Tolu Koula
Personal information
Full nameTolutau Koula Jr
Born (2002-09-02) 2 September 2002
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022– Manly Sea Eagles 39 14 0 0 56
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 Tonga 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 1 September 2023

Tolutau Koula (born 2 September 2002) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and fullback for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Koula's parents represented Tonga at multiple Olympic Games. His father, Tolutau Koula Sr, was a sprinter and his mother, Ana Siulolo Liku, was a hurdler.[2]

Koula Jr set the GPS sprint record in 2019 at 10.58 seconds.[3] He graduated from Newington College in 2020, where he was the Athletics Captain[4][5]

Playing career

2022

Koula made his debut in round 1 of the 2022 NRL season for Manly-Warringah in a 28-6 loss to Penrith.[6] Following this, he was announced as a member of the Tongan national rugby league team, where he will start at fullback against New Zealand on June 25.[7]

Koula played 20 games for Manly in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table and missed out on the finals.[8] He was one of seven players involved in the Manly pride jersey player boycott.[9]

2023

In round 15 of the 2023 NRL season, Koula scored two tries for Manly in their 58-18 victory over the Dolphins.[10] In round 21, Koula scored two tries for Manly in their 30-26 victory over rivals Cronulla in the battle of the beaches game.[11] In round 27, Koula scored two tries in Manly's 54-12 victory over the Wooden Spoon side Wests Tigers.[12] Koula played 19 games for Manly in the 2023 NRL season and scored eight tries as the club finished 12th on the table and missed the finals once again.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Tolutau Koula - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project.
  2. ↑ Proszenko, Adrian (9 March 2022). "Olympic bloodlines put Koula on fast track to top with Sea Eagles". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Geleit, Lachlan (14 February 2022). "Manly to unleash the "quickest" player in the NRL in trial match". SEN.
  4. ↑ "Tolutau Koula". Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  5. ↑ SMH Olympic bloodlines put Koula on fast track to top with Sea Eagles Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "NRL 2022, Round 1 Team Lists". NRL.com. 8 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Tongan stars set for huge Origin call as Kiwis swing axe on Warriors star: Test teams named". foxsports.com.au. 15 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "NRL 2022: Manly Sea Eagles season review". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Seven Manly players to boycott NRL match over pride jersey". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Sea Eagles embarrass Dolphins with 58-18 NRL hiding, Warriors beat Raiders 36-14 to crash Jarrod Croker's party". www.abc.net.au.
  11. ↑ "Sea Eagles hold off Sharks to win 30-26, Panthers thrash Bulldogs 44-18 to stay top of NRL ladder". www.abc.net.au.
  12. ↑ "'Brilliant moment': DCE's wholesome Jurbo gift as Manly enforcer shines — Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
  13. ↑ "The $800k call Seibold must make as Turbo hits NRL crossroads: Sea Eagles Brutal Review". www.foxsports.com.au.
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