{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{for|the New Zealand rugby union player|Arran Pene}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Aaron Pene |nickname = |image = AARON PENE.jpg |position = {{rlp|PR}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|26|df=y}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|1.90|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}} |weight = {{convert|107|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Melbourne Storm}} |year1start = 2020 |year1end = 21 |appearances1 = 10 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |club2 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}} |year2start = 2022 |year2end = |appearances2 = 14 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |club3 = {{nowrap|Melbourne Storm}} |year3start = 2023 |year3end = |appearances3 = 8 |tries3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 0 |club4 = Leigh Leopards |year4start = 2024 |year4end = present |appearances4 = 25 |tries4 = 3 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 0 |new = yes |source = <ref>[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/aaron-pene/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> |updated = 30 August 2025 }}
'''Aaron Pene''' (born 26 September 1995) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr}} for the Leigh Leopards in the Super League.
He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).
==Background Early life== Pene is of German and Samoan heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/03/23/league-of-nations-stars-representing-40-countries/ |title=League of nations:Stars representing 40 countries |publisher=NRL.com |first=Brad |last=Walter |date=23 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league-warriors-sign-late-bloomer-aaron-pene-from-melbourne-storm/OV3SCC4D7QGRR43XCFZT4HF3W4/ |title=Warriors sign 'late bloomer' Aaron Pene from Melbourne Storm |publisher=The New Zealand Herald |first=Michael |last=Burgess |date=8 June 2021}}</ref> Pene played his junior rugby league for Berala Bears and Chester Hill Hornets, before being signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.<ref name="StormBio">{{cite web |last1=Lulham |first1=Amanda |title=Aaron Pene: Determined to succeed |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2020/04/28/aaron-pene-determined-to-succeed/ |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=25 July 2022 |date=28 April 2020}}</ref>
He played in the NRL Under-20s for Parramatta Eels in 2015, and Wentworthville Magpies in 2017. He injured his knee at the end of 2017 after signing a trial contract with Newtown Jets.<ref name="StormBio"/>
==Career== ===Melbourne Storm: 2019-2021=== While playing for the Central Queensland Capras in the 2019 Queensland Cup competition, Pene signed with Melbourne Storm in June 2019, moving to play for Storm feeder club Brisbane Tigers.<ref name="StormBio"/> Promoted to the club's top 30 for the 2020 season, Pene made his debut in round 20 of the 2020 NRL season for the Melbourne Storm against St. George Illawarra, in a 30–22 loss at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/09/22/round-20-nrl-squad-announcements/ |title=NRL Round 20 team lists |publisher=NRL.com |date=22 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Aaron Pene: This is just the beginning |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2020/10/01/aaron-pene-this-is-just-the-beginning/ |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=25 July 2022 |date=1 October 2020}}</ref>
===New Zealand Warriors: 2022=== On 8 June 2021, the New Zealand Warriors announced that Pene would be joining them on a two-year contract starting 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Becht |first1=Richard |title=Storm prop Pene signed |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2021/06/08/storm-prop-pene-signed/ |website=NZ Warriors |date=8 June 2021 |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref> Pene would appear in 14 matches for the Warriors, also making appearances for Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup competition. He was granted an early release from his contract by the club in October.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Becht |first1=Richard |title=Vodafone Warriors grant Pene early release from contract |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2022/10/04/vodafone-warriors-grant-pene-early-release-from-contract/ |website=warriors.kiwi |publisher=New Zealand Warriors |access-date=6 October 2022 |date=4 October 2022}}</ref>
===Melbourne Storm: 2023–2024=== Pene rejoined the Melbourne Storm in October 2022, signing a two-year contract to return to where he made his NRL debut in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gabor |first1=Martin |title=Storm continues signing spree by landing Warriors big man |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-continues-signing-spree-by-landing-warriors-big-man/news-story/e18dc3dc4403638782f2fc262065d996 |website=news.com.au |publisher=News Corporation Australia |access-date=11 October 2022 |date=12 October 2022}}</ref> Pene only played eight matches for Melbourne in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished third on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-melbourne-storm-season-review/af9dab1e4f900cda437dc53f#:~:text=The%20expectations%20for%20the%20Storm,clubs%2C%20but%20not%20the%20Storm./|title=NRL 2023: Melbourne Storm season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}</ref>
He was released from his contract with Melbourne during the 2024 NRL season to take up an opportunity in the Super League.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pene Granted Release to Super League |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2024/05/24/pene-granted-release-to-super-league/ |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=24 May 2024 |date=24 May 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20221006033041/https://www.warriors.kiwi/teams/telstra-premiership/warriors/aaron-pene/ Warriors profile (archived)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20231208154537/https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/melbourne-storm/aaron-pene/ Storm profile (archived)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20240531045336/https://www.qrl.com.au/players/qrl-premiership/sunshine-coast-falcons/aaron-pene/ QRL profile (archived)] *[https://18thman.com/players/aaron-pene/ 18th man profile]
{{Leigh Leopards squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pene, Aaron}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian people of German descent Category:Australian people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Leigh Leopards players Category:Melbourne Storm players Category:New Zealand Warriors players Category:Rugby league players from Sydney Category:Rugby league props Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
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