{{Short description|Tonga international rugby league footballer (born 2005)}}
<!-- Note: The following pages were redirects to Leka_Halasima before draftification: *Leki Halasima --> {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox rugby league biography | name = Leka Halasima | fullname = Selumiela Halasima | image = Selumiela Halasima.jpg | image_size = 200px | position = {{rlp|SR}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2005|9|21}} | birth_place = Tofoa, Tonga | height = {{convert|185|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | club1 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}} | year1start = 2024 | year1end = present | appearances1 = 41 | tries1 = 18 | goals1 = 0 | fieldgoals1 = 0 | points1 = 72 | teamA = {{rlnt|Tonga}} | yearAstart = 2025 | yearAend = | appearancesA = 1 | triesA = 0 | goalsA = 0 | fieldgoalsA = 0 | pointsA = 0 | new = yes | retired = no | source =<ref name='rlp'>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/selumiela-halasima/summary.html |title=Selumiela 'Leka' Halasima|access-date=21 July 2025|website=Rugby League Project}}</ref> | updated = {{date|{{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}}|DMY}} }}
'''Selumiela "Leka" Halasima''' (born 21 September 2005) is a {{rlnt|Tonga}}n international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sr}} forward for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.
==Background== Halasima was born in Tofoa, Tonga in 2005. He was educated at Southern Cross Campus in Auckland, New Zealand. He played junior football for the Māngere East Hawks and the Otahuhu Leopards.<ref name='stuff'/>
Halasima was also part of the Blues junior pathway in rugby union, being selected for their Under 18's Development Squad in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/u18-blues-squad |title=Blues U18 Development Squad|date=14 September 2022|access-date=21 July 2025|website=Blues (Super Rugby)}}</ref> In January 2022, Halasima played in the Rugby World Sevens with the New Zealand Warriors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-20 |title=Warriors switch codes to play World Schools Sevens |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2022/01/20/warriors-switch-to-rugby-union/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Warriors |language=en}}</ref>
==Playing career== ===Early career=== In 2023, after being named Warriors SG Ball Player of the Year, he progressed up to NSW Cup as a 17 year old.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-02 |title=Halasima crowned SG Ball Cup player of the year |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2023/05/02/halasima-crowned-sg-ball-cup-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Warriors |language=en}}</ref> On 18 May 2023, he was signed to a three-year deal with the Warriors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=Several players signed for club's pathways rosters |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2023/05/18/signings-boost-for-pathways-squads/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Warriors |language=en}}</ref>
===New Zealand Warriors: 2024–present=== On 6 July 2024, in round 18 of the regular season, Halasima made his NRL debut for the Warriors against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Accor Stadium in a 13–12 loss.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-06 |title=Confirmed Lineup: Halasima called up for debut |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2024/07/06/confirmed-lineup-halasima-in/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Warriors |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Uhila |first=Carmel |date=2024-07-08 |title=South Auckland Product Leka Halasima Makes NRL Debut - New Zealand Rugby League |url=https://nzrl.co.nz/south-auckland-product-leka-halasima-makes-nrl-debut/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> During the game, Halasima came onto the field as one of the forwards, but due to injuries to other players was forced to play as a centre. He finished the game with 108 run metres and five tackle breaks.
On 8 July 2024, the Warriors announced that they had re-signed Halasima until the end of 2027 and promoted him into the top 30 squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Ethan Lee |date=2024-07-07 |title=New Zealand Warriors extend contract of local talent |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/new-zealand-warriors-extend-contract-of-local-talent-212278/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}</ref>
In round 4 of 2025, Halasima scored his first career try against the Wests Tigers, running 70 metres and beating three defenders to score in the 69th minute.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Voerman |first=Andrew |title=Teenager Leka Halasima's 70m solo try lifts Warriors to win over Wests Tigers|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360633484/leka-halasima-solo-effort-lifts-warriors-win-over-wests-tigers| date=2025-03-30|access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Stuff}}</ref> His try allowed Luke Metcalf to kick a conversion to tie the match 24–24, before shortly afterwards kicking a successful penalty goal to win the match.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-31 |title=What we learnt from another late Warriors victory over Wests Tigers |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/556689/what-we-learnt-from-another-late-warriors-victory-over-wests-tigers |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-wests-tigers-v-warriors-live-blog-teams-ins-and-outs-injuries-stats-video-jeral-skelton-rocco-berry-top-four/news-story/0745847dbc8e10f419bec4ddb75f8f7e|title=Tigers' last-second howler stuns Benji as Warriors win cliffhanger after long-range penalty at death|date=30 March 2025|access-date=21 July 2025|author=Tiernan, Eamonn |newspaper=Fox Sports (Australia)}}</ref>
On 21 May 2025, the Warriors announced that Halasima had re-signed with the club until the end of the 2029 season, alongside 21-year-old Jacob Laban.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-20 |title=Young guns Halasima and Laban signed until 2029 |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2025/05/21/halasima-laban-signed-until-2029/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Warriors |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/warriors/warriors-re-sign-leka-halasima-jacob-laban-on-long-term-deals/SCPSQOYFCZHWDEWNTS2CO2V62E/|title=Warriors re-sign Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban on long-term deals|date=21 May 2025|access-date=21 July 2025|author=Francis, Ben|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref>
In round 20, Halasima scored the match-winning try for the Warriors in a 20–15 win against the Newcastle Knights. Tanah Boyd attempted a field goal but was charged down — Halasima then picked up the ball and ran 45 metres to score, earning the win for the Warriors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-20 |title='Leka Magic' saves Warriors with miracle last-second try to beat Knights |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-20/nrl-live-blog-tigers-titans-knights-warriors/105552424 |access-date=2025-07-21 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name='stuff'>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360764123/warriors-match-winner-leka-halasima-rolls-out-bed-and-does-special-stuff-nrl|title=Warriors' match-winner Leka Halasima 'rolls out of bed and does special stuff in the NRL'|date=21 July 2025|access-date=21 July 2025|author=Voerman, Andrew|newspaper=Stuff}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360764498/did-warriors-produce-their-most-dramatic-nrl-victory-against-knights|title=Did the Warriors produce their most dramatic NRL victory against Knights?|date=21 July 2025|access-date=21 July 2025|newspaper=Stuff}}</ref>
Halasima finished the 2025 NRL season as the first forward in the club's history to be the top tryscorer in a season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Becht |first=Richard |title=Halasima first forward to top try-scoring charts |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2025/09/16/halasima-first-forward-to-top-try-scoring-charts/ |date=2025-09-16 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=www.warriors.kiwi}}</ref>
==Statistics== <small>''{{As of|2026|3|21}}.<ref name='rlp'/>''</small>
===NRL=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" |- !width=2%|Season !width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|Tries !width=2%|{{H:title|Pts|Points}} |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2024 | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |{{leagueicon|New Zealand|16}} New Zealand Warriors | 4 || 0 || 0 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2025 | 25 || 13 || 52 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2026 | 9 || 5 || 20 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan="2" | Career totals ! 38 ! 18 ! 72 |}
==Honours== '''Individual''' * New Zealand Warriors S. G. Ball Cup Team Player of the Year: 2023.<ref name='stuff'/> * New Zealand Warriors NRL People’s Choice Award: 2025.<ref name='2025awards'>{{cite news|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2025/09/16/tuivasa-sheck-collects-player-of-the-year-double/|title=Tuivasa-Sheck collects NRL player of the year double|last=Becht|first=Richard|newspaper=New Zealand Warriors|date=16 September 2025|access-date=19 September 2025}}</ref> * New Zealand Warriors NRL Rookie of the Year: 2025.<ref name='2025awards'/> * NRL Dally M Rookie of the Year: 2025.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.warriors.kiwi/teams/nrl-premiership/warriors/leka-halasima/ New Zealand Warriors profile]
{{New Zealand Warriors squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halasima, Leka}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Tongan sportsmen Category:New Zealand Warriors players Category:Rugby league players from Tongatapu Category:Tonga national rugby league team players Category:Tongan rugby league players