{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Sam Tagataese |fullname = Samuel Tagataese |image = Sam Tagatese in July 2012.jpg |caption = |position = {{rlp|PR|SR|CE}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|12|8}} |birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand |height = {{convert|193|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|108|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = Melbourne Storm |year1start = 2007 |year1end = 08 |appearances1 = 19 |tries1 = 2 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 8 |club2 = {{nowrap|Gold Coast Titans}} |year2start = 2009 |year2end = 11 |appearances2 = 33 |tries2 = 4 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 16 |club3 = Cronulla Sharks |year3start = 2011 |year3end = 17 |appearances3 = 118 |tries3 = 9 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 36 |club4 = Brisbane Broncos |year4start = 2018 |year4end = |appearances4 = 4 |tries4 = 0 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 0 |teamA = Samoa |yearAstart = 2009 |yearAend = 17 |appearancesA = 6 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |retired = |source = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/sam-tagataese/summary.html|title=Sam Tagataese - Career Stats & Summary|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=1986-12-08|access-date=2016-10-03}}</ref> |updated = 14 March 2021 }}
'''Sam Tagataese''' pronounced ({{IPAc-en|t|eɪ|g|ə|t|iː|z|i}}) (born 8 December 1986) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who last played as a {{rlp|pr}} forward for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.
He played for the Melbourne Storm, Gold Coast Titans and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League. Tagataese was part of the Cronulla team that won their maiden premiership title in the 2016 season.
==Early life== Born in Wellington, New Zealand. Tagataese attended St. Bernard's College, Lower Hutt, playing first fifteen Rugby, and received Sportsman of the year in 2003.
He left Wellington to play with Melbourne Storm feeder Brisbane Norths. He was educated at Wavell State High School was selected for the Queensland under 19's and 2004 Junior Kiwis squad.
==Playing career== Tagataese made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm on 7 April 2007, against the Newcastle Knights at Energy Australia Stadium. He made 11 appearances for Melbourne in his debut year. In the 2008 NRL season, Tagatese played 6 games for Melbourne before he joined the Gold Coast. Tagatese played in the Gold Coast's first ever finals campaign in the 2009 NRL season.
On 11 June 2011, Tagataese announced he was leaving the Gold Coast Titans immediately to join the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on a three-year contract. Tagataese managed eight appearances for the Gold Coast in the 2011 NRL season as the club finished last and claimed the wooden spoon.<ref>{{cite news|title=Big hitting Gold Coast forward Sam Tagataese granted early release to join Cronulla Sharks|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/big-hitting-gold-coast-forward-sam-tagataese-granted-early-release-to-join-cronulla-sharks/story-e6frf3ou-1226073738040|access-date=14 June 2011|newspaper=Fox Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-defeat-the-gold-coast-titans-to-avoid-wooden-spoon-for-2011/news-story/fc87216a6a23a4b8d0eefd6174b60c47/|title=Parramatta Eels defeat the Gold Coast Titans to avoid wooden spoon for 2011|website=Daily Telegraph}}</ref>
In the 2014 NRL season, Tagataese played 18 games as Cronulla-Sutherland endured a horror year on and off the field with the club finishing last on the table due to a high injury toll and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks supplements saga.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/aug/24/sharks-set-for-wooden-spoon-after-defeat-to-raiders/|title=Sharks set for wooden spoon after defeat to Raiders|website=The Guardian|date=24 August 2014 }}</ref>
In the 2015 NRL season, Cronulla turned their form around on the field to reach the finals. Tagataese played in the club's 39–0 defeat by North Queensland in the elimination final.
In 2016, Tagataese was part of the Cronulla side which won their first ever premiership defeating Melbourne 14–12 in the 2016 NRL Grand Final at ANZ Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2016/10/02/2016-grand-final-sharks-player-ratings/|title=2016 grand final sharks player ratings|website=www.nrl.com|date=2 October 2016 }}</ref>
On 13 December 2017, Brisbane Broncos announced they had signed Tagataese on a one-year deal.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2017/12/13/big-sam-joins-the-broncos/ |title= Big Sam Joins The Broncos |date= 12 December 2017 |publisher= broncos.com.au |access-date= 13 December 2017}}</ref>"For me it is about tapping into something I don't think I have tapped into before- and that is getting the best out of myself," he said. "I am going to give it my all and I hope to make it into the 17 during the year."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2018/02/15/tagataese-out-to-make-a-statement/|title=Tagataese Out To Make A Statement|date=2018-02-15|website=Brisbane Broncos|language=en|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref>
In 2019, he announced his retirement, playing his final game for the Souths Logan Magpies of the Queensland Cup. He scored ten tries for the Magpies during his stint in the Queensland Cup.
==Representative career== Tagataese is of Samoan heritage,<ref name="Islander blood runs deep">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,21985,21383990-14823,00.html|title=Islander blood runs deep|publisher=Herald Sun|date=2007-03-15|access-date=2008-07-31| first=Dave| last=Donaghy}}</ref> and was named in the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.<ref name="Samoa name World Cup Squad">{{cite web|url=http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=16750|title=Samoa name World Cup Squad|publisher=League Unlimited|date=2008-08-05|access-date=2008-08-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717060051/http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=16750|archive-date=17 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
In 2009 he was named as part of the Samoan side for the Pacific Cup.<ref>[http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/7999.php Poching names strong Samoan squad] ''therhinos.co.uk'', 6 October 2009</ref>
In 2013, Sam made his international début, he played for Samoa in the Pacific Rugby League International against fierce pacific rivals Tonga.
In May 2014, Sam again played for Samoa in the Pacific Rugby League International. Tagataese made headlines in the match after being sent off for a head-butt on Fijian player Kane Evans.
On 8 September 2014, Tagataese was selected for the Samoa Four Nations train-on squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/samao-train-on-squad-announced-14837/|title=Samoa train on squad announced|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2014-09-08|access-date=2016-10-03|archive-date=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014081012/http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/samao-train-on-squad-announced-14837/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 7 October 2014, Tagataese was selected in the Samoa national rugby league team final 24 man squad for the 2014 Four Nations series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/toa-samoa-name-four-nations-squad/tabid/10874/newsid/82434/default.aspx|title=Toa Samoa name Four Nations squad|website=NRL.com|date=7 October 2014 |access-date=2016-10-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/toa-samoa-name-four-nations-squad-15250/|title=Toa Samoa name Four Nations squad|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2014-10-07|access-date=2016-10-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203031215/http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/toa-samoa-name-four-nations-squad-15250/|archive-date=3 February 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
On 7 May 2016, Tagataese traveled down from Hull to Sydney to captain Samoa in the 2016 Polynesian Cup against Tonga, playing off the interchange bench in the 18–6 win at Parramatta Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/samoa-holds-on-in-pulsating-pacific-test/tabid/10874/newsid/95681/default.aspx|title=Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test|date=7 May 2016 |publisher=nrl.com|access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref>
== Statistics ==
=== NRL === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- |2007 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} Melbourne Storm |12 |1 |4 |- |2008 |6 |1 |4 |- |2009 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Titans|16}} Gold Coast Titans |9 |1 |4 |- |2010 |16 |2 |8 |- | rowspan="2" |2011 |{{leagueicon|Titans|16}} Gold Coast Titans |8 |1 |4 |- |{{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |12 |1 |4 |- |2012 | rowspan="6" |{{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |13 |1 |4 |- |2013 |21 |2 |8 |- |2014 |18 |3 |12 |- |2015 |20 |2 |8 |- |2016 |21 | | |- |2017 |12 | | |- |2018 |{{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} Brisbane Broncos |4 | | |- | |Totals |174 |15 |60 |}
=== Reserve grade === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Goals !Pts |- |2019 |{{leagueicon|Souths Logan Magpies|30}} Souths Logan Magpies |22 |3 |1 |14 |- |2018 |{{leagueicon|Norths Devils|30}} Norths Devils |18 |7 | |28 |- |2017 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Newtown|30}} Newtown Jets |11 |4 | |16 |- |2016 |4 | | | |- | |Totals |55 |14 |1 |58 |} source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Tagataese - Playing Career - RLP |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/sam-tagataese/summary.html |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.broncos.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/brisbane-broncos/sam-tagataese/ Brisbane Broncos profile] *[http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/default.asp?sec=2&ssec=2&pid=34&prid=1&yr=2007 Melbourne Profile] *[http://www.goldcoast.com.au/gold-coast-titans-player-profiles.html#thompson Gold Coast Titans profile] *[http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=381#Sam-Tagataese 2017 RLWC profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030817/http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=381#Sam-Tagataese |date=1 December 2017 }}
{{Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks squad - 2016 NRL premiers}} {{Samoa 2014 Rugby League Four Nations squad}} {{Samoa 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tagataese, Sam}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:Brisbane Broncos players Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players Category:Gold Coast Titans players Category:Melbourne Storm players Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:People educated at St Bernard's College, Lower Hutt Category:People educated at Wavell State High School Category:Rugby league players from Wellington City Category:Rugby league props Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Samoa national rugby league team players Category:Samoan rugby league players