Simaima Taufa
{{short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Simaima Taufa
|fullname = Simaima Taufa-Kautai
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|4|28}}
|height = {{convert|153|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|82|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|LK|PR}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|Sydney Roosters}}
|year1start = 2018
|year1end = 20
|appearances1 = 9
|tries1 = 2
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 8
|club2 = {{nowrap|Parramatta Eels}}
|year2start = 2021
|year2end = 22
|appearances2 = 12
|tries2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 20
|club3 = {{nowrap|Canberra Raiders}}
|year3start = 2023
|year3end = present
|appearances3 = 0
|tries3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 0
|teamA = {{nowrap|New South Wales}}
|yearAstart = 2014
|yearAend = 22
|appearancesA = 8
|triesA = 1
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 4
|teamB = Australia
|yearBstart = 2014
|yearBend = present
|appearancesB = 11
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = {{nowrap|Women's All Stars}}
|yearCstart = 2015
|yearCend = 16
|appearancesC = 2
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|retired =
|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/simaima-taufa/summary.html RLP]
|updated = 14 November 2022
}}
Simaima Taufa-Kautai (born 28 April 1994) is a rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|lk}} for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL Women's Premiership and Mounties RLFC in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.
She is an Australian and New South Wales representative.
Background
Taufa was born in Tonga and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to Sydney with her family.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/community/program-deliverers/simaima-taufa/|title=Simaima Taufa|website=NRL.com|accessdate=November 21, 2022}}
She grew up playing rugby union, playing for the Western Sydney Two Blues in Sydney's Jack Scott Cup competition.{{Cite web|title=Featuring NRL Part 2|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/feature/suncorp/nrl-pt2|access-date=2021-09-07|website=FOX SPORTS|language=en-AU}}
Playing career
In 2014, Taufa began playing rugby league for the Canley Heights Dragons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/story/2448522/womens-interstate-challenge-canley-heights-dragons/|title=Interstate Challenge: Canley Heights Dragons|date=30 July 2014|website=Fairfield Champion}} On 19 July 2014, she made her debut for New South Wales in a 10–26 loss to Queensland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/07/13/2014-womens-interstate-challenge/|title=2014 Women's Interstate Challenge|date=13 July 2014|website=NRL}} On 9 November 2014, she made her Test debut for Australia in an 8–12 win over New Zealand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2014/10/21/nsw-stars-in-jillaroos-squad/|title=NSW Stars In Jillaroos Squad|date=21 October 2014|website=NSWRL}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2014/10/21/six_new_faces_for_australian_jillaroos_.html|title=Six new faces for Australian Jillaroos|last=Media|first=NRL Digital|date=21 October 2014|work=NRL CLUBS|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en-au}}
On 27 September 2017, Taufa won the Dally M Female Player of the Year medal at the Dally M awards.{{Cite news|url=http://matangitonga.to/2017/09/29/simaima-taufa-rugby-league-female-player-year|title=Simaima Taufa rugby league 'Female Player of the Year'|date=2017-09-29|work=Matangi Tonga|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en}} On 2 December 2017, Taufa started at {{rlp|lk}} in Australia's World Cup final win over New Zealand.{{Cite news|url=http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/jillaroos-named|title=Jillaroos named|date=2017-10-08|work=Rugby League World Cup|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en}}
On 17 June 2018, Taufa was announced as one of fifteen marquee signings by the Sydney Roosters NRL Women's Premiership team.{{cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/06/17/roosters-announce-nrlw-marquee-signings/|title=Roosters announce NRLW marquee signings|publisher=Sydney Roosters|date=17 June 2018|accessdate=17 June 2018}} On 2 September 2018, she was named captain of the side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/02/simaima-taufa-named-captain-of-womens-premiership-team/|title=Simaima Taufa named captain of Women's Premiership team|date=2 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}
In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Roosters in a 4–10 loss to the New Zealand Warriors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/08/nrlw-late-mail--round-1/|title=NRLW Late Mail Round 1|date=8 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}} On 30 September 2018, she started at {{rlp|lk}} in the Roosters 12–34 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/30/nrlw-late-mail--grand-final/|title=NRLW Late Mail Grand Final|date=30 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}
In 2020, Taufa joined the North Sydney Bears in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2020/08/26/womens-origins--simaima-taufa/|title=Women's Origins - Simaima Taufa|date=26 August 2020|website=NSWRL}} On 25 October 2020, Taufa started at {{rlp|pr}} in the Roosters 10–20 Grand Final loss to the Broncos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/10/25/nrlw-late-mail--grand-final/|title=NRLW Late Mail Grand Final|date=25 October 2020|website=Sydney Roosters}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Canberra Raiders women's squad}}
{{Australian 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{Australian 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taufa, Simaima}}
Category:21st-century Tongan sportswomen
Category:Australia women's national rugby league team players
Category:Australian sportspeople of Tongan descent
Category:Canberra Raiders (NRLW) players
Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin Women players
Category:Parramatta Eels (NRLW) players
Category:Rugby league players from Tongatapu