George Tuakura (born 11 October 1975) is a former

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

international

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played as a in the 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

, and at club level for the

Central Comets Central Queensland Capras are a semi-professional rugby league football club primarily based in Rockhampton, Queensland and representing Central Queensland. They currently play in the Queensland Cup, the premier rugby league competition in Quee ...

in the

Queensland Cup The Queensland Cup, currently known as the Hostplus Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level regional rugby league football competition in Queensland, Australia. It is run by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and is contested by four ...

Early years

Tuakura was born in

South Auckland, New Zealand South Auckland is an imprecisely defined urban area of Auckland, New Zealand, with a young population, a relatively large Polynesian and Māori demographic, and lower incomes than other parts of Auckland. The name ''South Auckland'', though not ...

. He is of

Cook Islanders Cook Islanders are residents of the Cook Islands, which is composed of 15 islands and atolls in Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. Cook Islands Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of the Cook Islands, although more Cook Islands Māori cur ...

descent. He first played rugby league for the

Mangere East Hawks The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. History The club was formed in 1963, the first fourteen junior teams took the field in 1964.''The Haw ...

in the

Auckland Rugby League The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region, including both club and school rugby league. It began in 1910 when the fi ...

competition.

Playing career

In 2000 he joined the

Otahuhu Leopards The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, Auckland. Founded in 1911 Auckland Rugby League season, 1911, the club has produced 49 New Zealand national rugby league team players. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competit ...

for the inaugural

Bartercard Cup The Bartercard Cup (successor of the Lion Red Cup) was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zeala ...

. In 2004 Tuakura moved to Australia and played for the

in the

. Tuakura has also spent time playing in France.

Warriors

Tuakura signed a two-year contract with the

New Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership and is the League's only team from outside Australia. They were formed in 1995 as ...

in 2005. Returning to New Zealand, he played for the

Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, Auckland. Founded in 1911, the club has produced 49 New Zealand national rugby league team players. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by Auckland Rugby League. ...

in the Bartercard Cup, hoping to impress the Warriors coaching staff. In 2006 he was in the 25-man squad for the Warriors. Despite starting several trial games and being named 18th man several times, George managed one appearance for 11 minutes of game time .

Queensland

Tuakura was released by the Warriors after the 2006 season and he returned to the Central Comets.Big George tackles leadership role
''The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin'', 7 December 2006 In 2007 he fell out of favour with coach Steve Anderson but made a comeback and returned to the side in 2008. Tuakura maintained his spot in the Comets lineup for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

International

In 2000 he represented the

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, playing in all three games. In 2002 Tuakura toured

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

with New Zealand 'A'. He again played for New Zealand 'A' in 2003 when they toured

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

. He again represented the Cook Islands in 2005. In 2006 he played for the

New Zealand Residents The New Zealand Residents (also previously known as New Zealand 'A', New Zealand XIII, the Lion Red Cup XIII and currently known as the Bartercard Premiership Selection) are a New Zealand rugby league football representative side that is selected f ...

in the Trans Tasman Quadrangular SeriesRangers Bowed in Opening Battle
''qrl.com.au'' and also played for the Residents against the

New Zealand national rugby league team The New Zealand national rugby league team (Māori: Tīma rīki motu Aotearoa) has represented New Zealand in rugby league since 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of ...

in a warm up match for the

2006 Rugby League Tri Nations The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations (also known as the Gillette Rugby League Tri-Nations due to sponsorship by Gillette) was the second Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The tournament followed the same format ...

References

External links

Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.orgCentral Queensland Comets profileOfficial George Tuakura NRL profileGeorge Tuakura TVNZ bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuakura, George 1975 births New Zealand rugby league players New Zealand sportspeople of Cook Island descent Cook Islands national rugby league team players Mangere East Hawks players Otahuhu Leopards players Central Queensland Capras players Tamaki Titans players New Zealand expatriate rugby league players Expatriate rugby league players in France Expatriate rugby league players in Australia New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Australia New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in France Rugby league players from Auckland Cook Island Māori people Living people Rugby league props Cook Island rugby league players Cook Island expatriate rugby league players Cook Island expatriate sportspeople in Australia Cook Island expatriate sportspeople in France