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
Appearances1:55
Tries1:19
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:76
Teama:Tonga
Yearastart:2022
Appearancesa:3
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
New:yes
Source:[1]
Updated:16 August 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.[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]

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.