Latest news with #AublixTawha
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Footy was a way out': The inspirational story behind Dolphins' potential saviour
Rugby league has produced a remarkable rise from obscurity for Aublix Tawha, one that's taken a circuitous route through Amsterdam and Yass, and away from his New Zealand home town. But now, the unheralded Dolphins enforcer is looking ahead as he seeks to repay coach Kristian Woolf's faith in him and help salvage a season plagued by an injury curse. 'Woolfy says he believes in me and that I can do the job, so I just want to prove him right, and prove to the boys I can be here to back them up,' Tawha said, ahead of his side's Thursday night clash with the Cowboys – his fourth NRL appearance. 'It's crazy, someone like that saying they believe in you. Coming from where I come from, you never thought you'd talk to someone of that calibre. 'Now I'm here playing NRL and he's telling me that – I just don't want to let him down.' Loading Tawha left Hamilton for Australia as a bright-eyed teenager to ply his trade for the Tweed Seagulls five years ago, before a shoulder injury seemingly ended his NRL crusade. He moved back across the ditch for a period, before taking up a shock opportunity to play rugby union in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later returned home, where he settled for local football while working as a scaffolder. But an out-of-the-blue call from Yass Magpies in 2023 turned his fortunes around. There, he was spotted by former Redcliffe Dolphins coach and Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Te'o and produced a breakout Queensland Cup season.
The Age
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Footy was a way out': The inspirational story behind Dolphins' potential saviour
Rugby league has produced a remarkable rise from obscurity for Aublix Tawha, one that's taken a circuitous route through Amsterdam and Yass, and away from his New Zealand home town. But now, the unheralded Dolphins enforcer is looking ahead as he seeks to repay coach Kristian Woolf's faith in him and help salvage a season plagued by an injury curse. 'Woolfy says he believes in me and that I can do the job, so I just want to prove him right, and prove to the boys I can be here to back them up,' Tawha said, ahead of his side's Thursday night clash with the Cowboys – his fourth NRL appearance. 'It's crazy, someone like that saying they believe in you. Coming from where I come from, you never thought you'd talk to someone of that calibre. 'Now I'm here playing NRL and he's telling me that – I just don't want to let him down.' Loading Tawha left Hamilton for Australia as a bright-eyed teenager to ply his trade for the Tweed Seagulls five years ago, before a shoulder injury seemingly ended his NRL crusade. He moved back across the ditch for a period, before taking up a shock opportunity to play rugby union in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later returned home, where he settled for local football while working as a scaffolder. But an out-of-the-blue call from Yass Magpies in 2023 turned his fortunes around. There, he was spotted by former Redcliffe Dolphins coach and Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Te'o and produced a breakout Queensland Cup season.
