Marata Niukore

{{Short description|Cook Islands & NZ international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Marata Niukore

|fullname = Marata Niukore

|image = Marata NIUKORE.jpg

|imagesize = 290

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|7|29}}

|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

|height = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|position = {{rlp|SR|LK|CE|PR}}

|club1 = Parramatta Eels

|year1start = 2018

|year1end = 22

|appearances1 = 96

|tries1 = 9

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 36

|club2 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}}

|year2start = 2023

|year2end = present

|appearances2 = 52

|tries2 = 8

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 32

|teamA = Cook Islands

|yearAstart = 2017

|yearAend = 19

|appearancesA = 3

|triesA = 2

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 8

|teamB = New Zealand

|yearBstart = 2022

|yearBend = 24

|appearancesB = 5

|triesB = 1

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 4

|retired =

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/marata-niukore/summary.html|title=Marata Niukore - Career Stats & Summary|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=|accessdate=2016-03-18}}

|updated = 13 July 2025

}}

Marata Niukore (born 29 July 1996) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sr|lk}} and {{rlp|ce}} for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both the Cook Islands and New Zealand at international level.

He previously played for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

Background

Niukore was born in Māngere,Auckland, New Zealand.

Career

=2018=

He started his career with the New Zealand Warriors Under 20s before being signed by the Parramatta Eels until the end of 2018 and playing for Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup. Niukore made a total of 40 appearances for Wentworthville over 2 seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2018/05/15/debutant-watch-niukore/|title = Debutant Watch: Niukore Named for Eels|date = 15 May 2018}} He represented the Cook Islands against Papua New Guinea in 2017.

In round 11 of the 2018 NRL season, Niukore made his NRL debut for Parramatta against the New Zealand Warriors.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/live-scores/716010/papua-new-guinea-v-cook-islands-international-2017 |title=PNG vs Cook Islands |publisher=9WWOS |date=6 May 2017 |accessdate=6 May 2017}}

Niukore ended the 2018 NRL season for Parramatta with 14 appearances for the club.

=2019=

In round 1 of the 2019 NRL season, Niukore started at second-row for Parramatta scoring his first NRL try against the Penrith Panthers in a 20–12 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/12/parramatta-eels-2018-season-review/|title=Parramatta 2018 season review|website=NRL|date=23 October 2018}}

On November 4 2019, it was announced that Niukore had signed a three-year deal to remain at Parramatta until the end of the 2022 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/parramatta-eels-ryan-matterson-nrl-rugby-league-2019/13m9urcw5tp4310oqxjf1meiwg/|title=Parramatta Eels re-sign five players as rumours of Ryan Matterson joining grow louder|website=Sporting News}}

=2020=

He made a total of 17 appearances for Parramatta in the 2020 NRL season as the club finished third but were eliminated from the finals in straight sets.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/parramatta-eels-farewell-11-players-in-mass-exodus-following-disappointing-finals-exit/1txqr55h228vq1wxk66ecwybmr/|title=Parramatta Eels farewell 11 players in mass exodus following disappointing finals exit|website=www.sportingnews.com}}

=2021=

At the start of the 2021 NRL season, Niukore replaced the injured Waqa Blake at centre. In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, he was placed on report for a high tackle on Sydney Roosters player James Tedesco and was later suspended for two matches.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/eels/nrl-news-dylan-brown-suspension-eels-vs-roosters-drew-hutchison-injury-video-knees/news-story/57aaea6911715be20c597fa41e1b24c3/|title=Eels stuck in COVID bubble drama as awkward Magic Round problem comes to light|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=9 May 2021}}

In round 22, Niukore was sent to the sin bin during Parramatta's 56–10 loss against Manly.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-ryan-matterson-sent-off-brad-parker-shoulder-charge-sea-eagles-vs-eels-round-22/news-story/4bd3e7d333332a724c502a08eb365e01/|title=Eels star's season could be over as 'shocking' high shot earns a HUGE suspension|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=15 August 2021}}

Niukore made a total of 21 games for Parramatta and played in both of the club's finals matches against Newcastle and Penrith. Parramatta were eliminated by Penrith at the semi-final stage in a tough 8–6 loss.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-12/nrl-parramatta-eels-defeat-newcastle-knights/100436668/|title=Parramatta Eels defeat Newcastle Knights 28-20 in NRL elimination final|newspaper=ABC News|date=12 September 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-21/penrith-panthers-nrl-breach-notice-trainer-semi-final-parramatta/100479588/|title=Penrith Panthers handed NRL breach notice, fined $25,000 after incident in Parramatta semi-final|newspaper=ABC News|date=21 September 2021}}

On 11 November, Niukore signed with the New Zealand Warriors on a four-year $2.6 million starting in 2023, until the end of 2026.{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/warriors-sign-eels-star-marata-niukore-on-25-million-deal/news-story/9b69282a552a07a174152b0bfedbc684/|title=Warriors sign Eels star Marata Niukore on $2.5 million deal|newspaper=News.com.au|date=10 November 2021}}

=2022=

In the second week of the 2022 finals series, Niukore scored two tries for Parramatta in a 40-4 victory over Canberra.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-live-parramatta-eels-vs-canberra-raiders-teams-live-scores-brad-arthur-vs-ricky-stuart-highlights-live-stream-joseph-tapine-mitchell-moses-concussion/news-story/ab4febda34065392fcd3071590abc0ec/|title=Eels send ruthless title message, bury finals ‘ghosts’ in Raiders no-show: 3 Big Hits|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}

Niukore played 19 games for Parramatta in the 2022 NRL season including the club's Grand Final loss to Penrith.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2022/oct/02/nrl-grand-final-2022-live-penrith-panthers-vs-parramatta-eels-scores-winners-win-team-news-lists-kickoff-start-time-game-score-updates-teams|title=NRL Grand Final as it happened|website=www.theguardian.com}}

=2023=

In round 5 of the 2023 NRL season, Niukore scored a try and was later sin binned during New Zealand's 32-30 comeback victory against Cronulla.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/i-wasnt-enjoying-my-life-warriors-star-shaun-johnson-opens-up-on-brutal-year/news-story/77a5a6f604df3e7966f90737e68b5272/|title=‘I wasn't enjoying my life’: Warriors star Shaun Johnson opens up on brutal year|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}

Niukore played 22 games for the New Zealand Warriors in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals. He played in all three finals games as the club reached the preliminary final before being defeated by Brisbane.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-new-zealand-warriors-season-review/8343d491a8ee8126ee2829c2#:~:text=This%20season%2C%20they%20struggled%20to,magic%20they%20had%20last%20year./|title=NRL 2023: New Zealand Warriors season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}

=2024=

He made 14 appearances for the New Zealand Warriors in the 2024 NRL season which saw the club finish 13th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-season-review-warriors-analysis-exclusive-20240909-p5k98f.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: The 'harsh' Shaun Johnson truth that plagued highly-fancied Warriors|website=www.nine.com.au}}