Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
{{short description|New Zealand rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
|fullname = Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
|image =
|image_size =
|position = {{rlp|SR}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|12|21}}
|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
|height = {{convert|190|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|105|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = North Qld Cowboys
|year1start = 2023
|year1end = 24
|appearances1 = 37
|tries1 = 5
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 20
|club2 = Dolphins
|year2start = 2025
|year2end = present
|appearances2 = 9
|tries2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 0
|teamA = Tonga
|yearAstart = 2024
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 0
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|new =
|updated = 8 May 2025
}}
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (born 21 December 2003) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sr}}er for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). He previously played for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Background
Finefeuiaki was born in Auckland and is of Tongan and Samoan descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/cowboys-wrecking-ball-that-gives-dearden-nightmares-kulikefu-finefeuiaki-on-cusp-of-nrl-debut/news-story/8c773c0e1559c9d20ed31c965f7e2664|title=Cowboys wrecking ball that ‘gives Dearden nightmares’|date=4 May 2023|website=Code Sports}} He attended Kelston Primary School in New Zealand before moving to Ipswich, Queensland with his family at age eleven.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys/kulikefu-finefeuiaki/|title=Kulikefu Finefeuiaki|date=|website=NQ Cowboy}}
In Ipswich, he played junior rugby league for the Redbank Plains Bears and attended Ipswich State High School before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/ipswich/sport/rising-schoolboy-footballer-inspired-after-nrl-contract/news-story/77f1c23097305dbd09d8b0ab36c61671|title=Rising schoolboy footballer inspired after NRL contract|date=10 March 2021|website=The Courier Mail}}
Playing career
=Early career=
In 2020 and 2021, Finefeuiaki played for the Ipswich Jets in the Mal Meninga Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/ipswich/sport/shining-school-stars-ipswich-highs-top-quality-lineup/news-story/c9d702c0c147ce9f1d704a140f30a3d9|title=Ipswich State High’s best school sport stars revealed|date=13 July 2020|website=The Courier Mail}}{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/leagueunlimited-mm-cup-teams-2021-round-1/|title=QRL U18 Mal Meninga Cup - 2021 Round 1|date=2 March 2021|website=LeagueUnlimited}}{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/leagueunlimited-mmcup-teams-2020-round-1/|title=QRL U18 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup - 2020 Round 1|date=10 March 2020|website=LeagueUnlimited}}
In 2022, he moved to Townsville, joining the Cowboys' Young Guns squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2022/06/20/kuli-is-just-a-good-hard-runner-of-the-football/|title=Kuli 'is just a good, hard runner of the football'|date=20 June 2022|website=QRL}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2022/02/26/updated-young-guns-team-list-trial-v-mackay-cutters/|title=Updated Young Guns team list: Trial v Mackay Cutters|date=26 February 2022|website=NQ Cowboys}} That season, he played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup and Hastings Deering Colts, starting at {{rlp|sr}} in the Blackhawks' Colts Grand Final win over the Redcliffe Dolphins.{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/leagueunlimited-hd-colts-teams-2022-grand-final/|title=QRL U21 Hastings Deering Colts - 2022 Grand Final|date=20 September 2022|website=LeagueUnlimited}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys/how-colossal-cowboys-prospect-kulikefu-finefeuiaki-overcame-adversity-for-queensland-debut/news-story/6fa26bbaafbc3209d9b50b4132921273|title=How colossal Cowboys prospect Kulikefu Finefeuiaki overcame adversity for Queensland debut|date=1 February 2023|website=Townsville Bulletin}} In June 2022, he represented Queensland under-19 in their loss to New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2022/06/16/qrl-confirms-queensland-under-19-mens-squad/|title=QRL confirms Queensland Under 19 men’s squad|date=16 June 2022|website=QRL}}
=North Queensland Cowboys (2023-24)=
In April, Finefeuiaki was upgraded to a development contract, joining the Cowboys NRL squad.{{Cite web|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-blood-imposing-finefeuiaki-roosters-042251585.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAN38Fuv5k2gCELIgn5MTGE_ycSpsqYuenV_w_kaonqhUyUqItXHOMqv8aBthkkWXDc8Ll41_R-OhmtwLwJDnSsxP56CiZWMVWkckR_JJL-zXEuA1xSkvUpAgaE4E-_eVuNXSuDjP3EDySdJrOqs7TqD1RT43K5yIOi2ChptFESNj|title=Cowboys blood imposing Finefeuiaki for Roosters clash|date=4 May 2023|website=Yahoo Sport}}
In round 10 of the 2023 NRL season, Finefeuiaki made his first grade debut in North Queensland's 20–6 win over the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2023/05/02/cowboys-team-list-round-ten-v-roosters-suncorp-magic/|title=Cowboys team list: Round 10 v Roosters|date=2 May 2023|website=NQ Cowboys}}
In round 16, he scored his first try in the top grade as North Queensland defeated Penrith 27-23 in golden point extra-time.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-16/nrl-live-score-updates-nql-pen/102469392/|title=NRL ScoreCentre: North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers — live scores, stats and results|website=www.abc.net.au}}
He played a total of 12 games for North Queensland in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-north-queensland-cowboys-season-review/7022566a2d89154cc990318b#:~:text=They%20won%20just%20four%20of,the%20nadir%20of%20their%20efforts./|title=NRL 2023: North Queensland Cowboys season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}
= Dolphins (2025-)=
In April 2024, the Dolphins signed Finefeuiaki on a three-year contract from 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2024/04/24/finefeuiaki-to-join-dolphins-from-2025/|title=Finefeuiaki to join Dolphins from 2025|website=www.dolphinsnrl.com.au}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2023
| rowspan="2" |{{Leagueicon|North Queensland}} North Queensland Cowboys |12 |2 |4 |
| 2024
|25 |3 |12 |
| 2025
|{{Leagueicon|Dolphins}} Dolphins |7 | | |
| |Totals
|44 |5 |20 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.cowboys.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys/kulikefu-finefeuiaki/ North Queensland Cowboys profile]
{{Dolphins squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finefeuiaki, Kulikefu}}
Category:New Zealand people of Tongan descent
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:North Queensland Cowboys players
Category:Dolphins (NRL) players
Category:Rugby league players from Auckland
Category:Rugby league second-rows