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by | Mar 27, 2018 | Calanthe

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Chanel Harris-Tavita (born 3 April 1999) is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth, halfback or fullback and currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Harris-Tavita was born in Auckland, New Zealand and is of Samoan descent. His grandfather Ray Harris represented New Zealand Maori and Auckland.[2][3]

Playing career

2016-2018

A clever ball player, he was named the New Zealand Warriors 2017 NYC player of the year.[4]

Harris-Tavita made his NYC debut on his 17th birthday in 2016 and, after two seasons in the under-20 grade, was moved up to develop his game in the Intrust Super Premiership in 2018.[4]

2019-2020

In round 4 of the 2019 NRL season, Harris-Tavita made his NRL debut against the Gold Coast Titans. He was viewed as Shaun Johnson long term replacement, who signed with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in late 2018.[5]

He made 13 appearances for the New Zealand Warriors in both of the 2019 and 2020 seasons as the club missed out on the finals.[6]

2021

In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 38-32 loss against Manly-Warringah. He made a total of 11 appearances for the club which saw New Zealand once again miss out on the finals.[7]

2022

Following New Zealand's record 70-10 loss to Melbourne in round 8 of the 2022 NRL season, it was revealed that Harris-Tavita suffered a ruptured testicle during the game which required surgery. Harris-Tavita was then ruled out from playing indefinitely.[8] In May 2022, Harris-Tavita announced he was taking a hiatus from rugby league at the end of the season. Harris-Tavita cited that he had lost the passion for playing the game and was going to spend his time traveling and writing.[9][10]

In October Harris-Tavita was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[11] Harris-Tavita played for Samoa in their Rugby League World Cup final loss to Australia. During the second half, Harris-Tavita was knocked out after being hit in the head by Australia's Angus Crichton. Harris-Tavita played no further part in the match.[12]

2023

After the World Cup the previous year, Harris-Tavita travelled Europe as part of his hiatus from rugby league. In May 2023, it was announced Harris-Tavita would return to the New Zealand Warriors, signing a two-year deal from 2024.[13]

References

  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ "Rugby league: The making of Chanel Harris-Tavita - Why the Warriors' latest NRL prodigy is no overnight sensation". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Rugby league: NZ Warriors' Chanel Harris-Tavita follows in grandfather's footsteps with Māori All Stars selection". NewsHub. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Chanel Harris-Tavita". Warriors. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  5. ^ "NRL experts predict Chanel Harris-Tavita to fill Shaun Johnson's boots at Warriors". 1 News. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Warriors to make finals in 2021". www.nrl.com.
  7. ^ "St George Illawarra beats Canterbury Bulldogs 32-12, Manly defeats New Zealand Warriors 38-32". www.abc.net.au.
  8. ^ "Freak injury rules out Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita for a month". www.sportingnews.com.
  9. ^ George Clarke (23 May 2022). "'Time for a change of scenery': Chanel Harris-Tavita makes shock decision to walk away from NRL at 23". Stuff. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  10. ^ "NRL: Warriors star Chanel Harris-Tavita reveals plan to take break from rugby league next season". New Zealand Herald. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  11. ^ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  12. ^ "Australia 30-10 Samoa: Rugby League World Cup final – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
  13. ^ "Chanel Harris-Tavita to return to Warriors in 2024, ending his NRL sabbatical". Stuff. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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