Alehana Mara: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Vanuatu international rugby league footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2015}}

|image = Alehana Mara.jpg

|caption =

|birth_place = [[Porirua]], Wellington, New Zealand<ref name=forgotten />

|height = {{convert|178|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|105|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|club1 = {{nowrap|[[New Zealand Warriors]]}}

|year1end = 12

|teamA = [[Vanuatu national rugby league team|Vanuatu]]

|yearAstart = 2012

|yearAend = present

|appearancesA = 3

|triesA = 0

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 1

|pointsA = 1

|source = <ref>{{cite web|title=Alehana Mara|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/alehana-mara/summary.html|publisher=Rugby League Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Test Match Playing Records|url=http://vanuaturl.com/site/stats/test-match-playing-records/|publisher=vanuaturl.com}}</ref>

'''Alehana Mara''' (born 6 November 1989) is a Tokelauan former professional international [[rugby league]] footballer who last played for the [[Wynnum Manly Seagulls]] in the [[Queensland Cup]]. Mara previously played for the [[New Zealand Warriors]] in the [[National Rugby League]].

==Early life==

Born in [[Wellington]], New Zealand, Mara is of [[Ni-Vanuatu]] descent through his father, and Tokelauan descent through his mother. He attended [[St Patrick's College, Wellington|St Patrick's College]] and represented the school in [[rugby union]].<ref name=debut>{{cite web|last=Kilgallon|first=Steve|date=29 August 2010|title=Warriors debut memory will live forever with Mara|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4072295/Warriors-debut-memory-will-live-forever-with-Mara|publisher=stuff.co.nz|accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> Mara played his junior rugby league for the St George club in the [[Wellington Rugby League]] competition.<ref name=forgotten>{{cite web|last=Richardson|first=Daniel|date=20 March 2013|title=Mara's name shouldn't be forgotten|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10872513|publisher=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=12 November 2016}}</ref> He represented the [[Junior Kiwis]] in 2006 and the NZ under-18 team in 2007 before going onto play for the [[Wellington Orcas]] in the [[Bartercard Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Worthington|first=Sam|date=29 April 2011|title=Mara the little-known Wellington Warrior|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4939527/Mara-the-little-known-Wellington-Warrior|publisher=stuff.co.nz|accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref>

==Playing career==

Mara joined the [[New Zealand Warriors]] in 2008 for the inaugural season of the Under 20's [[National Youth Competition (rugby league)|National Youth Competition]]. He played 39 games for the Juniors Warriors over two seasons, scoring eleven tries and finishing the 2009 season as the squads' captain.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alehana Mara|url=http://www.warriors.co.nz/our-team/player/39/12/Alehana-Mara|publisher=warriors.co.nz|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907042218/http://www.warriors.co.nz/our-team/player/39/12/Alehana-Mara|archivedate=7 September 2011}}</ref>

When he moved into the Warriors' first grade squad, Mara found himself behind [[Nathan Friend]] as the team's first choice hooker. He spent much of his time playing for the Warriors' feeder team, the [[Auckland Vulcans]], in the [[New South Wales Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lawton|first=Aaron|date=11 May 2012|title=Happy days for NZ Warriors' Alehana Mara|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/6899228/Happy-days-for-NZ-Warriors-Alehana-Mara|publisher=stuff.co.nz|accessdate=12 November 2016}}</ref> He made his NRL for the Warriors on 21 August 2010 against the [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles]].<ref name=debut /> In May 2011, Mara re-signed with the Warriors until the end of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnstone|first=Duncan|date=29 May 2011|title=Warriors extend Lillyman's contract|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/warriors-extend-lillymans-contract-20110528-1f9if.html#ixzz1NiIGpAn5|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=12 November 2016}}</ref> Mara represented [[Vanuatu national rugby league team|Vanuatu]] in their first ever Test match, against [[Greece national rugby league team|Greece]] on 20 October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date=21 March 2013|title=Alehana Mara happy to help Vanuatu in long-term World Cup quest|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/210959/sport-alehana-mara-happy-to-help-vanuatu-in-long-term-world-cup-quest|publisher=Radio New Zealand|accessdate=14 October 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, Mara joined the [[Wynnum Manly Seagulls]] in the [[Queensland Cup]] competition. Mara played with Wynnum Manly up until the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 February 2014|title=Dolphins come up short|url=http://www.redcliffedolphins.com.au/?id=5583|publisher=redcliffedolphins.com.au}}</ref>

{{commons category}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110907042218/http://www.warriors.co.nz/our-team/player/39/12/Alehana-Mara New Zealand Warriors Profile]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Auckland rugby league team players]]

[[Category:Junior Kiwis players]]

[[Category:New Zealand rugby league players]]

[[Category:Rugby league players from Porirua]]

[[Category:Vanuatu national rugby league team players]]

[[Category:Wellington rugby league team players]]

[[Category:Wynnum Manly Seagulls players]]