Starford To'a
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 23 June 2000 Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 97 kg (15 st 4 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre, Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 18 November 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Starford To'a (born 23 June 2000) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger, centre or fullback for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL.
Background
To'a was born in Auckland, New Zealand[2] and is of Tongan and Māori descent.
Playing career
Early years
In 2018, he moved to Australia to play for the Newcastle Knights, after being scouted by a recruitment manager for the Knights in 2016 at a New Zealand national tournament in Rotorua.[2] He played for the Knights' Jersey Flegg Cup team.[3] At the end of 2018, he played for the Australian Schoolboys and was named man of the match in their first game.[4]
2019
In 2019, To'a joined the Knights' NRL squad for pre-season training and played in a first-grade trial match.[5] In June, he re-signed with the Knights on a 2-year contract until the end of 2021.[6] In round 25 of the 2019 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Knights against the Penrith Panthers[7] and scored a try.[8] On 29 September, he will play for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos.[9]
References
- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ a b "The future: Meet Starford To'a". Newcastle Knights. 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Players". 24 September 2018.
- ^ "Schoolboys post record win in first Tour game". 27 November 2018.
- ^ TOOHEY, BARRY (5 March 2019). "Rookie Knight Starford To'a's dazzling feet sign of big future". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Exciting back Starford To'a awarded new deal". Newcastle Knights. 24 June 2019.
- ^ TOOHEY, BARRY (6 September 2019). "Teenage winger Starford To'a to make Knights debut against Panthers". Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Penrith Panthers trounce Newcastle Knights to send James Maloney out on a high". National Rugby League. 8 September 2019.
- ^ "Three Knights named in Junior Kiwis side - Knights".