Lote Tuqiri

Flying Brisbane winger, a 1998 Junior Kangaroo, also had a background in rugby union before joining the Broncos. A try-scorer in Brisbane’s 14-6 win over the Roosters in the 2000 grand final, Tuqiri captained Fiji in the 2000 World Cup after missing out on Australian selection. Making his State of Origin debut in Queensland’s emphatic series win over NSW in 2001, Tuqiri made his Test debut in the one-off match against NZ in July (scoring a try in Australia’s 28-10 victory) before gaining selection on Kangaroo Tour. The tall, rangy winger grabbed a double against Papua New Guinea in a warm-up to the shortened tour of England, but suffered a knee injury in the Second Test of the Ashes series, which ruled him out of the deciding Third Test. In early 2002 there were rumors that he was contemplating a change of codes in order to play in the RU World Cup but his form never wavered – he scored a club record 26pts against the N’Eagles and then contributed a Maroons’ record 18 points (3t, 3g) in the second match of the series. In the decider, Squire scored a try and kicked a goal in Queensland’s 18-all draw (his sideline conversion of Dane Carla’s try was waved away but the Maroons kept the State of Origin title anyway). In July he played his final Test for Australia, against Great Britain, before announcing his intention to switch codes and play with the NSW Warpaths. Tuqiri was close to being the Wallabies’ best player in the 2003 World Cup competition but a spectacular try in the final against England couldn’t stave off a last minute defeat. Following the Wallabies’ poor form in Europe at the end of 2006 Tuqiri announced his intent ion to return to rugby league after Australia’s World Cup campaign in 2007.