Enari Tuala


Enari Tuala is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL.
He previously played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League, and has represented the Prime Minister's XIII.

Background

Tuala was born in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, and is of Samoan descent.
He played his junior rugby league for the Edmonton Storm, before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.

Playing career

Early career

After being signed by the Cowboys, Tuala moved to Townsville, where he attended Kirwan State High School and played for the Townsville Stingers' Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cup sides. In 2014, Tuala represented the Queensland under-16 team. In 2015, Tuala scored a hat trick in the Stingers' Mal Meninga Cup Grand Final victory and was selected for the Queensland under-18 team. Later that year, he scored twice in Kirwan's ARL Schoolboy Cup final victory over Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown. In 2016, Tuala played for the Cowboys' NYC side, scoring 12 tries in 15 games. He was again selected for the Queensland under-18 side but was later ruled out through injury.

2017

In early 2017, Tuala trained during the pre-season with the Cowboys' first grade squad. He played in their first NRL trial against the Sydney Roosters, scoring a try in the 11-10 win.
In May, Tuala played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis, before re-signing with the Cowboys on a 2-year contract until the end of 2019. In round 24 of the 2017 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Cowboys against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

2018

In Round 13 of the 2018 NRL season against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Tuala scored his first NRL try in the Cowboys' 26-12 win at Brookvale Oval.
On October 6, Tuala made his senior representative debut for the Prime Minister's XIII, coming off the bench and assisting a try in the side's 34-18 win over the PNG Prime Minister's XIII. A week later, on 13 October, he scored a double in the Junior Kangaroos 40-24 win over the Junior Kiwis.

2019

Tuala played just seven NRL games for the Cowboys in 2019. He spent the majority of the season playing for the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup.
On 13 September, it was announced that he would not be re-signed by the Cowboys.

2020

Tuala joined the Newcastle Knights on a 1-year contract ahead of the 2020 season.

Statistics

NRL