1. Feleti Sosefo Mateo was born on 2 June 1984 and is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer.
42 Facts About Feleti Mateo
1. 2.
Feleti Mateo last played for English club Salford Red Devils of Super League in 2016.
3.
Feleti Mateo played for the New Zealand Warriors between 2011 and 2014, and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2015 and 2016 before moving back to England and finishing his top-level career with Salford.
4.
Feleti Mateo was renowned for his versatility and extravagant style of play.
5.
Feleti Mateo was born in Sydney, Australia on 2 June 1984.
6.
Feleti Mateo attended Westfields Sports High School until year 10 and then moved to Terra Sancta College.
7.
Feleti Mateo played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2003 on a tour of New Zealand.
8.
In 2004, Feleti Mateo was selected for the New South Wales under 19's and made the Junior Kanagaroo's tour of Papua New Guinea.
9.
Feleti Mateo played a season with the London Broncos in 2005, appearing in 14 games and scoring a try after joining the club mid-season.
10.
Feleti Mateo returned to the Parramatta Eels in the 2006 NRL season and played in the NSWRL Premier League.
11.
At the start of the 2007 NRL season, Feleti Mateo was selected in the Eels the NRL team.
12.
Feleti Mateo played in 25 matches and scored 9 tries in his return season for the Parramatta Eels in the 2007 NRL season.
13.
Feleti Mateo started 2008 in the five-eighth role, a position he played in his time at the London Broncos.
14.
On 2 May 2008, Feleti Mateo played for NSW City Origin against NSW Country Origin off the interchange bench in the 22-all draw at WIN Stadium.
15.
Feleti Mateo played in 22 matches and scored 7 tries for the Eels in the 2008 NRL season.
16.
Feleti Mateo was named in the Tongan squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
17.
Feleti Mateo played at five-eighth and acted as the main play-maker for Tonga.
18.
Feleti Mateo played in 3 matches and scored a try in the tournament.
19.
Feleti Mateo played off the bench in matches leading up to the Eels 2009 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm.
20.
Feleti Mateo played in 16 matches and scored 2 tries for the Eels in the 2009 NRL season.
21.
Feleti Mateo played for Tonga in the 2009 Pacific Cup tournament.
22.
On 10 May 2010, Feleti Mateo signed with the New Zealand Warriors for the 2011 NRL season and the following two seasons.
23.
Feleti Mateo played in 24 matches and scored 2 tries his final year with the Parramatta Eels in the 2010 NRL season.
24.
In Round 1 of the 2014 NRL season, Feleti Mateo made his club debut for the New Zealand Warriors, playing against his former club the Parramatta Eels.
25.
Feleti Mateo had a stellar debut year with the New Zealand Warriors playing in all their 28 matches and scoring 5 tries.
26.
Feleti Mateo led to offload count in 2011 with 85 offloads.
27.
On 3 November 2011, at the annual RLIF Awards dinner, Feleti Mateo was named the Tonga player of the year.
28.
Feleti Mateo finished the 2012 NRL season with him playing in all of the Warriors 24 matches and scoring 3 tries.
29.
On 16 May 2013 Feleti Mateo re-signed with the Warriors on a 3-year deal until the end of the 2016 season.
30.
Feleti Mateo played in all the Warriors 24 matches, scored a try and kicked 2 goals during the 2013 NRL season.
31.
Feleti Mateo finished off the 2014 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and scoring a try for the Warriors.
32.
On 28 October 2014, Feleti Mateo was granted a release from the Warriors to sign with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles for the 2015 and 2016 NRL seasons.
33.
On 23 January 2015, Feleti Mateo was named in the Sea Eagles 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.
34.
In July 2015, Feleti Mateo was named as one of the 14 unwanted players for Manly beyond the 2015 season but Feleti Mateo wasn't fazed about the rumours and is determined to see out his contract and later was told that the club was happy with him to stay.
35.
Feleti Mateo finished his first year with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles with him playing in 19 matches, scoring 2 tries and kicking 5 goals in the 2015 NRL season.
36.
On 1 February 2016, Feleti Mateo was named in the Sea Eagles 2016 Auckland Nines squad.
37.
On 22 July 2016, Feleti Mateo signed with the Salford Red Devils with immediate effect and was released from his contract with Manly.
38.
Feleti Mateo played in 3 matches for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the 2016 NRL season.
39.
Feleti Mateo was granted a release by Salford prior to the start of the 2017 season, with the team incorrectly spelling his name as 'Feliti' in the press release announcing his departure.
40.
On 28 August, Feleti Mateo was named in The 2017 Ron Massey Cup team of the year.
41.
On 30 September 2017, Feleti Mateo was one of the retired players listed to be honored before the start of the 2017 NRL Grand Final.
42.
Feleti Mateo is eligible to represent England through his English mother, while playing for London Broncos he obtained a British passport.