Tufuga gets long-awaited debut
on Friday, 23 October 2020. Posted in Turbos News
Kirk Tufuga is proof that perseverance pays off.
The No 8 has been knocking on the door of the Turbos for more than five years, regularly suiting up in preseason, but just missing the final cut. That changes on Saturday when he will start in the No 8 jeresy against Hawke's Bay.
The Varsity workhouse is always among the form players in the club competition where he played alongside brothers Sam (prop), Max (prop) and Ueta (centre).
Last year the quartet all played together for Wairarapa Bush in the Heartland Championship on loan.
This season Kirk played his club footy for Eketahuna. Kirk is the oldest of the brothers with youngest brother Ueta now involved in Southland’s wider squad.
Tufuga replaces the injured Tyler Laubscher in the starting side, but he is not the only change.
Chris Eves’ time with the team is up now that the props are injury free, Solomona Sakalia starts his first game in green and white after returning from injury off the bench last week.
Teofilo Paulo drops to the bench with Liam Mitchell returning to lock allowing TK Howden back to the blindside after he had a week off last week.
Shamus Hurley-Langton returns to the openside trading places with Johnny Galloway.
Te Rangatira Waitokia takes the left wing spot of Newton Tudreu and Ben Wyness starts at No 10 after Stewart Cruden was injured last week.
Turbos
- Solomona Sakalia (first start for Turbos)
- Sam Stewart
- Michael Alaalatoa
- Micaiah Torrance-Read
- Liam Mitchell
- TK Howden
- Shamus Hurley-Langton
- Kirk Tufuga (debut)
- Jamie Booth ©
- Ben Wyness
- Te Rangatira Waitokia
- James Tofa
- Josiah Maraku
- Nigel Ah Wong
- Nehe Milner-Skudder
- Siua Maile
- Tietie Tuimauga
- Paulo Leleisiuao
- Teofilo Paulo
- Johnny Galloway
- Bryn Wilson
- Drew Wild
- Adam Boult