30 Facts About Tawera Nikau

Tawera Nuieia Nikau was born on 1 January 1967 and is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s.

Tawera Nikau began his career playing rugby league for the Otara Scorpions and rugby union for the East Tamaki Rugby Union club in Auckland before his family moved to the Waikato.

Tawera Nikau spent the 1988 season with the Canterbury Bulldogs on the New Zealand Rugby League's "Rookie Scheme".

Tawera Nikau joined the Melbourne Storm team in its 1998 inaugural year, helping the team reach a third-place finish in the minor premiership.

Melbourne did well the following season and Tawera Nikau played as a lock in the 1999 NRL Grand Final victory over the St George-Illawarra Dragons.

Tawera Nikau's performance has been credited with sparking Melbourne's second-half comeback.

From 1999 to 2001, Tawera Nikau was under contract with Super League franchise, the Warrington Wolves.

Tawera Nikau suffered a personal tragedy on 5 April 2001, when his wife Letitia died by suicide.

Tawera Nikau won in a charity boxing match in June 2002 against Samoan rugby union footballer Peter Fatialofa, supporting the Yellow Ribbon Fight for Life to prevent youth suicide.

Between 1989 and 1997 Tawera Nikau was a New Zealand national rugby league team representative, although his international career was hindered by a dispute with Richie Blackmore that resulted in his refusal to play in the same side as Blackmore.

Tawera Nikau toured with the New Zealand Maori side in 1996 and 1998 and played at the 1986 Pacific Cup.

Tawera Nikau attended the 2000 World Cup as captain of the Aotearoa Maori side.

In 2008, Tawera Nikau was part of the Pacific Island Barbarians team at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.

In 2004 Tawera Nikau was the inaugural coach of the Waicoa Bay Stallions in the Bartercard Cup.

In November 2006, Tawera Nikau was appointed New Zealand and Islander Liaison Officer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

In 2010 Tawera Nikau was appointed a New Zealand national rugby league team selector for two years.

Tawera Nikau completed the New York City Marathon with Frank Bunce.

In 2003 Tawera Nikau had a motorcycle accident which resulted in an amputation of his right leg.

In 2012, Tawera Nikau was found guilty of assaulting his estranged daughter Heaven-Leigh outside the Huntly police station, he was convicted and fined after he failed to get a discharge without conviction.

Tawera Nikau previously worked for Maori Television and previously provided NRL match commentary for Sky Sports.

Tawera Nikau is the chief executive of Aotearoa Construction and owner and managing director of Team One Corporate Development, a training company.

In 2022, Tawera Nikau was the coach that lead the Rugby League team in Match Fit 2 in 2022 after the Rugby Union team was unable to secure an alumni match with the Wallabies alumni due to border restrictions in place due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Tawera Nikau participated in season 3 of Match Fit, where former rugby league players return to play against the Australian counterparts.

Tawera Nikau officially joined in the first season that featured former rugby league stars as the Head Coach.

Tawera Nikau admitted that he started becoming a heavy drinker after 2001 when he lost his wife.

In 2024, Tawera Nikau returned in Tawera Nikau participated in season 4 of Match Fit, where former rugby league players return to play against the All Black alumni.

Tawera Nikau is the Head Coach and narrator for the series.

In 2008 Tawera Nikau was inducted as one of the NZRL Legends of League.

Tawera Nikau won a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for emerging leaders in 2011.

In 2023, Tawera Nikau was inducted as a life member of the Melbourne Storm.