Tawera Nikau

Crunching NZ Test forward was an important part of Cronulla’s success in the 1997 Super League season. A veteran of English club football (York, Sheffield and Castleford) Nikau made his Test debut against Great Britain in 1990. Nikau last represented his country in the ANZac Test in 1997 but declined to play for the Kiwis because of a feud with team-mate Richie Blackmore. In 1998 he was recruited by the Melbourne Storm and was a driving force in the infant club’s grand final win in 1999. The following year he signed with Warrington and captained the Maori squad in the World Cup competition. At the end of the 2001 season Nikau planned to return to the Sharks and renew his association with former Melbourne coach Chris Anderson but the death of his wife in England saw him return to NZ where he coached Waikato to premiership victory. Nikau later lost his right leg in a motorbike accident and his courageous battle to overcome these tragedies is outlined in his 2004 autobiography, Standing Tall.