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Solomone Kata

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Solomone Kata
Personal information
Born (1994-12-03) 3 December 1994 (age 29)
Neiafu, Tonga
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–19 New Zealand Warriors 93 46 0 0 184
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014–19 Tonga 7 4 8 0 32
2016 New Zealand 5 1 0 0 4
Rugby union
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2020–2021 Brumbies 18 5 0 0 25
2021 Auckland 2 0 0 0 0
2022 Moana Pasifika 7 1 0 0 5
2022–2023 Exeter Chiefs 20 5 0 0 25
2023– Leicester Tigers 21 4 0 0 20
Total 68 15 0 0 75
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– Tonga 13 4 0 0 20
Source: [1]
As of 1 November 2024

Solomone Kata (born 3 December 1994) is a professional dual-code rugby footballer who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the Tonga national team.[2]

Prior to rugby union, Kata played rugby league for the New Zealand Warriors and was contracted to the Melbourne Storm in the NRL,[3] and also played for Tonga and New Zealand at the international level.

Early life

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Kata was born in Neiafu, Tonga, and moved to New Zealand in 2011 on a rugby union scholarship at Sacred Heart College, Auckland.

Kata represented the Tongan under-21 side.[4]

Club career

[edit]

Kata switched to rugby league in 2013, signing with the New Zealand Warriors. Kata played for the Warriors Holden Cup team and was part of the side that lost the Grand Final 30–42 to the Penrith Panthers. Kata played in the 2014 Auckland Nines with the first grade side, before returning to the under 20s competition.[5]

Kata played for the Warriors in the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines[6] At the end of the regular season, Kata played at centre in the 2014 Holden Cup grand final, scoring a hat-trick in the Junior Warriors' 34–32 victory over the Brisbane Broncos juniors. Kata won the Jack Gibson Medal as the grand final player of the match.[7]

Kata again played in the Warriors NRL Auckland Nines team in 2015 and was named in the team of the tournament.[8][9] In Round 1 of the 2015 NRL season, Kata made his first grade NRL debut for the New Zealand Warriors against the Newcastle Knights on the wing in the Warriors' 14–24 loss at Hunter Stadium.[10][11][12] In Round 2, against the Canberra Raiders, Kata scored his first NRL career try in the Warriors' 18–6 win at Canberra Stadium.[13] Kata finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in all of the Warriors 24 matches and being the top tryscorer with 12 tries in the 2015 NRL season, while mid-year his contract was extended until the end of 2018.[14]

In February, Kata played for the Warriors in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines.[15] On 7 May, he played for Tonga against Samoa in the 2016 Polynesian Cup, where he played at centre and kicked 1 goal.[16]

In June 2017, Kata's older brother Tevita died in Tonga and Kata took a 3-week break from the game to return home to mourn with his family.[17] Kata returned in Round 19 against the Penrith Panthers, scoring 2 tries, dedicated to his brother in the 34–22 loss at Mt Smart Stadium.[18] Kata finished the 2017 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and scoring 5 tries for the Warriors.

Kata made 23 appearances for the Warriors in 2018, as the club returned to the finals for the first time since 2011, scoring 12 tries in total.

Kata was switched by the Warriors from left centre to right centre from the beginning of the season.[19] After playing 6 matches and scoring 2 tries, with his form falling away he was dropped to their reserve team in the New South Wales Canterbury Cup. On 24 June it was announced that he had been granted an immediate release and had signed a contract with the Melbourne Storm until the end of the 2020 season.[20][21]

Kata returned to Rugby Union and begun playing for the Brumbies. In August 2022, Kata signed for Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs.[22] The following year he announced his signing with the Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby.[23]

International career

[edit]
Kata warming up for the Kiwis

On 20 October 2014 Kata made his international debut, playing for Tonga in their end-of-year test-match against Papua New Guinea.[24] On 2 May 2015, Kata played for Tonga against Samoa in the Polynesian Cup, playing at centre and kicking 2 goals in Tonga's 16–18 loss at Cbus Super Stadium.[25][26] On 8 September 2015, Kata was named in the New Zealand Kiwis' training squad.[27] After not making the final New Zealand squad for the England tour, Kata played for Tonga in their Asia-Pacific Qualifier match against the Cook Islands for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[28][29] He played at fullback, scored a try and kicked 4 goals in Tonga's 28–8 win at Campbelltown Stadium.[30]

He made his New Zealand debut and played in the Four Nations for his adopted country. On 5 November, in the Kiwis second test against Australia, Kata scored his first try for the Kiwis in the 14–8 win at Ricoh Arena in Coventry.[31] On 20 November, Kata played in the Kiwis 2016 Four nations Final match against Australia, playing at centre in the 34–8 loss at Anfield.[32][33] Kata played in all 5 matches and scored 1 try in the tournament.

On 4 October 2017, Kata was selected in the 24-man squad for Tonga for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[34] Kata only played in 1 match for Tonga which was against Samoa, Kata played at centre but broke his foot during the 32–18 victory over their pacific rivals at Waikato Stadium.[35] He scored a try in the historic first-ever Test match between Tonga and the Australian Kangaroos on 20 October 2018, played in front of a sold-out crowd at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland.[36]

He made his test debut for Tonga in rugby union on 6 November 2021 in a 69–13 loss to England as part of the Autumn Nations Series[37]

References

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  1. ^ "Solomone Kata – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Moana Pasifika community celebrates historic first Super Rugby squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Tonga name 58-man squad for Cook Islands qualifier". theroar.com.au. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Solomone Kata". Warriors. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Warriors name star-studded Nines squad". NRL.com. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  6. ^ "2014 NRL Auckland Nines – Results". League Unlimited. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Warriors survive Broncos scare to win Holden Cup". NRL.com. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  8. ^ "WARRIORS NAME 2015 NINES SQUAD". Rugby League Week. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Warriors Unearth a New Beast in Solomone Kata". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Two players ruled out". warriors.co.nz. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  11. ^ "New faces galore for New Zealand Warriors' clash with Newcastle Knights". Stuff.co.nz. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Knights fight back to beat Warriors". NRL.com. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  13. ^ "New Zealand Warriors outlast Canberra Raiders to secure first win of season". Smh.com.au. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Solomone Kata, Tuimoala Lolohea and Sam Lisone all sign contract extensions with the Warriors". The Daily Telegraph. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Warriors name 2016 Nines squad". Rugby League Week. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test". nrl.com. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Warriors star: I thought about retiring".
  18. ^ "Kata: I wanted to give up". 14 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Kata confirms right-side shift for 2019". NRL.com. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  20. ^ "NRL: Solomone Kata granted immediate release by Warriors". stuff. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Storm add Kata, King; Drinkwater to Cowboys". NRL.com. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  22. ^ "Exeter sign 'explosive, dangerous, quality player' Solomone Kata". RugbyPass. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Leicester Tigers: Sam Carter & Solomone Kata to join Premiership side". BBC Sport. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  24. ^ "PNG beat Tonga in Lae". Loverugbyleague.com. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Tonga Named To Face Samoa in Pacific Test". Rugby League Week. 26 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  26. ^ "Sam Kasiano Try Saving tackle on Jorge Taufua Secures Pacific Test Win for Samoa Against Tonga". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  27. ^ "League: Kiwis to manage Mannering's workload on England tour – Rugby League – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  28. ^ "Tonga finalise squad for World Cup Qualifier". asiapacificrl.com. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Tonga qualify for 2017 World Cup". NRL.com. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Tonga qualify for 2017 World Cup". NRL.com. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  31. ^ "Live Rugby League Four Nations: Australia holds on to beat New Zealand". Fox League. 6 November 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Australia reclaims No.1 ranking with demolition of New Zealand in Four Nations final". Daily Telegraph (Australia). 21 November 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  33. ^ "Four Nations final: Australia and New Zealand player ratings". The Australian. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Fifita, Taumalolo in Tonga World Cup squad". 4 October 2017.
  35. ^ "World Cup over for Tonga's Solomone Kata after breaking foot in Samoa clash". TVNZ. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  36. ^ "Kangaroos withstand spirited Tongan challenge". 20 October 2018.
  37. ^ "England claim 11-try win against Tonga". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
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