Matt Ikuvalu
{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Matt Ikuvalu
|fullname = Matthew Ikuvalu
|image = Matthew Ikuvalu.jpg
|imagesize = 290
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|11|9}}
|birth_place = Sydney, Australia
|height = {{convert|184|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|WG|CE}}
|club1 = Sydney Roosters
|year1start = 2018
|year1end = 21
|appearances1 = 38
|tries1 = 25
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 100
|club2 = Cronulla Sharks
|year2start = 2022
|year2end = 23
|appearances2 = 5
|tries2 = 4
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 16
|club3 = Catalans Dragons
|year3start = 2023
|year3end = 2024
|appearances3 = 37
|tries3 = 12
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 48
|retired =
|source =[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/matt-ikuvalu/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 6 January 2025
}}
Matt Ikuvalu (born 9 November 1993) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|wg}}er or {{rlp|ce}} for the Wyong Roos in the Central Coast Division Rugby League.
He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League (NRL), and the Catalan Dragons in the Super League.
Background
Ikuvalu was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and is of Tongan and European descent.
He played junior rugby league for the Gosford Kariong Storm. He later transferred to the Erina Eagles while attending Narara Valley High School.
Ikuvalu played for Manly Warringah in the Under 20s competition, The Toyota Cup, in 2011 and 2012.{{Cite web |url=https://www.playersvoice.com.au/matt-ikuvalu-mile-in-dads-shoes/#vItC2OOmS4IKHexZ.97 |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 August 2018 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411022906/https://www.playersvoice.com.au/matt-ikuvalu-mile-in-dads-shoes/#vItC2OOmS4IKHexZ.97 |url-status=dead }}
Career
=2018=
Ikuvalu made his first grade debut in round 13 of the 2018 NRL season against the Wests Tigers.{{cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/supercoach-news/nrl-team-lists-for-round-13-2018/news-story/df73d631df98c6afe4bf6c551c716e10 |title=NRL team lists for round 13, 2018 |newspaper=Courier Mail |date=31 May 2018}}
=2019=
Ikuvalu joined the Sydney Roosters in their World Club Challenge 20–8 victory over Wigan before the start of the 2019 NRL season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flashscore.com/rugby-league/world/world-club-challenge/|title = World Club Challenge 2020 scores, Rugby League World – FlashScore}}
=2020=
In round 9 of the 2020 NRL season, Ikuvalu was called into the Sydney Roosters team 15 minutes before kick off due to an injury suffered by Brett Morris in the warm up. Ikuvalu went on to score five tries in the 42–16 win over North Queensland. He became the first Sydney Roosters player since 1955 to score five tries in a game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/07/09/ikuvalu-scores-five-as-roosters-rout-cowboys/|title=Ikuvalu scores five as Roosters rout North Queensland|website=www.nrl.com|date=9 July 2020}}
=2021=
In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored a hat-trick for the Sydney Roosters in their 31–18 loss against Parramatta.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-07/eels-outmuscle-roosters-panters-demolish-sharks/100119804/|title=Parramatta Eels outmuscle Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers demolish Cronulla Sharks|newspaper=ABC News|date=7 May 2021}}
In round 14 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 35–34 victory over the Gold Coast.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-12/nrl-live-score-updates-titans-roosters-rabbitohs-knights/100197424/|title=Brisbane Broncos' Kobe Hetherington sent off in loss to Canberra Raiders; Roosters and Rabbitohs score wins|newspaper=ABC News|date=12 June 2021}}
In round 18, he scored two tries in a 34–18 victory over North Queensland.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-17/nrl-storm-thrash-knights-raiders-roosters-record-wins/100288250/|title=Melbourne Storm thrash Newcastle Knights 48–4 as Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters post NRL victories|newspaper=ABC News|date=17 July 2021}}
On 27 July, it was announced that he would be ruled out from playing for an indefinite period after suffering a syndesmosis injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-casualty-ward-injury-list-return-dates-addin-fonuablake-finger-warriors/news-story/95085422ba1bf715b3a2636b1741d780/|title=Johnson's Sharks career on the brink as Panthers lose To'o in double blow: Casualty Ward|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=27 July 2021}}
At the conclusion of the 2021 season, Ikuvalu was released from the final year of his contract to take up a deal with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, following his assistant coach at the Roosters Craig Fitzgibbon in departing the club for Cronulla-Sutherland.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-cody-walker-resigns-with-south-sydney-rabbitohs-contract-extension-transfer-centre-signings/news-story/bec15a4849e7657f5ea006bfea37afd5/|title='It really is home': Walker inks one-year extension with Bunnies — NRL Transfer Centre|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=November 2021}}
=2022=
In round 23 of the 2022 NRL season, he scored two tries for Cronulla in a 40–6 victory over rivals Manly in the battle of the beaches game.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-20/nrl-round-23-one-sided-games-roosters-sharks-eels/101352520/|title=Roosters, Eels and Sharks add pre-finals drubbings to one-sided round of NRL|newspaper=ABC News|date=20 August 2022 }}
=2023=
On 23 April, Ikuvalu was granted an immediate release from his Cronulla contract to join Super League side the Catalans Dragons.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/catalans-confirm-capture-of-nrl-outside-back/|title=Catalans confirm capture of NRL outside-back|website=www.loverugbyleague.com|date=23 April 2023 }}
On 14 October, Ikuvalu played in Catalans 2023 Super League Grand Final loss against Wigan.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/14/catalans-dragons-wigan-super-league-grand-final-rugby-league-match-report/|title=Wigan Warriors crowned Super League champions after downing Dragons|website=www.theguardian.com}}
=2024=
Ikuvalu played 22 matches for Catalans in the 2024 Super League season which saw the club miss the playoffs finishing 7th. Ikuvalu left Catalans at the end of the 2024 season {{cite web|url=https://www.totalrl.com/catalans-dragons-shift-backroom-staff-following-poor-end-to-super-league-2024/|title=Catalans Dragons shift backroom staff following poor end to Super League 2024|website=www.totalrl.com}}
=2025=
Statistics
=NRL / Super league=
:{{Cite web |title=Player |url=https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/1723/matt-ikuvalu |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.superleague.co.uk}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" | |||||
| width=2%|Season
!width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|T !width=2%|G !width=2%|GK % !width=2%|F/G !width=2%|Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2018
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |{{leagueicon|Sydney|16}} Sydney Roosters | 3|| 1|| 0|| —|| 0|| 4 | |||||
| style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2019 | 10 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 12 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2020
| 10|| 7|| 0|| —|| 0|| 28 | |||||
| style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2021 | 15 | 14 | 0 | — | 0 | 56 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2022
|style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland | 5|| 4|| 0|| —|| 0|| 16 | |||||
| 2023
| rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Catalans|16}} Catalans Dragons |5 |2 | | | | | |||||
| 2024
|18 |5 | | | |20 | |||||
| class="sortbottom"
! colspan="2" | Career totals ! 73 ! 39 ! 0 ! — ! 0 ! 156 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/sydney-roosters/matt-ikuvalu/ Roosters profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/matt-ikuvalu2/ NRL Profile]
{{Sydney Roosters - 2019 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{2017 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year}}
{{NRL Scored 5 Tries}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikuvalu, Matt}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian sportspeople of Tongan descent
Category:Catalans Dragons players
Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players
Category:Rugby league players from Sydney
Category:Sydney Roosters players
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
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