Ben_Nakubuwai

Ben Nakubuwai

Ben Nakubuwai

Fiji international rugby league footballer

Petero Benjamin "Ben" Nakubuwai (born 15 March 1996) is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship, on loan from the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League.

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Nakubuwai previously played for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League and the Salford Red Devils in the Super League, and was a member of Fiji's squad for the 2017 World Cup.

Background

Nakubuwai was born in Leeton, New South Wales, Australia to Fijian parents Pio and Eseta.[5] His father was a dual-code rugby international for Fiji during the 1990s, and is known as one of the pioneers of rugby league in Fiji.[6]

Nakubuwai grew up playing rugby union from the age of eight for the Leeton Phantoms,[5] and later took up rugby league at a junior level at age fourteen, playing for the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks and Bidgee Hurricanes.[7] Having been spotted by the Melbourne Storm, Nakubwai moved to Melbourne after completing his Higher School Certificate to play in their S. G. Ball Cup team.[8]

Playing career

Early career

Nakubuwai joined Melbourne's National Youth Competition team in 2015, playing 42 matches over two seasons.[9] He made his international debut for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in May 2016.[10] In December 2016, Nakubuwai signed with the Gold Coast Titans.[11]

2017

Nakubuwai spent most of the 2017 season playing for one of the Titans' feeder clubs, the Tweed Heads Seagulls, in the Queensland Cup. He was called upon to play two NRL matches for the Titans at the end of the season.[12]

On 29 November 2017, it was revealed Nakubuwai had signed a two-year deal to join English side Salford Red Devils in the Super League.[13][14]

2022

On 26 April 2022 it was announced that Nakubuwai had signed for Leigh until the end of the season. On 28 May 2022, he played for Leigh in their 2022 RFL 1895 Cup final victory over Featherstone.[15]

2023

On 12 August 2023, Nakubuwai played for Leigh in their 2023 Challenge Cup final victory over Hull Kingston Rovers. It was Leigh's first major trophy in 52 years.[16] He played 19 games for Leigh in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished fifth on the table and qualified for the playoffs. He played in their elimination playoff loss against Hull Kington Rovers.[17]

2024

On 1 Jun 2024 it was reported that he had signed for Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship on loan[18]

References

  1. [1]
    Baselala, Elenoa (28 October 2017). "Kubuwai re-born". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. [2]
    loverugbyleague
  3. [3]
    "Ben Nakubuwai - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project.
  4. [4]
    love rugby league
  5. [5]
    "Rep Honours for Big Ben". Leeton Phantoms Junior Rugby Club. 17 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008.
  6. [6]
    Cabenatabua, Leone (2 March 2014). "Inducted". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. [7]
    "Player profile". FijiTimes. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. [8]
    Gray, John (1 October 2013). "Storm front - Hurricanes young gun on Melbourne's radar". Irrigator. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  9. [9]
    "N". NYC Database.
  10. [10]
    "NRL Match Centre 2017". matchcentre.nrl.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  11. [11]
    Webeck, Tony (23 December 2016). "Titans snare 'next Petero' from Storm". NRL.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  12. [12]
    "Nakubuwai reflects on Titans debut". QRL.com.au. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  13. [13]
    "NRL Market Watch: Panther's code switch consideration, Knights contract twist". Fox Sports Australia. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  14. [14]
    "Ben Nakubuwai: Salford Red Devils sign Fiji international". BBC. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  15. [15]
    "Featherstone Rovers: 1895 Cup final defeat to Leigh Centurions gives Brian McDermott's side signal of their progress". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  16. [16]
    "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 16-17 Leigh Leopards - Leigh claim first Wembley final win in 52 years". www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. [17]
    "Leigh Leopards 2023 season in review". www.leighleopards.co.uk.
  18. [18]
    "BEN NAKUBUWAI JOINS FEATHERSTONE ROVERS ON LOAN". Leigh Leopards. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
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