Ali Leiataua

The name Ali was back on the One New Zealand Warriors’ first-grade team sheet for the first time in 19 years when centre Ali Leiataua was handed his NRL debut in the club’s 15th-round clash against the Raiders in 2023.

The nephew of the legendary Ali Lauitiiti, Leiataua was brought in to replace Rocco Berry and distinguished himself on a huge night when Canberra was celebrating club great Jarrod Croker’s 300th career appearance.

Leiataua was in outstanding form for the club’s New South Wales Cup side throughout the 2023 season, scoring nine tries in 13 appearances including two superb efforts in a 22-24 loss to South Sydney.

Starting the 2024 season with the NSW Cup side, he earned a call-up to the NRL team for the Magic Round clash against Penrith in May, scoring a try in the upset win over the premiers.

In the club’s system since he was 14, Leiataua was a foundation member of the One New Zealand Warriors’ first SG Ball Cup under-18 side in 2020. While based in Redcliffe with the Warriors in 2022, he scored 13 tries in 13 appearances for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Rugby League colts’ competition.

His sister Onjeurlina was in the Warriors’ first NRLW team in 2018 and again in 2019 while his uncle Ali (Warrior #55) played 115 times for the Warriors from 1998-2004.