Mikaele Ravalawa
{{Short description|Fiji rugby league footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Mikaele Ravalawa
|fullname = Mikaele Ravalawa
|image = Mikaele Ravalawa.jpg
|caption =
|country =
|position = {{rlp|WG}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|11|9|df=y}}
|birth_place = Galoa Island, Fiji
|death_date =
|death_place =
|height = {{convert|184|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|St. George Illawarra}}
|year1start = 2019
|year1end = present
|appearances1 = 98
|tries1 = 67
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 268
|club2 = {{nowrap|→ South Sydney}}
|year2start = 2025{{small|(loan)}}
|year2end =
|appearances2 = 3
|tries2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 0
|teamA = Fiji
|yearAstart = 2017
|yearAend = present
|appearancesA = 5
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|new = yes
|source = {{Cite web |title=Mikaele Ravalawa – Career Stats & Summary |url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/mikaele-ravalawa/summary.html |access-date=30 March 2019 |website=Rugby League Project}}|updated = 4 April 2025
}}
Mikaele Ravalawa (born 9 November 1997) is a Fijian rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|wg}}er for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League and Fiji at the international level. He formerly played for the St George Illawarra Dragons
Background
Ravalawa was born in Galoa Island, Fiji.
From Galoa Island, Ravalawa originally played rugby union and captained the Fijian Under-18's rugby sevens team.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/111253551/excrusaders-agegroup-winger-mikaele-ravalawa-makes-nrl-debut |title=Ex-Crusaders age-group winger Mikaele Ravalawa to make NRL debut |publisher=Stuff |author=Mat Kermeen |date=13 March 2019 |access-date=7 March 2023}}
Playing career
=2017–2018=
He joined Burnside High School in Christchurch on a scholarship as part of their international rugby programme. He played for the schools first XV and the Crusaders' Under-18 team.{{Cite news |last=Egan |first=Brendon |date=19 July 2016 |title=Burnside High duo impressing for plucky overachievers |work=Stuff |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/82223049/Burnside-High-duo-impressing-for-plucky-overachievers |url-status=dead |access-date=20 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020085518/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/82223049/Burnside-High-duo-impressing-for-plucky-overachievers |archive-date=20 October 2017}}
He then switched to rugby league after being spotted by Peter Mulholland, joining the Canberra Raiders in 2017 and played for their Holden Cup (Under-20s) team. That season, Ravalawa scored 12 tries in 22 games and won Canberra's under 20s player of the year award.{{Cite news |last=Helmers |first=Caden |date=9 October 2017 |title=Mikaele Ravalawa chasing a dream with nothing more than a backpack |work=The Canberra Times |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/canberra-raiders/nrl-canberra-raiders-mikaele-ravalawa-chasing-a-dream-with-nothing-more-than-a-backpack-20171007-gyw8ge.html |url-status=live |access-date=20 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020135249/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/canberra-raiders/nrl-canberra-raiders-mikaele-ravalawa-chasing-a-dream-with-nothing-more-than-a-backpack-20171007-gyw8ge.html |archive-date=20 October 2017}}
He was named in the Fiji squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.{{Cite web |last=Baleilevuka |first=Rusiate |date=9 October 2017 |title=Ravalawa still in shock after being named in Fiji Bati squad for RLWC |url=http://fijivillage.com/sport/Ravalawa-still-in-shock-after-being-named-in-Fiji-Bati-squad-for-RLWC-52s9rk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020160754/http://fijivillage.com/sport/Ravalawa-still-in-shock-after-being-named-in-Fiji-Bati-squad-for-RLWC-52s9rk/ |archive-date=20 October 2017 |access-date=20 October 2017 |website=Fijivillage}}{{Cite news |last=Helmers |first=Caden |date=7 October 2017 |title=Canberra Raiders young gun Mikaele Ravalawa named in Fiji's World Cup squad |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/canberra-raiders-young-gun-mikaele-ravalawa-named-in-fijis-world-cup-squad-20171007-gywb7f.html |url-status=live |access-date=20 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020084058/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/canberra-raiders-young-gun-mikaele-ravalawa-named-in-fijis-world-cup-squad-20171007-gywb7f.html |archive-date=20 October 2017}}
=2019=
Ravalawa joined the St. George Illawarra Dragons and made 19 appearances for the club during the 2019 NRL season and finished as the club's top try scorer and became a crowd favourite at Kogarah and WIN Stadium.{{Cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Ed |date=2 September 2019 |title=Paul McGregor facing the axe as St. George Illawarra Dragons coach following horror season |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/paul-mcgregor-facing-the-axe-as-st-george-illawarra-dragons-coach-after-horror-season/1m4wnmg28k3j1mhmkd7qlvj2x/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905113456/https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/paul-mcgregor-facing-the-axe-as-st-george-illawarra-dragons-coach-after-horror-season/1m4wnmg28k3j1mhmkd7qlvj2x/ |archive-date=5 September 2019 |website=Sporting News}}
=2020=
In 2020, Ravalawa was awarded a penalty try in the club's first match of the season against the Wests Tigers. In that match, he injured his thigh, meaning he could not finish the match and play the next week.{{Cite web |last=Walter |first=Brad |date=15 March 2020 |title=Benji brilliant as Tigers down dropsy Dragons |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/15/benji-brilliant-as-tigers-down-dropsy-dragons/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320045725/https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/15/benji-brilliant-as-tigers-down-dropsy-dragons/ |archive-date=20 March 2020 |access-date=20 March 2020 |website=National Rugby League}} In June 2020, Ravalawa re-signed with the club on a three-year deal, keeping him at St. George Illawarra until at least the end of the 2023 season.{{Cite web |last=O'Loughlin |first=Liam |date=18 June 2020 |title=Dragons re-sign Fijian international Mikaele Ravalawa on three-year deal |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/mikaele-ravalawa-nrl-2020-st-george-illawarra-dragons-re-signs-contract-paul-mcgregor/1v5d9v0wako5x13tr2mutzm6wa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824105027/https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/mikaele-ravalawa-nrl-2020-st-george-illawarra-dragons-re-signs-contract-paul-mcgregor/1v5d9v0wako5x13tr2mutzm6wa |archive-date=24 August 2020 |access-date=24 August 2020 |website=Sporting News |language=en-au}} He ended the season as the club's tied top try-scorer alongside Zac Lomax and Matthew Dufty, scoring 13 tries in the process.{{Cite web |title=Stats – Players (Tries) |url=https://www.nrl.com/stats/players/?competition=111&season=2020&stat=38 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009230536/https://www.nrl.com/stats/players/?competition=111&season=2020&stat=38 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |access-date=15 October 2020 |website=National Rugby League}}
=2021=
On 27 April, Ravalawa was suspended for two matches after he was initially placed on report for an illegal shoulder charge during the club's loss to the Sydney Roosters in round 7 of the 2021 NRL season.{{Cite web |last=St John |first=Mark |date=27 April 2021 |title=Dragons duo cop bans after ugly shots in Roosters loss: Judiciary |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-mikaele-ravalawa-shoulder-charge-on-josh-morris-roosters-vs-dragons-round-7-on-report-match-review-committee/news-story/a32eae991b6adce512801af87aeaabda/ |access-date=28 April 2021 |website=Fox Sports}}
In round 10 of the 2021 NRL season, Ravalawa scored a hat-trick in the club's 44–18 loss against Melbourne, his first in the NRL.{{Cite news |date=16 May 2021 |title=Penrith, Parramatta and Melbourne — all score wins on final day of Magic Round |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-16/nrl-panthers-titans-warriors-eels-storm-dragons/100136114/ |access-date=17 May 2021}} Due to an illegal shoulder charge during this game, he again received a two match suspension.{{Cite web |date=18 May 2021 |title=Round 10 charges: Titans duo accept bans; Papa out of Origin |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/05/15/round-10-judiciary-charges/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518054932/https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/05/15/round-10-judiciary-charges/ |archive-date=18 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021 |website=National Rugby League}}
On 22 June, Ravalawa was suspended for four games by the NRL after being placed on report for an illegal shoulder charge during the club's round 15 victory over Canberra.{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Chris |date=22 June 2021 |title=Ravalawa banned for four matches; Taukeiaho cleared |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/22/nrl-judiciary-taukeiaho-cleared-ahead-of-ravalawa-verdict/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623011152/https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/22/nrl-judiciary-taukeiaho-cleared-ahead-of-ravalawa-verdict/ |archive-date=23 June 2021 |access-date=22 June 2021 |website=National Rugby League}}
In round 24, Ravalawa scored two tries in a 26–38 loss against North Queensland.{{Cite news |title=Parramatta ends Melbourne Storm's 19-match NRL winning streak as Cronulla, North Queensland celebrate victories |work=ABC News (Australia) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-28/nrl-storm-lose-to-eels-sharks-cowboys-post-wins/100410336/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829003206/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-28/nrl-storm-lose-to-eels-sharks-cowboys-post-wins/100410336 |archive-date=29 August 2021}}
=2022=
During the first round of the 2022 NRL season the St. George Illawarra defeated New Zealand Warriors 28-16 with Ravalawa scoring three tries.{{cite web| url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2022/round-1/warriors-v-dragons |title=Dragons beatting the Warriors 28-16 during the first round}}
In round 15 of the 2022 NRL season, Ravalawa scored two tries for St. George Illawarra in a 32-12 upset victory over South Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-lachlan-ilias-substitution-south-sydney-rabbitohs-hammered-dragons-win-jason-demetriou-anthony-griffin-ben-hunt-live-scores-news/news-story/0ae97511003c7f217381e275828ab6cd/|title='Saw the confidence drop away': Matty Johns labels Ilias' hooking 'unfair' after Dragons flogging|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
Ravalawa played 14 games for St. George Illawarra in 2022 as the club finished 10th and missed the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2022-st-george-illawarra-dragons-season-review/l821xem9o1l8u8ylavtd3ono/|title=NRL 2022: St George Illawarra Dragons season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}
=2023=
On 21 February, Ravalawa was issued with a breach notice and fined by St. George Illawarra after he was involved in an altercation with teammate Zane Musgrove following the clubs Charity Shield loss to South Sydney in Mudgee. It was alleged that both players were heavily intoxicated after a night out of drinking following the game. It was reported that Ravalawa told club officials he was “too drunk to remember” what happened.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-st-george-illawarra-dragons-mudgee-fight-heat-exchange-hotel-what-happened-who-were-the-players-charity-shield/news-story/37da824b0babbee702299a3a648434c2/|title=Dragons punish stars 'too drunk to remember' Mudgee melee at team hotel after all-nighter|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
In round 5 of the 2023 NRL season, Ravalawa scored two tries for St. George Illawarra as they defeated the Dolphins team 38-12.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/04/03/we-want-to-be-top-four-dragons-aiming-high-ahead-of-titans-clash/|title='We want to be top four': Dragons aiming high ahead of Titans clash|website=www.nrl.com}}
In round 14, Ravalawa scored two tries for St. George Illawarra in their 26-18 loss against Penrith. In round 19, Ravalawa scored a hat-trick in St. George Illawarra's 36-26 loss against Canberra. On 12 July, Ravalawa re-signed with St. George Illawarra until the end of 2026.
In round 23, Ravalawa equalled the St. George clubs try scoring record by crossing over for four tries in their 26-20 loss against Parramatta.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nrl/story/_/id/38141605/nrl-round-23-eels-survive-dragons-scare-remain-nrl-finals-hunt/|title=Eels survive Dragons scare to remain in NRL finals hunt|website=www.espn.co.uk}}
Ravalawa would finish as the clubs top try scorer with 21 tries from 21 games. St. George Illawarra would finish the year in 16th place.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-st-george-illawarra-dragons-end-of-season-review-brutal-review-rugby-league-news-ben-hunt-shane-flanagan/news-story/876c40f7fc8f8cf09cf2c720499f7db2/|title=Hunt call that could define Flanagan era; glaring hole that must be filled: Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
=2024=
Ravalawa played 12 games for St. George Illawarra in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/the-mole-st-george-illawarra-dragons-2024-what-went-wrong-season-review-20240910-p5k9kr.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: 'Bullies' exposed as big-money Dragons forward called out|website=www.nine.com.au}}
There had been reports through the year that Ravalawa had fallen out of favour with head coach Shane Flanagan and was reportedly told he could negotiate with other clubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/super-league-clubs-track-fijian-9421410/|title=Super League clubs track Fijian NRL winger with salary contribution offer|website=www.hulldailymail.co.uk}}
= 2025 =
On 14 March, Ravalawa would sign a loan deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2025 season and will return to the Dragons for the 2026 pre-season.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-13 |title=Ravalawa released for 2025 season |url=https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2025/03/14/Ravalawa-released-for-2025-season/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=St George Illawarra Dragons |language=en}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center" | ||||
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | |Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | rowspan="6" |{{leagueicon|St. George Illawarra Dragons|23}} St. George Illawarra Dragons | 19 | 11 | 44 |
| 2020 | 16 | 13 | 52 | |
| 2021 | 16 | 14 | 56 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 5 | 20 | |
| 2023
|21 |21 |84 | ||||
| 2024
|12 |5 |20 | ||||
| 2025
|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs (loan) |2 | | | ||||
| Totals | 100 | 67 | 268 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dragons.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/st-george-illawarra-dragons/mikaele-ravalawa/ St. George Illawarra Dragons profile]
- [http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=382#Mikaele-Ravalava 2017 RLWC profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/rugby-league-world-cup/fiji/mikaele-ravalawa/ Fiji profile]
{{South Sydney Rabbitohs squad|}}
{{Fiji 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad }}
{{Fiji 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ravalawa, Mikaele}}
Category:Fijian rugby league players
Category:Fiji national rugby league team players
Category:Fijian rugby sevens players
Category:Fijian rugby union players
Category:People educated at Burnside High School
Category:Rugby league players from Kadavu Province
Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players