Corey Harawira-Naera

Corey Harawira-Naera (born 18 May 1995) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League.

Corey Harawira-Naera
Personal information
Born (1995-05-18) 18 May 1995
Auckland, New Zealand
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017–18 Penrith Panthers 46 13 0 0 52
2019 Canterbury Bulldogs 21 5 0 0 20
2020– Canberra Raiders 11 0 0 0 0
Total 78 18 0 0 72
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019 New Zealand Māori 1 0 0 0 0
2019 New Zealand 3 1 0 0 4
As of 17 November 2020
Source: [1]

A New Zealand Māori and New Zealand international, Harawira-Naera has also previously played for the Penrith Panthers and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.

Background

Harawira-Naera was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is of Māori descent.[2]

He grew up in Hokianga alongside James Fisher-Harris before moving down to Auckland to play his junior rugby league for Otaua Valley Warriors. Harawira-Naera was then signed by the Penrith Panthers.[3][4]

Playing career

Early career

In 2014 and 2015, Harawira-Naera played for the Penrith Panthers in the National Youth Competition,[5] before graduating to their Intrust Super Premiership NSW team in 2016.[6] In February 2016, he was named in the Panthers' 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[7]

2017

In February 2017, Harawira-Naera was selected in the Panthers' 2017 Auckland Nines squad that went on to be runners-up.[8] On 24 March, he made his NRL debut for the Panthers in round 4 of the 2017 NRL season against the Newcastle Knights, scoring a try in the Panthers' 40–0 win.[9] On 27 June, he extended his contract with the Panthers to the end of the 2020 season.[10] Harawira-Naera would show good form during the season and became a mainstay in the top 17 with coach Anthony Griffin opting to start him at second-row in most matches over Bryce Cartwright and James Fisher-Harris.[11] Harawira-Naera finished his debut year in the NRL having played in 22 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Panthers during the season.[12]

2018

In Round 6 against Gold Coast Titans, Harawira-Naera shifted from second-row to the centres to cover the injured Waqa Blake, scoring 2 tries in the Panthers 35–12 win at Penrith Stadium.[13] On 3 September 2018, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs announced the signing of Harawira-Naera on a four-year deal. Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill said: "Signing someone of Corey’s calibre and potential is a great coup for the Bulldogs and comes on the back of a strong finish to our 2018 season", "Dean Pay and his coaching staff have helped develop some talented young players this year and the addition of Corey to the squad will add both quality and strength to our forward pack for next season and beyond". During the Panthers presentation night, chairman Phil Gould said he personally recruited Harawira-Naera from New Zealand, as he fought back tears as he spoke about the hard-hitting forward. "We got a tip on a couple of young players - James Fisher-Harris and Corey Harawira-Naera," Gould said. "These were two boys who were young and very raw and came over here with nothing more than a dream. "I think their first accommodation was out on top of the horse stalls at Fernhill Equestrian Centre. They lived with the horses and worked on the property. They got up early every morning and went to work and we could see their character straight away." "Those two players mean a lot to me, they'll always be Panthers and they'll always be welcome at this club and I'm only bouyed by the fact that they've both got great deals and can set their families up for life with the deals that they have. Harawira-Naera finished his last year with the Penrith Panthers with him playing in 24 matches and scoring 6 tries in the 2018 NRL season. On 1 October 2018, Harawira-Naera was named in the New Zealand Kiwis 24-man squad for their tour of England and their test match against Australia.[14] A few days later on 4 October 2018, Harawira-Naera withdrew from the Kiwis squad from a groin injury.[15]

2019

On 15 February 2019, Harawira-Naera represented the Māori All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars in the 2019 All Stars match, playing off the interchange bench in the 34-14 loss at AAMI Park.[16] In Round 1 of the 2019 NRL season, Harawira-Naera made his club debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs against the New Zealand Warriors, playing off the interchange bench in the 40–6 loss at Mt Smart Stadium.[17] In Round 7 against the North Queensland Cowboys, Harawira-Naera starred for the Bulldogs in a Man of the Match performance, scoring his first and second club tries in the second half and pulled off a try saving tackle on Cowboys forward Gavin Cooper in the 24–12 win at ANZ Stadium.[18]

2020

Upon winning his appeal against Canterbury-Bankstown over his dismissal, Harawira-Naera opted not to stay with the club asking for an immediate release. He signed a 2.5 year deal with the Canberra Raiders effective immediately on July 22.[19]

He played 11 games for Canberra towards the end of the season including the club's three finals games where they were defeated by Melbourne in the preliminary final.[20]

Controversy

On 10th March 2020, Harawira-Naera and teammate Jayden Okunbor were stood down by Canterbury two days before the start of the 2020 NRL season after it was alleged that while on a pre-season trip to Port Macquarie earlier in March they brought two teenage schoolgirls to the team hotel where sexual activity may have taken place. Okunbor is alleged to have met the girl during a visit to a local school, while Harawira-Naera met one of the girls independent to that visit. Both players were asked to “show cause” why the NRL should not cancel or suspend their registrations as players.[21][22]

On 11th March 2020, it was announced that because of the two players actions, new major sponsor Rashays had cancelled their $2 million sponsorship with the club. Rashays had signed on to become Canterbury's front of shirt sponsor. Rashays owner Rami Ykmour released a statement saying "It’s a shame two players could wreck it for everyone, It’s disgusting. It's repulsive, to be honest. That’s something else. If they sack them, I would stand by the club and the NRL’s decision".[23]

On 1st April 2020, Harawira-Naera had his contract terminated by Canterbury-Bankstown and was also deregistered by the NRL. Canterbury released a statement saying “The NRL have today deregistered both Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera with immediate effect and as a result their playing contracts with the Bulldogs have been cancelled, The conduct of the two players, on the eve of our final trial match, demonstrated an unacceptable lack of respect for their teammates, their coach and club officials, our hosts in Port Macquarie and fans of the game everywhere".[24]

On 8th April 2020, both players opted to appeal their contract terminations at an NRL Appeals Tribunal (an independent hearing headed by high court judge Ian Callinan AC QC).[25]

On 13th July 2020, the NRL Appeals Tribunal agreed (with the players appeal) that the punishment was too harsh, reversing the decision to deregister both Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor effective immediately. Harawira-Neara received a retrospective 10 game ban (from the date of contract termination), and a $15,000 fine. Jayden Okunbor was retrospectively given a 14 game ban (from the date of contract termination), a $22,500 fine and a course of counselling / community service.[26]

Upon winning his appeal, Harawira-Naaera asked the Canterbury club for a release and signed a 2.5 year contract with the Canberra Raiders.[27]

On 2 February 2021, it was revealed that Harawira-Naera had been pulled over on Christmas Eve in 2020 and charged with high-range drink driving. The matter was later passed onto the NRL Integrity Unit.[28]

References
  1. "Corey Harawira-Naera - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 18 May 1995. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  2. Skipwith, David (2 April 2016). "Huge Kiwi presence keeps rookie playmaker close to home". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  3. Pengilly, Adam (15 April 2017). "Penrith Panthers' Corey Harawira-Naera enjoying ride with James Fisher-Harris". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  4. "The call that saved Corey Harawira-Naera". 19 December 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  5. "H". Nyc Database. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  6. "TEAMS | Intrust Super Premiership Rd 1". NSWRL.com.au. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  7. "Panthers name Auckland Nines squad". NRL.com. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  8. "Panthers picked for Nines". penrithpanthers.com.au. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  9. Newton, Alicia (25 March 2017). "Dream debut for new Panther". NRL.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  10. "Penrith re-sign Harawira-Naera until 2020". Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  11. "Corey and Panthers on the rise". 23 August 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  12. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Custom Match List - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  13. "Panthers vs Titans". National Rugby League. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  14. "Five debutants join returning stars in New Zealand Kiwis squad". NRL. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  15. "Kiwis lose Corey Harawira-Naera to injury, Peta Hiku and Agnatius Paasi brought in". Stuff.co.nz. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  16. "Addo-Carr stars as Indigenous All Stars beat Maori All Stars". NRL. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  17. "NRL 2019: New Zealand Warriors defeat Canterbury Bulldogs, emotion, Christchurch terror". News.com.au. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6844389/harawira-naera-out-of-the-doghouse-set-to-join-raiders/
  20. "Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart storms out of press conference after one question". wwos.nine.com.au.
  21. "Two Canterbury stars stood down on eve of nrl season". www.foxsports.com.au.
  22. "Todd Greenberg promises 'significant sanctions' for banned Bulldogs if breaches are upheld". www.foxsports.com.au.
  23. "'Disgusting, repulsive': Why Rashays walked from $2 million Bulldogs deal". www.smh.com.au.
  24. "Canterbury Bankstown players sacked over schoolgirl sex scandal". www.foxsports.com.au.
  25. "Okunbor and Harawira-Naera to appeal NRL deregistration". www.smh.com.au.
  26. "Okunbor, Harawira-Naera deregistrations reduced to bans and fines". www.nrl.com.
  27. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6844389/harawira-naera-out-of-the-doghouse-set-to-join-raiders/
  28. "Raiders duo hit by police with Christmas drink-drive charges". www.foxsports.com.au.
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