Murray Taulagi

Murray Taulagi (born 12 March 1999) is a New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL.

Murray Taulagi
Personal information
Born (1999-03-12) 12 March 1999
Auckland, New Zealand
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019– North Qld Cowboys 10 2 0 0 8
As of 18 October 2020
Source: [1]

Background

Taulagi was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is of Samoan descent. His older brother, Jamie-Jerry, is a professional rugby union player, who previously played for Super Rugby sides, the Queensland Reds and Sunwolves.[2]

He grew up playing rugby union for Otahuhu RFC before moving to Brisbane, Queensland in 2011.[3] In Brisbane, he attended Brisbane State High School, playing fullback for their rugby union side.[4]

In 2016, while playing in the GPS competition, Taulagi was spotted by North Queensland Cowboys recruitment manager Clint Zammit and signed with the NRL club, despite having never played rugby league.[5]

Playing career

Early career

In 2017, Taulagi relocated to Townsville and joined the Cowboys under-20 squad. He began the season playing for the Townsville Blackhawks Mal Meninga Cup side before making his NYC debut for the Cowboys, scoring two tries in a victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons.[6][7] In June 2017, he started at centre for the Queensland under-18 side, scoring a try in their loss to New South Wales.[8] On 17 July 2017, he signed a two-year NRL contract with the Cowboys.[9]

In 2018, Taulagi spent the entire season playing for the Cowboys' Queensland Cup feeder club, the Northern Pride, scoring nine tries in 19 games. In June 2018, he started on the wing for the Queensland under-20 side in their win over New South Wales.[10] In October, he started on the wing for the Junior Kangaroos in their win over the Junior Kiwis.[11][5] Following the 2018 season, Taulagi was elevated to the Cowboys' Top 30 NRL squad.[12]

2019

In 2019, Taulagi switched Queensland Cup sides, joining the Cowboys' other feeder club, the Townsville Blackhawks.[13] On 22 February, he tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in a pre-season trial against the Gold Coast Titans, ruling him out for six weeks.[14] On 5 April, he re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of 2021.[15]

He returned from injury in Round 5, playing just four games before tearing his lateral meniscus against the CQ Capras, which forced him to miss nine weeks.[16] On 10 July, he started at centre and scored a try in the Queensland under-20 side's loss to New South Wales.[17]

In Round 18 of the 2019 NRL season, Taulagi made his NRL debut for the Cowboys against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[18][19] In Round 23, he scored his first NRL try in the Cowboys' 24–10 win over the Penrith Panthers.

2020

In February, Taulagi was a member of the Cowboys' 2020 NRL Nines winning squad.[20] He played four NRL games for the Cowboys in 2020, finishing the season as a starting centre.

Achievements and accolades

Team

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season[21]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2019 North Queensland 620—08
2020 North Queensland 400—00
Career totals 10 2 0 — 0 8

References
  1. "Murray Taulagi - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. "Jamie-Jerry Taulagi". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  3. "Taulagi's rise to the Top 30". Queensland Rugby League. 1 December 2018.
  4. "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". Couriermail.com.au.
  5. "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin". Townsvillebulletin.com.au.
  6. "Holden Cup wrap: Round 7". National Rugby League. 17 April 2017.
  7. "Mendi Blackhawks Mal Meninga U18 and FOGS U20 Teams Named Round 4". 23 March 2017.
  8. "Queensland Under 18 team". Queensland Rugby League. 12 June 2017.
  9. "2-YR DEAL: Congrats to current NYC Cowboys player Murray Taulagi. He will join Paul Green's NRL squad in 2018 #ridemcowboys @NYCDatabasepic.twitter.com/XAb57MYiJX". Twitter.com. 16 July 2017.
  10. "Rising stars feature for Queensland Under 20s". Queensland Rugby League. 2 July 2018.
  11. "Taulagi joins Junior Kangaroos". North Queensland Cowboys. 2 October 2018.
  12. "Taulagi's quick rise to Top 30". North Queensland Cowboys. 29 November 2018.
  13. "Feeder club allocation: Townsville Blackhawks". North Queensland Cowboys. 5 March 2019.
  14. "'Good headache to have': Paul Green undecided on halves combo". National Rugby League. 23 February 2019.
  16. "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin". Townsvillebulletin.com.au.
  17. "Queensland Under 20 team in position". Queensland Rugby League. 6 July 2019.
  18. "NRL team list: Round 18 v Rabbitohs". North Queensland Cowboys. 16 July 2019.
  19. "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin". Townsvillebulletin.com.au.
  20. https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2020/02/15/nines-final-team-list-round-2-v-sea-eagles/
  21. "Murray Taulagi - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
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