Siliva_Havili

Siliva Havili

Siliva Havili

NZ & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Siliva Havili (born 18 February 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker and lock for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both Tonga and New Zealand at international level.

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He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors, the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League.

Background

Havili was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He was educated at St Paul's College, Auckland.[2]

Playing career

Early career

An Otara Scorpions junior, Havili signed with the New Zealand Warriors and has played in their NYC side in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.[3] Havili has also played for the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.[4] Havili was a Junior Kiwi in 2011 and 2012.[5]

2013

On 20 April 2013, Havili made his international debut for Tonga against Samoa in the Pacific Rugby League International at Penrith Stadium. Havili started at hooker in the Tongan 36–4 victory. On 8 October 2013, Havili was selected in the Tonga 24 man squad.[6]

Havili playing for Tonga in 2013

Havili played 1 match for Tonga in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in Tonga's opening match against Scotland, playing at hooker in Tonga's 26–24 loss at Derwent Park.

2014

Havili made his first grade debut in Round 6 of the 2014 NRL season against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs playing off the bench in the Warriors 21–20 loss at Eden Park.[7] On 28 April 2014, after just playing in 3 NRL matches, Havili earnt a surprise call-up to the Kiwis squad to take on Australia in the 2014 Anzac Test at SFS.[8][9] Havili his New Zealand international debut off the bench in the 30–18 loss. On 11 May 2014, Havili extended his contract with the Warriors for a further two seasons, keeping him at the club to the end off the 2016 season.[10] Havili finished off his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 6 matches for the Warriors in the 2014 season. On 9 September 2014, Havili was selected for the New Zealand 2014 Four Nations train on squad.[11] On 7 October 2014, Havili was selected in the New Zealand national rugby league team final 24 man squad for the series.[12][13]

2015

On 20 July 2015, Havili signed a two-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2016.[14]

2016

Havili played ten games for the Dragons, all coming from the bench. On 24 July, Havili and Tim Lafai were arrested after brawling in the street outside a nightclub with another man. The alleged victim claimed Havili punched him when he had his back turned. Lafai and Havili were charged with common assault and offensive behaviour, but later escaped conviction with a guilty plea.[15]

2017

Havili was selected to play for Tonga in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup despite not playing a single game for the Dragons that season. After producing a string of excellent performances in the World Cup, he was signed to a one-year contract by the Canberra Raiders.[16]

2018

Havili warming up for Canberra in 2019

With first-choice hooker Josh Hodgson injured for much of season 2018, Havili produced the best season of his career to date, playing 24 games and earning himself a two-year contract extension.[17]

He also retained his place in the Tonga squad for their historic first Test match against the Australian Kangaroos on October 20.[18]

2019

Havili made 22 appearances for Canberra in the 2019 NRL season as the club reached their first grand final in 25 years. Havili did not play in the 2019 NRL Grand Final in which Canberra were defeated 14–8 by the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium.[19]

2020

He played 23 games for Canberra in the 2020 NRL season including the club's preliminary final loss against Melbourne.[20]

2021

He was limited to only eleven appearances for Canberra in the 2021 NRL season which saw the club miss the finals series.[21][22] On 21 October, he signed a two-year deal to join South Sydney.[23]

2022

Havili played 23 games for South Sydney in the 2022 NRL season including two of the clubs finals matches against the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla. Havili did not feature in South Sydney's preliminary final loss to eventual premiers Penrith.[24]

In October 2022 he was named in the Tonga squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[25]

2023

Havili played a total of eight games throughout the 2023 NRL season as South Sydney finished 9th on the table and missed the finals.[26]

Statistics

*stats correct as of round 12 2023

More information Year, Team ...

References

  1. [1]
    "Siliva Havili - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 18 February 1993. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  2. [2]
    Jerry Seuseu, "Havili graduates in podiatry", NZ Warriors, 31 July 2015(Retrieved 6 August 2022)
  3. [3]
    "Nzleague.co.nz". Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. [4]
    "NSW CUP: Vulcans 10, North Sydney 22 - New Zealand Warriors". www.warriors.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Official NRL site of the Vodafone Warriors". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. [6]
    "Tonga Names Rugby League World Cup 2013 Squad | News". Triple M. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  7. [7]
    "Warriors v Bulldogs preview - NRL.com". M.nrl.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  8. [8]
    "New Zealand debutant Siliva Havili more than a mouthful for teammate Adam Blair tongue-tied". Smh.com.au. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  9. [9]
    "Who on earth is Siliva Havili?". NRL.com. May 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  10. [10]
    Sarah Harvey (11 May 2014). "Happy Siliva Havili inks new NZ Warriors deal". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  11. [11]
    "Six players added to Kiwis squad | Radio New Zealand News". Radionz.co.nz. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  12. [12]
    "Four rookies in Kiwis Four Nations squad". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  13. [13]
    "New Zealand name Four Nations squad". Zero Tackle. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  14. [14]
    "Dragons sign Siliva Havili". Zero Tackle. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  15. [15]
    "The 66 scandals in four years that have rocked the NRL". Fox Sports. 8 February 2019.
  16. [16]
    "Raiders sign Siliva Havili". 7 December 2017.
  17. [17]
    "Siliva Havili Re-Signs with the Raiders". 16 July 2018.
  18. [18]
    "Mate Ma'a Tonga Names Squad for Test with Kangaroos". 19 September 2018.
  19. [19]
    "Roosters and Raiders finalise grand final line-ups". NRL. 6 October 2019.
  20. [20]
    "Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart storms out of press conference after one question". wwos.nine.com.au.
  21. [21]
    "Roosters' 'Mr Fix It' stuns with hat-trick, Sloppy Raiders' final fade out ends season: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 2 September 2021.
  22. [22]
    "Tough conversations coming for senior Canberra stars as interest grows in Parramatta young gun Dylan Brown". www.theaustralian.com.au.
  23. [23]
    "Siliva Havili joins South Sydney: Utility heads to the Rabbitohs". www.sportingnews.com.
  24. [24]
    "Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-12 to qualify for third straight NRL grand final". www.abc.net.au.
  25. [25]
    Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  26. [26]
    "'Absolute madness': Potential Latrell switch slammed as a 'band aid' for broken Bunnies". www.foxsports.com.au.
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