Jerome Ropati

{{Short description|New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Jerome Ropati

|fullname = Jerome Piper Leitu Ropati[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=R&id=716 ROPATI, JEROME PIPER LEITU 2005 - 2006, 2008 - 2009 - KIWI #716] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423075308/http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=R&id=716 |date=2012-04-23}} nzleague.co.nz

|image = Jerome Ropati Warriors.jpg

|caption =

|country =

|position = {{rlp|FB|CE|FE}}

|currentclub =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1984|11|23}}

|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

|height = {{convert|176|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|club1 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}}

|year1start = 2003

|year1end = 14

|appearances1 = 145

|tries1 = 54

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 216

|club2 = Bay Roskill

|year2start = 2018

|year2end =

|appearances2 = 6

|tries2 = 6

|goals2 = 2

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 28

|teamA = New Zealand

|yearAstart = 2005

|yearAend = 09

|appearancesA = 11

|triesA = 10

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 40

|new = yes

|retired = yes

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jerome-ropati/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}

|updated =

}}

Jerome Ropati (born 23 November 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played his entire career for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL). Ropati also represented New Zealand, and was a member of the World Cup-winning team in 2008. He played as a {{rlp|ce}}, and occasionally as a {{rlp|fb}} and {{rlp|fe}}.

Background

Ropati was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

Early years

Ropati is of Samoan descent and was educated at St Paul's College, a school noted for its rugby league teams.

Jerome Ropati's parents are Filipo and Rosa Ropati.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

He is no relation to the famous Ropati rugby league family.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/warriors-league-team/news/article.cfm?c_id=360&objectid=10399308|title=League: Jerome Ropati - Miracle in the making|author=Rattue, Chris|date=2 September 2006|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=6 October 2011}}

Playing career

Ropati's junior club was the Marist Saints and he played for the Marist Richmond Brothers in the Bartercard Cup. It was his 2003 season in the Bartercard Cup that shot him to prominence, as he enjoyed a stellar season and led the club to the grand final. He missed the grand final, which the Brothers lost, because he was making his NRL debut for the Warriors.{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411317/436216|title=Warriors Star Profile: Jerome Ropati|date=15 July 2004|work=Television New Zealand|access-date=6 October 2011}}

In 2002 Ropati was named captain of the Junior Kiwis squad which played two games against touring Australian sides.[https://archive.today/20041105015226/http://www.nzrl.co.nz/page/2002.html 2002 Junior Kiwis Season] NZRL.co.nz

=Warriors=

He made his first grade debut for the Warriors in round 25 of the 2003 season against the Sydney Roosters. When not selected for the first grade side, Ropati represented the Auckland Lions in both the Bartercard Cup and NSWRL Premier League. He was one of four players who played in every game for the Warriors in 2007.

He made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 2005 against Australia and was involved in the 2006 Tri Nations. He was a member of the 2008 World Cup winning Kiwis team, that defeated Australia in the Final, with Ropati scoring a try in the match.

In 2009 he extended his Warriors career until the 2012 season, becoming a 10-year Warrior.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10564106&ref=rss|title=NRL: Ropati extends contract to 2012|author=Brown, Michael|date=29 March 2009|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=6 October 2011}}[http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/100/ropati-to-become-10-year-vodafone-warrior/ Ropati to become 10-year Vodafone Warrior] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403180521/http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/100/ropati-to-become-10-year-vodafone-warrior |date=2009-04-03}} Warriors Official Site, 29 March 2009 His 2011 season was ruined by injury as he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in round 3.[http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=38861 Ropati out for the season] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026033649/http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=38861 |date=2012-10-26}} rleague.com, 29 March 2011 He retired during the 2014 season, following another injury.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10093088/Jerome-Ropati-announces-league-retirement|title = Jerome Ropati announces league retirement|date = 28 May 2014}}

Later years

After retirement, Ropati stayed working for the Warriors, becoming a community ambassador. For the 2017 season, Ropati was appointed an assistant coach to the club's Intrust Super Premiership NSW side.{{cite web|url=http://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2016/10/11/coaching_staff_confi.html|title=Coaches confirmed for ISP and NYC teams|first=NRL Digital|last=Media|date=11 October 2016}}

In 2018 he put the boots back on and has turned out for the Bay Roskill Vikings in the Sharman Cup, helping them to the Phelan Shield in an unbeaten regular season.{{cite web |url=http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?c=1-4975-69524-480817-16991642&a=STATS |title=Competition Stats - SportsTG |website=websites.sportstg.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804140734/http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?c=1-4975-69524-480817-16991642&a=STATS |archive-date=2018-08-04}}