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Tawera Nikau

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Born
Sunday, 1st January, 1967
Current Age
59 years and 198 days

Honours & Awards

Dally M Lock Of The Year
1998

Biography

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.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tests (Senior International Matches) -22-224-4---16---1011145.45%List
Other International Matches -3-31-1---4---21-66.67%List
Anzac Tests -1-1-----------1-0.00%List
World Cup -8-81-1---4---53-62.50%List
Tour MatchesAucklandAUK-2-21-1---4---2--100.00%List
Tour MatchesNew ZealandNZL-171186-6---24-11144-77.78%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
ARL/Super League/NRL Premiership 1114-11412-12---48---7635366.67%List
NRL Finals -16-16----------88-50.00%List
Club Career - UK Comp WinsStartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
English Championship -128112923-23---92---7448757.36%List
Premiership Trophy -8-8----------44-50.00%List
Super League -51-517-7---28---2128241.18%List
Challenge Cup -25-254-4---16-1-169-64.00%List
Regal Trophy 118-183-3---12---135-72.22%List
Yorkshire Cup 15-52-2---8---41-80.00%List
UK Top Division -179118030-30---120---9576952.78%List
UK Second Division -23-233-3---12---165269.57%List
Overall StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 415241766-66---264-212521501560.43%List

Test Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
New Zealand1990-94, 1997 19-194-4---16---99147.37%List
NZ Maori2000 3-3----------12-33.33%List

International Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NZ Maori2000 3-3----------21-66.67%List

World Cup Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
New Zealand1990-92 5-51-1---4---41-80.00%List
NZ Maori2000 3-3----------12-33.33%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Waikato1987 1-1-----------1-0.00%List
Auckland1989-90 2-21-1---4---2--100.00%List

ARL/Super League/NRL Premiership - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
CronullaCronulla19951995 ARL Winfield Cup 15-152-2---8---105-66.67%List
CronullaCronulla19961996 ARL Optus Cup 24-241-1---4---166266.67%List
CronullaCronulla19971997 Super League Telstra Cup 22-221-1---4---148-63.64%List
MelbourneMelbourne19981998 NRL Premiership 27-274-4---16---188166.67%List
MelbourneMelbourne19991999 NRL Premiership 26-264-4---16---188-69.23%List

ARL/Super League/NRL Premiership - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Cronulla1995-97 61-614-4---16---4019265.57%List
Melbourne1998-99 53-538-8---32---3616167.92%List

English Career - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
SheffieldSheffield1989/90 10-105-5---20---55-50.00%List
Ryedale-YorkRyedale-York1990/91 25-253-3---12---167264.00%List
CastlefordCastleford1991/92 371386-6---24---2511265.79%List
CastlefordCastleford1992/93 36-362-2---8---2015155.56%List
CastlefordCastleford1993/94 42-426-6---24---2912169.05%List
CastlefordCastleford1994/95 32-328-8---32---2010262.50%List
CastlefordCastleford1995/96 16-163-3---12---69137.50%List
CastlefordCastleford1996 1-1-----------1-0.00%List
WarringtonWarrington2000 31-313-3---12-1-1615-51.61%List
WarringtonWarrington2001 28-286-6---24---1115239.29%List

English Career - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPPSTPTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Sheffield1989 10-105-5---20---55-50.00%List
Ryedale-York1990 25-253-3---12---167264.00%List
Castleford1991-96 164116525-25---100---10058760.61%List
Warrington2000-01 59-599-9---36-1-2730245.76%List

Your Say

  • Paul Carter
    9 Jan 2010 3:12pm

    A former Canterbury lower grader Nikau scored the last ever try in a first grade match at Belmore Sportsground. He scored that try For Melbourne during their 8-4 loss to Canterbury in 1998.

  • Lee
    26 Jun 2025 6:12am

    Great player for Cas

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Greg Fiveash, Andrew Ferguson, AJ Lucantonio, Shawn Dollin, Paul Carter, Max Turner, Alan Katzmann, Tim Costello, Bill Bates

Sources:David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Big League, Richard Bailey's Rugby League World, RFL Player Registers, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999)