Wairangi Koopu

{{Short description|New Zealand international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Wairangi Koopu

|fullname = Dane Wairangi Manuera Koopu

|image = Wairangi Koopu 2019.jpg

|imagesize =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|4|2}}

|birth_place = Ōpōtiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

|height = {{convert|185|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|99|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|position = {{rlp|SR}}

|club1 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}}

|year1start = 1999

|year1end = 08

|appearances1 = 159

|tries1 = 34

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 136

|club2 = Melbourne Storm

|year2start = 2009

|year2end =

|appearances2 = 12

|tries2 = 1

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 4

|retired =

|teamA = New Zealand Māori

|yearAstart = 2000

|yearAend = 08

|appearancesA = 4

|triesA = 1

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 4

|teamB = New Zealand

|yearBstart = 2004

|yearBend = 05

|appearancesB = 3

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/wairangi-koopu/summary.html RLP]

|updated = 20 March 2021

}}

Dane Wairangi Manuera Koopu (born 2 April 1980) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played for the New Zealand Warriors and the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League. Koopu primarily played in the {{rlp|sr}}, and as a {{rlp|ce}}. He is fluent in Te Reo Maori and often appeared on Māori Television.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/584547|title=Warrior Wairangi keen on rugby switch|date=17 August 2008|work=Sunday News|access-date=7 November 2011}}

Background

Koopu was born in Ōpōtiki, New Zealand, on 2 April 1980. He is of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Awa iwi.{{citation needed|date=March 2008}}

Playing career

Koopu started playing rugby league for the Taniwharau Rugby League club in Huntly, where he attended school at Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga.{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/content/590974|title=Warriors profile: Wairangi Koopu|date=9 June 2005|work=One Sport|access-date=7 November 2011}} In 1998 he also represented the Waikato Cougars, played for the Junior Kiwis and was named in the National Māori tournament team after representing Waikato Māori.New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.p.133-135 During the early part of 1999, Koopu played for the Glenora Bears and represented Auckland North.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=3727|title=Rugby League: Injury gives Hoppe a starting chance|author=Jessup, Peter|date=16 March 1999|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=7 November 2011}} While contracted to the Warriors, Koopu also played in the then feeder clubs for the NRL franchise, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and the Newtown Jets. Koopu also represented the NZ Maori at the 2000 RLWC and played for the Kiwi's 3 times.

=Warriors=

Koopu made his first grade debut for the Auckland Warriors in Round 6, 1999. He went on to play for the club 159 times, earning the nickname "Mr Consistency".{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/454218/650440|title=Wairangi Koopu|date=18 January 2006|work=Television New Zealand|access-date=7 November 2011}} Koopu played for the New Zealand Māori in 1999 and at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

Koopu played for the New Zealand Warriors from the interchange bench in their 2002 NRL Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters. It was not until 2004 that he made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/rugby_league/505826.stm|title=GB have Long to thank|date=5 November 1999|work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 November 2011}} Koopu seriously injured his shoulder in 2006 and never fully regained his consistency with the Warriors. As a result, after ten years with the Warriors, Koopu was released by the club at the end of the 2008 season. That year Koopu again played for the New Zealand Māori in two games, including a match against an Indigenous Dreamtime side.

=Melbourne=

After being released by the Warriors, Koopu accepted a one-year contract with the Melbourne Storm for the 2009 season.{{cite news|author=Aaron Lawton|publisher=Fairfax Digital|title=Koopu flies into Storm coop|url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/koopu-flies-into-storm-coop/2008/11/08/1225561205620.html|access-date=9 Nov 2008|date=9 Nov 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/news/629171|title=Koopu joins Auckland as he 'weighs options'|date=15 September 2008|work=Rugby Heaven|access-date=7 November 2011}}{{cite news|last=Gould |first=Russell |work=Herald Sun (Melbourne) |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25616465-11088,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907062306/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25616465-11088,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 September 2012 |title=Swine flu hits Storm star |date=10 June 2009 |access-date=3 July 2009 }} Koopu was named as reserve for the Storm team that won the 2009 NRL Grand Final,{{cite web |last1=Deane |first1=Steve |title=NRL: Fate may give Koopu his dream finish |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/nrl-fate-may-give-koopu-his-dream-finish/MUL7VVN667FFWLXYLNBFZNR4KM/ |website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=21 April 2022 |date=26 September 2009}}{{cite web |title=2009 NRL Teams - Grand Final |url=https://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/2009-nrl-teams-grand-final.345879/ |website=leagueunlimited.com |access-date=21 April 2022 |date=29 September 2009}} a premiership that was later stripped after their long-term salary cap breaches came to light in 2010.

Later years

File:Ptchevwai.jpgIn 2010 Koopu played alongside Stacey Jones and Awen Guttenbeil in rebuilding Pt Chev Pirates rugby league club in Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield.

In 2015, he was named at loose forward in Taniwharau's team of their first 70 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/65740747/lance-hohaia-named-taniwharau-rugby-league-clubs-best|title=Lance Hohaia named Taniwharau rugby league club's best|author=AARON GOILE|date=3 February 2015|work=Stuff}}

In March 2025, once his name suppression lapsed, it was revealed he had been charged with cocaine possession and supply in October 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/545337/former-warriors-player-wairangi-koopu-named-as-television-celebrity-facing-charges-of-drug-possession|title=Former Warriors Player Wairangi Koopu named as television celebrity facing charges of drug possession|author=RNZ|date=19 March 2025|work=RNZ}}