1. Francis Meli was born on 27 April 1979 and is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
22 Facts About Francis Meli
1. 2.
Francis Meli eventually joined City Marist and played for the Marist Saints in the Auckland Rugby League.
3.
Francis Meli was then signed by the Auckland Warriors, and made his NRL debut against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on 2 May 1999.
4.
Francis Meli played for the Warriors on the wing in their 2002 NRL Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
5.
Francis Meli was played on the wing in five test matches and scored 4 tries.
6.
Francis Meli scored a club record 23 tries for the Warriors in the 2003 NRL season.
7.
Francis Meli scored 5 of those tries in a single finals game against the Canterbury Bulldogs, a feat still unbeaten in the finals.
8.
Francis Meli played his 50th match for the club on 6 April 2003 and his 100th match against the Wests Tigers on 9 April 2005.
9.
Francis Meli was named the 2003 New Zealand Warriors' Player of the Year.
10.
Francis Meli played for St Helens on the wing in their 2006 Challenge Cup Final victory against the Huddersfield Giants.
11.
Francis Meli played in 2008's Super League XIII Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos.
12.
Francis Meli arrived back in the country five rounds late and was forced to start his season in the reserves.
13.
Francis Meli played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.
14.
At the start of 2010 Francis Meli was granted compassionate leave to briefly return to New Zealand.
15.
Francis Meli played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.
16.
Francis Meli played for Super League side Salford Red Devils for the 2014 season after signing a one-year contract at the club.
17.
Francis Meli retired at the conclusion of the 2014 season after failing to be offered a new contract.
18.
Francis Meli was named in the Samoan squad for the 2009 Pacific Cup.
19.
Francis Meli was selected to play for the Exiles by coach Brian McLennan.
20.
In 2022, Francis Meli was drafted in as a replacement for Shontayne Hape as a on-field player for Match Fit.
21.
Francis Meli is the mental health coach for the group as he is child case manager with New Zealand Police since retiring from the game.
22.
Francis Meli has a wife and 3 girls, as of 2022, the oldest was 16 and the youngest 2.