. 7 October 2022.
  9. Web site: Seven Manly players to boycott NRL match over pride jersey . Sydney Morning Herald . 25 July 2022 . 26 July 2022.
  10. Web site: Sea Eagles embarrass Dolphins with 58–18 NRL hiding, Warriors beat Raiders 36–14 to crash Jarrod Croker's party. www.abc.net.au.
  11. Web site: Sea Eagles hold off Sharks to win 30–26, Panthers thrash Bulldogs 44–18 to stay top of NRL ladder. www.abc.net.au.
  12. Web site: ‘Brilliant moment’: DCE’s wholesome Jurbo gift as Manly enforcer shines — Big Hits. www.foxsports.com.au.
  13. Web site: The $800k call Seibold must make as Turbo hits NRL crossroads: Sea Eagles Brutal Review. www.foxsports.com.au.
  14. Web site: The Mole's season review: Luke Brooks 'revels' at Manly Sea Eagles but 30 seconds of horror luck ends season. www.nine.com.au.