1. Stephen Matai was born on 5 August 1984 and is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League from 2005 to 2016.
36 Facts About Steve Matai
1. 2.
Steve Matai helped the Sea Eagles win the 2008 and 2011 Premierships.
3.
Steve Matai was part of the New Zealand national squad that won the nation's maiden title at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
4.
Steve Matai is the first cousin of former NRL player, Kiwi and Samoan international Junior Sa'u.
5.
Steve Matai grew up with former Warriors and ex-Kiwi teammate Jerome Ropati.
6.
Steve Matai joined Queensland Cup side Ipswich Jets in 2004 and credits his time spent at the Jets under the coaching of former Queensland, Eastern Suburbs and Brisbane Broncos hard man Trevor Gillmeister for his reputation as the NRL's "Hitman".
7.
Gillmeister, known as "The Axe" for his hard hitting defense, changed Steve Matai's tackling style, teaching him to drive with his legs when making a tackle.
8.
In 2005 Steve Matai moved to another Queensland Cup side, but soon left the Wynnum Manly Seagulls after securing an NRL contract with their associate club, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
9.
Steve Matai joined the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles from the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 2005 after impressing during a strong pre season of training and trials at the Brookvale Oval.
10.
Steve Matai went on to play in 11 matches and score three tries in his debut year in the NRL for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the 2005 NRL season.
11.
Steve Matai went on to play in 24 matches and score 10 tries for the Manly club in the 2006 NRL season.
12.
Steve Matai featured in the Kiwis' Tri-Nations Grand Final clash with Australia at Sydney Football Stadium.
13.
Steve Matai played 11 matches, scored three tries and kicked 4 goals for Manly-Warringah in injury and suspended riddled year for Steve Matai in the 2007 NRL season.
14.
Steve Matai had been an occasional goal kicker for Manly during the year.
15.
Steve Matai played 21 matches, 7 scored tries and kicked 12 goals in a successful year for Manly-Warringah in the 2008 NRL season.
16.
In September 2008, Steve Matai was named in the final 24-man squad.
17.
Steve Matai featured in the Kiwis first World Cup tournament clash against Australia at Sydney Football Stadium.
18.
Steve Matai missed New Zealand's World Cup match with Papua New Guinea after being handed a one-match ban for a high tackle against Australia.
19.
The win would cap a successful year for Steve Matai taking the NRL Premiership and World Cup double.
20.
Steve Matai played in 22 matches and scored 3 tries for Manly-Warringah in the 2009 NRL season.
21.
Steve Matai was selected to make his 10th test appearance for New Zealand for the annual ANZAC test at AAMI Park.
22.
Coincidentally both Manly centres played their last tests for their countries on the night, as Lyon announced his retirement from representative football later in the season, while Steve Matai has not been selected to play for the Kiwis since that game.
23.
Steve Matai played 21 matches and scored 14 tries and kicked a goal for Manly-Warringah in the 2010 NRL season.
24.
Steve Matai played in 22 matches and scored 9 tries in Manly-Warringah's grand final winning year in the 2011 NRL season.
25.
On 25 May 2012, Steve Matai re-signed with Manly for a further three years to the end of the 2015 NRL season.
26.
Steve Matai played in 18 matches and scored 6 tries for Manly-Warringah in the 2012 NRL season.
27.
The Manly centre ran ten metres out of the line to remonstrate with Allgood who immediately let fly with three right hands to Steve Matai's chin, earning himself ten minutes in the sin-bin and a two-week suspension.
28.
Steve Matai, who had already been suspended earlier in the season for a shoulder charge on South Sydney Rabbitohs prop George Burgess, was placed on report for inciting a melee but did not have to front the judiciary for a record 15th time.
29.
Steve Matai played in 27 matches and scored 12 tries for Manly in the 2013 NRL season.
30.
Steve Matai twice requested a release from Manly-Warringah, following the New Zealand Warriors offering him a $AUD 2.5 million four-year contract.
31.
Steve Matai was contracted with the Sea Eagles to the end of the 2015 season.
32.
Steve Matai finished off Manly's 2014 NRL season with him playing in 25 matches, scoring 13 tries and kicking 4 goals.
33.
On 18 February 2015, Steve Matai announced he will finish his career as a one-club man after re-signing with Manly until the end of 2017, knocking back lucrative offers from the Gold Coast Titans and the New Zealand Warriors to remain at Brookvale.
34.
Steve Matai played in 19 matches and scored nine tries for Manly-Warringah in the 2015 NRL season.
35.
On 6 April 2016, Steve Matai announced that he would return to international rugby league after a six-year exile.
36.
Steve Matai said he wanted to play for his parents' birth country, Samoa, in the 2017 World Cup.