Known as 'Junior', Tevita Tatola is ready to put his injury history behind him and make an impression as a South Sydney Rabbitoh.
Background
Junior Tatola is a promising prop with youth on his side. The 21-year-old was educated at Holy Cross College in the Sydney suburb of Ryde - the same school that produced the likes of Aaron Woods, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses.
Following a couple of injury interrupted seasons, Tatola will be looking for a big year in 2018.
Career
A Wests Tigers junior, Tatola played for both their Intrust Super Cup side and Holden Cup team. In 2015, he was named The Holden Cup Player’s Player while also being named co-captain of the Wests Tigers Under 20s squad.
Rolling into 2016, he was selected to represent the Junior Kangaroos as well as making the NSWRL Under-20s squad. Unfortunately for Tatola, the Junior Kangaroos match would be his last in 2016 after sustaining and playing through a torn ligament in his foot. In 2017, he was a highly valued member of the Tiger’s Intrust Super Premiership side.
Head Coach Anthony Seibold“Junior was a Junior Kangaroo and has always had the ability to progress to the higher levels of the game. This is an opportunity for him to show how much he wants to play at the NRL level.”
Style
A big mobile forward capable of bending the line and playing some big minutes in the middle, Tatola is at home playing in the front row but can make the transition the back row if needed.
How he fits into the squad
Signed until the end of this season, Junior will looking to prove himself with feeder club, the North Sydney Bears as well as providing depth to the clubs front row stocks.
General Manager of Football Shane Richardson“He is an Australian Under 20s player who has had a few injuries of the past couple of seasons which has held him back. Again, he’s a big bodied player with a lot of potential for our middle and adds more depth to that middle.”
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