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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Matthew Ikuvalu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 November 1993 Sydney, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 27 April 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matt Ikuvalu (born 9 November 1993) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.
He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Background[edit]
Ikuvalu was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and is of Tongan and European descent.
He played junior rugby league for the Gosford Kariong Storm. He later transferred to the Erina Eagles while attending Narara Valley High School.
Ikuvalu played for Manly Warringah in the Under 20s competition, The Toyota Cup, in 2011 and 2012.[2]
Career[edit]
2018[edit]
Ikuvalu made his first grade debut in round 13 of the 2018 NRL season against the Wests Tigers.[3]
2019[edit]
Ikuvalu joined the Sydney Roosters in their World Club Challenge 20–8 victory over Wigan before the start of the 2019 NRL season.[4]
2020[edit]
In round 9 of the 2020 NRL season, Ikuvalu was called into the Sydney Roosters team 15 minutes before kick off due to an injury suffered by Brett Morris in the warm up. Ikuvalu went on to score five tries in the 42–16 win over North Queensland. He became the first Sydney Roosters player since 1955 to score five tries in a game.[5]
2021[edit]
In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored a hat-trick for the Sydney Roosters in their 31–18 loss against Parramatta.[6]
In round 14 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 35–34 victory over the Gold Coast.[7]
In round 18, he scored two tries in a 34–18 victory over North Queensland.[8] On 27 July, it was announced that he would be ruled out from playing for an indefinite period after suffering a syndesmosis injury.[9]
At the conclusion of the 2021 season, Ikuvalu was released from the final year of his contract to take up a deal with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, following his assistant coach at the Roosters Craig Fitzgibbon in departing the club for Cronulla-Sutherland.[10]
2022[edit]
In round 23 of the 2022 NRL season, he scored two tries for Cronulla in a 40–6 victory over rivals Manly in the battle of the beaches game.[11]
2023[edit]
On 23 April, Ikuvalu was granted an immediate release from his Cronulla contract to join Super League side the Catalans Dragons.[12] On 14 October, Ikuvalu played in Catalans 2023 Super League Grand Final loss against Wigan.[13]
Statistics[edit]
NRL[edit]
- Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2022 season[1]
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 |  Sydney Roosters
|
3 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 |
| 2019 | 10 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 12 | |
| 2020 | 10 | 7 | 0 | — | 0 | 28 | |
| 2021 | 15 | 14 | 0 | — | 0 | 56 | |
| 2022 |  Cronulla-Sutherland
|
5 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 16 |
| 2023 | Catalans Dragons | 5 | 2 | ||||
| Career totals | 48 | 31 | 0 | — | 0 | 116 | |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Rugby League Project
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "NRL team lists for round 13, 2018". Courier Mail. 31 May 2018.
- ^ "World Club Challenge 2020 scores, Rugby League World – FlashScore".
- ^ "Ikuvalu scores five as Roosters rout North Queensland". www.nrl.com. 9 July 2020.
- ^ "Parramatta Eels outmuscle Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers demolish Cronulla Sharks". ABC News. 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Brisbane Broncos' Kobe Hetherington sent off in loss to Canberra Raiders; Roosters and Rabbitohs score wins". ABC News. 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Melbourne Storm thrash Newcastle Knights 48–4 as Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters post NRL victories". ABC News. 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Johnson's Sharks career on the brink as Panthers lose To'o in double blow: Casualty Ward". www.foxsports.com.au. 27 July 2021.
- ^ "'It really is home': Walker inks one-year extension with Bunnies — NRL Transfer Centre". www.foxsports.com.au. November 2021.
- ^ "Roosters, Eels and Sharks add pre-finals drubbings to one-sided round of NRL". ABC News. 20 August 2022.
- ^ "Catalans confirm capture of NRL outside-back". www.loverugbyleague.com. 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Wigan Warriors crowned Super League champions after downing Dragons". www.theguardian.com.