{{short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Simaima Taufa |fullname = Simaima Taufa-Kautai |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|4|28}} |birth_place = Tofoa, Tonga |height = {{convert|163|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|80|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|LK|PR}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Sydney Roosters}} |year1start = 2018 |year1end = 20 |appearances1 = 9 |tries1 = 2 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 8 |club2 = {{nowrap|Parramatta Eels}} |year2start = 2021 |year2end = 22 |appearances2 = 12 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 20 |club3 = {{nowrap|Canberra Raiders}} |year3start = 2023 |year3end = present |appearances3 = 28 |tries3 = 8 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 32 |teamA = {{nowrap|New South Wales}} |yearAstart = 2014 |yearAend = 25 |appearancesA = 11 |triesA = 2 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 8 |teamB = Australia |yearBstart = 2014 |yearBend = present |appearancesB = 11 |triesB = 0 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 0 |teamC = {{nowrap|Women's All Stars}} |yearCstart = 2015 |yearCend = 16 |appearancesC = 2 |triesC = 0 |goalsC = 0 |fieldgoalsC = 0 |pointsC = 0 |retired = |source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/simaima-taufa/summary.html RLP] |updated = 14 November 2022 }}

'''Simaima Taufa-Kautai''' (born 28 April 1994) is a rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|lk}} for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL Women's Premiership and Mounties RLFC in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.

She is an Australian and New South Wales representative.

==Background== Taufa was born in Tonga and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to Sydney with her family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/community/program-deliverers/simaima-taufa/|title=Simaima Taufa|website=NRL.com|accessdate=November 21, 2022}}</ref>

She grew up playing rugby union, playing for the Western Sydney Two Blues in Sydney's Jack Scott Cup competition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Featuring NRL Part 2|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/feature/suncorp/nrl-pt2|access-date=2021-09-07|website=FOX SPORTS|language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Playing career== In 2014, Taufa began playing rugby league for the Canley Heights Dragons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/story/2448522/womens-interstate-challenge-canley-heights-dragons/|title=Interstate Challenge: Canley Heights Dragons|date=30 July 2014|website=Fairfield Champion}}</ref> On 19 July 2014, she made her debut for New South Wales in a 10–26 loss to Queensland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/07/13/2014-womens-interstate-challenge/|title=2014 Women's Interstate Challenge|date=13 July 2014|website=NRL}}</ref> On 9 November 2014, she made her Test debut for Australia in an 8–12 win over New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2014/10/21/nsw-stars-in-jillaroos-squad/|title=NSW Stars In Jillaroos Squad|date=21 October 2014|website=NSWRL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2014/10/21/six_new_faces_for_australian_jillaroos_.html|title=Six new faces for Australian Jillaroos|last=Media|first=NRL Digital|date=21 October 2014|work=NRL CLUBS|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en-au}}</ref>

On 27 September 2017, Taufa won the Dally M Female Player of the Year medal at the Dally M awards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://matangitonga.to/2017/09/29/simaima-taufa-rugby-league-female-player-year|title=Simaima Taufa rugby league 'Female Player of the Year'|date=2017-09-29|work=Matangi Tonga|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en}}</ref> On 2 December 2017, Taufa started at {{rlp|lk}} in Australia's World Cup final win over New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/jillaroos-named|title=Jillaroos named|date=2017-10-08|work=Rugby League World Cup|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en}}</ref>

On 17 June 2018, Taufa was announced as one of fifteen marquee signings by the Sydney Roosters NRL Women's Premiership team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/06/17/roosters-announce-nrlw-marquee-signings/|title=Roosters announce NRLW marquee signings|publisher=Sydney Roosters|date=17 June 2018|accessdate=17 June 2018}}</ref> On 2 September 2018, she was named captain of the side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/02/simaima-taufa-named-captain-of-womens-premiership-team/|title=Simaima Taufa named captain of Women's Premiership team|date=2 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref>

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Roosters in a 4–10 loss to the New Zealand Warriors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/08/nrlw-late-mail--round-1/|title=NRLW Late Mail Round 1|date=8 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref> On 30 September 2018, she started at {{rlp|lk}} in the Roosters 12–34 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/30/nrlw-late-mail--grand-final/|title=NRLW Late Mail Grand Final|date=30 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref>

In 2020, Taufa joined the North Sydney Bears in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2020/08/26/womens-origins--simaima-taufa/|title=Women's Origins - Simaima Taufa|date=26 August 2020|website=NSWRL}}</ref> On 25 October 2020, Taufa started at {{rlp|pr}} in the Roosters 10–20 Grand Final loss to the Broncos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/10/25/nrlw-late-mail--grand-final/|title=NRLW Late Mail Grand Final|date=25 October 2020|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Canberra Raiders women's squad}} {{Australian 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}} {{Australian 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taufa, Simaima}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Tongan sportswomen Category:Australia women's national rugby league team players Category:Australian people of Tongan descent Category:Sportspeople of Tongan descent Category:Canberra Raiders (NRLW) players Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin Women players Category:Parramatta Eels (NRLW) players Category:Rugby league locks Category:Rugby league players from Tongatapu Category:Rugby league props Category:Sydney Roosters (NRLW) players Category:Tongan female rugby league players Category:Women's All Stars players