Jerome Ropati

Jerome Ropati (born 23 November 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played his entire career for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL). Ropati also represented New Zealand, and was a member of the World Cup-winning team in 2008.^[2] He played as a centre, and occasionally as a fullback and five-eighth.

Jerome Ropati

Personal information
Full name	Jerome Piper Leitu Ropati^[1]
Born	(1984-11-23) 23 November 1984 (age 38) Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Position	Fullback, Centre, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2003–14 New Zealand Warriors 145 54 0 0 216 2018 Bay Roskill 6 6 2 0 28 Total 151 60 2 0 244 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005–09 New Zealand 11 10 0 0 40
Source: ^[2]

Background

Ropati was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

Early years

Ropati is of Samoan descent and was educated at St Paul's College, a school noted for its rugby league teams.

Jerome Ropati's parents are Filipo and Rosa Ropati.^{[citation needed]}

He is no relation to the famous Ropati rugby league family.^[3]

Playing career

Ropati's junior club was the Marist Saints and he played for the Marist Richmond Brothers in the Bartercard Cup.^[3] It was his 2003 season in the Bartercard Cup that shot him to prominence, as he enjoyed a stellar season and led the club to the grand final. He missed the grand final, which the Brothers lost, because he was making his NRL debut for the Warriors.^[4]

In 2002 Ropati was named captain of the Junior Kiwis squad which played two games against touring Australian sides.^[5]

Warriors

He made his first grade debut for the Warriors in round 25 of the 2003 season against the Sydney Roosters. When not selected for the first grade side, Ropati represented the Auckland Lions in both the Bartercard Cup and NSWRL Premier League. He was one of four players who played in every game for the Warriors in 2007.

He made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 2005 against Australia and was involved in the 2006 Tri Nations. He was a member of the 2008 World Cup winning Kiwis team, that defeated Australia in the Final, with Ropati scoring a try in the match.

In 2009 he extended his Warriors career until the 2012 season, becoming a 10-year Warrior.^[6][7] His 2011 season was ruined by injury as he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in round 3.^[8] He retired during the 2014 season, following another injury.^[9]

Later years

After retirement, Ropati stayed working for the Warriors, becoming a community ambassador. For the 2017 season, Ropati was appointed an assistant coach to the club's Intrust Super Premiership NSW side.^[10] In 2018 he put the boots back on and has turned out for the Bay Roskill Vikings in the Sharman Cup, helping them to the Phelan Shield in an unbeaten regular season.^[11]

References

1. ROPATI, JEROME PIPER LEITU 2005 - 2006, 2008 - 2009 - KIWI #716 2012-04-23 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. Rattue, Chris (2 September 2006). "League: Jerome Ropati - Miracle in the making". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
4. "Warriors Star Profile: Jerome Ropati". Television New Zealand. 15 July 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
5. 2002 Junior Kiwis Season NZRL.co.nz
6. Brown, Michael (29 March 2009). "NRL: Ropati extends contract to 2012". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
7. Ropati to become 10-year Vodafone Warrior 2009-04-03 at the Wayback Machine Warriors Official Site, 29 March 2009
8. Ropati out for the season 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine rleague.com, 29 March 2011
9. "Jerome Ropati announces league retirement". 28 May 2014.
10. Media, NRL Digital (11 October 2016). "Coaches confirmed for ISP and NYC teams".
11. . websites.sportstg.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018.

External links

 

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