Raymond Faitala-Mariner (born 26 July 1993) is a professional

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 plays as a forward for the

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the NRL Telstra Premiership, as well as competitions facilita ...

in the

NRL The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...

. He has played for both

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

at international level. He previously played for 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 the

National Rugby League The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...

Early years

Faitala-Mariner was born in

Auckland, New Zealand Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

. He is of Tuvalu and Samoan descent. Faitala-Mariner attended Edgewater College and played his junior rugby league for

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 ...

before being signed by the New Zealand Warriors.

Playing career

Faitala-Mariner played in the Warriors'

Holden Cup The NRL Under-20s (known commercially as the Holden Cup due to sponsorship from Holden) was the top league of professional rugby league for players aged 20 years or younger in Australasia. Contested by sixteen teams, the Under-20s competition co ...

team in 2012 and 2013, as well as in the

New South Wales Cup The NSW Cup, currently known as the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales. The competition has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve ...

with the

Auckland Vulcans The Auckland Vulcans were an Auckland based rugby league club that participated in the New South Wales Cup. They were administered by the Rugby League Development Foundation. The team was selected from the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial C ...

in late 2013. Faitala-Mariner played at second-row in the Junior Warriors 2013 Holden Cup Grand Final against the

Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the NRL. The team is based west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith ...

, scoring a try in the 30–42 loss. On 13 October 2013, Faitala-Mariner played for the

Junior Kiwis The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. Since 2010, they are an under-20s side, with players selected from the NRL, Intrust Super ...

against the

Junior Kangaroos The Junior Kangaroos side represents Australia in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kangaroos, after the native marsupial of that name. Since 2019, they are an under-23 side, with players selected from the NRL. The ...

at second-row in the Kiwis' 26–38 loss. In 2014, Faitala-Mariner joined the Warriors' full-time squad and played in the

2014 Auckland Nines The 2014 NRL Auckland Nines (known as the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines due to sponsorship) was the first NRL Auckland Nines tournament, contested between all sixteen teams of the National Rugby League. The draw was released on 30 October 2014. ...

, and played in 23 New South Wales Cup matches for the Warriors. On 21 September 2014, Faitala-Mariner was named at second-row in the 2014 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year.

2015

In round 8 of the

2015 NRL season The 2015 NRL season was the 108th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 18th season of the National Rugby League in Australia and New Zealand. The season started in New Zealand with the annual Auckland Nines, which was followed ...

, Faitala-Mariner made his first grade

debut for the New Zealand Warriors against the

Gold Coast Titans The Gold Coast Titans are a professional rugby league football club, based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The club competes in the National Rugby League (NRL), Australia and New Zealand's national rugby league club competition. The ...

off the interchange bench in the Warriors' 28–32 loss at

Mt Smart Stadium Mount Smart Stadium (formerly known as Ericsson Stadium) is a multipurpose stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the main home ground of the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League, and occasionally hosts rugby union and internatio ...

. Faitala-Mariner became the Warriors 200th debutant. In round 15, against the Gold Coast Titans, Faitala-Mariner scored his first NRL career try in the Warriors 36–14 win at

Cbus Super Stadium Robina Stadium, also known by its sponsored name Cbus Super Stadium, is a rectangular football stadium in the Gold Coast suburb of Robina, Queensland. The main usage is as the home ground to the National Rugby League's Gold Coast Titans; t ...

. He finished his debut year in the NRL having played in 11 matches and scoring a try.

2016

On 5 April, after playing one match for the Warriors that season, Faitala-Mariner was released in an exchange for

Shaun Lane Shaun Lane (born 29 November 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as forward for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New Zealand Warriors and the Manly ...

as part of a deal between the Warriors and the

. In round 9, against the

Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta that competes in the National Rugby League. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, and their ...

, Faitala-Mariner made his club debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 12–20 loss at

ANZ Stadium ANZ may refer to: People * Anz (musician), a British DJ and electronic musician Banks * ANZ (bank), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, the fourth-largest bank in Australia ** ANZ Bank New Zealand, the largest bank in New Zealand ...

. On 7 May 2016, Faitala-Mariner made his international debut for

, playing against

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

in the 2016 Polynesian Cup off the interchange bench in the 18–6 win at

Parramatta Stadium Parramatta Stadium was a sports stadium in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, 23 kilometres west of Sydney's central business district. The stadium was the home ground of several western Sydney-based sports teams, at the time of closure t ...

. Faitala-Mariner finished his early season move to the Bulldogs in the

2016 NRL season The 2016 NRL season was the 109th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 19th season run by the National Rugby League. The season started in New Zealand with the annual Auckland Nines, and was followed by the All Stars Match, w ...

with him playing in 14 matches. On 8 October 2016, Faitala-Mariner represented Samoa in the Samoa vs. Fiji test match, where he started at second-row in the 20–18 loss in

Apia, Samoa Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

2017

In Round 16 against his former club the

, Faitala-Mariner scored his first club try for the Bulldogs in the 21–14 loss at

. Faitala-Mariner finished the

2017 NRL season The 2017 NRL season was the 110th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 20th season run by the National Rugby League. The season started in New Zealand with the annual Auckland Nines, and was followed by the All Stars Match, w ...

with him playing in 16 matches and scoring 1 try for the Bulldogs.

2018

Faitala-Mariner made 13 appearances for Canterbury-Bankstown in 2018 and scored 2 tries as the club endured a tough season on the field. At one point, the club were sitting second last on the table before upset wins against the

Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club Ltd., commonly referred to as the Broncos, is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in April 1987, the Broncos play in Australia's elite com ...

and St George ensured that they finished in 12th place avoiding the wooden spoon.

2019

Faitala-Mariner made 10 appearances for Canterbury-Bankstown in the

2019 NRL season The 2019 NRL season was the 112th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 22nd season run by the National Rugby League. The Sydney Roosters became the first team to win back-to-back Premierships since the Brisbane Broncos in 1992 ...

as the club finished 12th on the table.

2020

Faitala-Mariner made 20 appearances for Canterbury and scored six tries in the

2020 NRL season The 2020 NRL season was the 113th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 23rd season run by the National Rugby League. Teams The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 14th consecutive year. ; Notes : : : Pre-season ...

. He finished as the sides joint top try scorer. The club finished in 15th place on the table, only avoiding the

Wooden Spoon Wooden Spoon may refer to: * Wooden spoon, implement * Wooden spoon (award) ** Australian rugby league wooden spooners ** County Championship Wooden Spoons ** List of Australian Football League wooden spoons ** MLS Wooden Spoon * Wooden Spoon Soci ...

by for and against.

2021

On 23 March, it was announced that Faitala-Mariner would miss the rest of the

2021 NRL season The 2021 NRL season was the 114th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 24th season run by the National Rugby League. Teams The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 15th consecutive year. Regular season Ladd ...

after suffering a foot injury in Canterbury's loss to Penrith.

2022

After more than a year out of the game due to injury, Faitala-Mariner made his comeback in Canterbury's Round 11 loss to

Wests Tigers The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional Rugby league, rugby league football team, based in the Inner West and South West Sydney. They have competed in the National Rugby League since being formed at the end of the 1999 NRL season as a j ...

at Leichhardt Oval. On 22 July, Faitala-Mariner signed on with the Canterbury club for a further three years, seeing him remain at Belmore until the end of the 2025 season. Faitala-Mariner played a total of 13 games for Canterbury in the

2022 NRL season The 2022 NRL season is the 115th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 25th season run by the National Rugby League. Teams The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 16th consecutive year. This became the second longest s ...

as the club finished 12th on the table.

References

External links

Canterbury Bulldogs profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faitala-Mariner, Raymond 1993 births Living people Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players New Zealand national rugby league team players New Zealand rugby league players New Zealand people of Tuvaluan descent New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent Samoa national rugby league team players Samoan rugby league players New Zealand Warriors players Junior Kiwis players Otahuhu Leopards players Rugby league second-rows Rugby league players from Auckland