{{Short description|New Zealand rugby league footballer}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Lee Te Maari |fullname = Lee Te Maari |image = Lee Te Maari 2008.jpg |image_size = |position = {{rlp|SR|LK}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|7|28|df=yes}} |birth_place = Tokoroa, New Zealand |height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = St. George Illawarra |year1start = 2006 |year1end = |appearances1 = 2 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |club2 = Canterbury Bulldogs |year2start = 2007 |year2end = 09 |appearances2 = 34 |tries2 = 2 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 8 |club3 = Parramatta Eels |year3start = 2010 |year3end = |appearances3 = 1 |tries3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 0 |teamA = New Zealand Māori |yearAstart = 2008 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |retired = yes |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/lee-te-maari/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> |updated = 3 January 2020 }}
'''Lee Te Maari''' (born 28 July 1985) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels. Te Maari primarily played in the second row.
==Early life== Te Maari played his junior rugby league for the Joondalup Giants in the Perth Rugby League.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nrl.com/roosters-trash-a-cowboys-treasure/tabid/10874/newsid/77714/default.aspx|title=Roosters trash a Cowboy|author=Webeck, Tony|website=NRL.com|date= 18 April 2014|accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref>
==Playing career== Te Maari made his first grade debut for St. George in round 7 of the 2006 NRL season against the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium. In 2007, Te Maari joined Canterbury-Bankstown. He made eight appearances for Canterbury in the 2007 NRL season including the club's qualifying final loss against North Queensland.
In the 2008 NRL season, Te Maari made a career best 22 appearances as Canterbury finished bottom of the table and claimed the wooden spoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the81stminute.com/2017/08/most-boring-team-ever-2008-wooden-spoon-bulldogs-would-beat-2017-version-by-twenty-points/|title=Most boring team ever? 2008 wooden spoon Bulldogs would beat 2017 version by twenty points|website=The81stminute}}</ref>
Te Maari was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.<ref name="Kiwis select Sonny Bill">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3949034,00.html|title=Kiwis select Sonny Bill|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-08}}</ref>
On 16 March 2010, Te Maari was dismissed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs after repeated breaches of the Club’s Code of Conduct including numerous driving offences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/bulldogs-sack-te-maari-over-code-breach-20100316-qcfh.html/|title=Canterbury sacked Te Maari over code breach|website=www.smh.com.au}}</ref>
On 6 April 2010, Te Maari joined the Wentworthville Magpies and was selected to play in the Bundaberg Red Cup Team. Te Maari played one game for the Parramatta Eels in round 18 of the 2010 NRL season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/about/official-player-numbers/|title=Official Player Numbers|website=Parramatta Eels}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090221061502/http://bulldogs.com.au/main.php?page=player&id=687&grade=nrl Bulldogs profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071001005311/http://www.rleague.com/db/player/t/te_maari_lee/index.php] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727130241/http://www.nswrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=24201]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Te Maari, Lee}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:Parramatta Eels players Category:Rugby league locks Category:Rugby league players from Tokoroa Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players Category:Wentworthville Magpies players