{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Justin Matamua |fullname = Justin Matamua |image = Justin Matamua.jpg |image_size = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|05|27}} |birth_place = Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|187|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|103|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|LK}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Wests Tigers}} |year1start = 2022 |year1end = 25 |appearances1 = 14 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |teamA = Samoa |yearAstart = 2023 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |source = <ref>[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/justin-matamua/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> |updated = 6 July 2024 }}
'''Justin Matamua''' (born 27 May 2003) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who last played as a {{rlp|lk}} forward for the Wests Tigers in the NRL.
==Background== Matamua played his junior rugby league for the Campbelltown City Kangaroos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2022/07/06/local-juniors-pathway-to-leichhardt/ |title=Local junior's rapid rise |publisher=Wests Tigers |date=6 July 2022}}</ref>
==Career== ===2022=== Matamua made his first grade debut for the Wests Tigers against the Parramatta Eels in round 17 of the 2022 NRL season. Matamua was sent to the sin bin five minutes into his debut for an illegal shoulder charge on Parramatta's Mitchell Moses during the clubs 28-20 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/07/05/nrl-team-lists-round-17/ |title=Round 17 NRL Team lists |publisher=NRL.com |date=28 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-justin-matamua-tackle-on-mitchell-moses-wests-tigers-v-parramatta-eels-sin-bin-shoulder-charge-leichhardt-oval/news-story/4bb24f7846e3b3f07e476f65568eb32e|title=Tigers debutant binned after FIVE MINUTES for shoulder charge on Mitch Moses|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=10 July 2022|accessdate=3 January 2024}}</ref> On 23 November, Matamua was announced to join the Wests Tigers Top-30 playing roster and extended his contract with the club until the end of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wests Tigers upgrade and extend young gun Justin Matamua |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/wests-tigers-upgrade-and-extend-young-gun-justin-matamua/yzo3gvqqwpp6b9e9jsplupwv |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en}}</ref>
===2023=== Matamua was limited to only five games for the Wests Tigers in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished with the wooden spoon for a second straight year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-wests-tigers-season-in-review-tigers-brutal-review-tim-sheens-benji-marshall-coach-justin-pascoe-wooden-spoon/news-story/d1ae7fb41d93ea7dc29173a824cac5a1/|title=‘Circus act’ that summed up year from hell... and big call left for Benji: Wests Tigers Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
=== 2024 & 2025 === Matamua played seven matches for the Wests Tigers in the 2024 NRL season as they finished last on the table. Matamua was one of six players the Wests Tigers farewelled at the end of their 2025 season celebrations. He made no appearances for the club in the 2025 NRL season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pryde |first=Scott |date=2025-09-30 |title=Tigers confirm SIX player departures |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/tigers-confirm-six-player-departures-227369/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/nsw-cup/western-suburbs-magpies/justin-matamua/ Tigers profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matamua, Justin}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:Australian people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Rugby league players from Sydney Category:Rugby league props Category:Samoa national rugby league team players Category:Wests Tigers players Category:Western Suburbs Magpies NSW Cup players Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen