run_it_str8_again
Guest
What a player. His offloads were audacious and such good viewing. Glad he had a great career after leaving us. I can't really think of enough compliments for his presence and how challenging he was to defend.
55
🇳🇿
🇼🇸
Second Row,
Debut: 1998-04-19
-
Age
188
Ht
115
Wt
55
🇳🇿
🇼🇸
Second Row,
Debut: 1998-04-19
-
Age
188
Ht
115
Wt
Player Ali Lauiti'iti
- Thread starter Loztralianz
- Start date
- Date of Birth
- Jul 13, 1979
- Birth Location
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Nationality
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇼🇸 Samoa
- Height (cm)
- 188 cm
- Weight (kg)
- 115 kg
- Position/s
- Second Row
- Warrior #
- 55
- Warriors Debut Date
- Apr 19, 1998
- Warriors Debut Details
- April 19 1998, Round 6 vs North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Warriors Years Active
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- Signed From
- Mangere East Hawks
- Rep Honours
- NZ
- Samoa
- Awards/Honours
- Warriors Player of the Year
- Dally M (Positional Award)
Big Ali back home taking on new ventures
Jackson ThomasFri 2 Feb 2024, 03:12 pm
Club legend Ali Lauitiiti is a man of many talents, his latest power becoming the One New Zealand Warriors' new chaplain while simultaneously launching his own venture Kofe Bro, a mobile coffee cart business.
What started as a family side hustle quickly became a passion project and a staple of the Go Media Stadium car park with Kofe Bro combining Lauitiiti's love for coffee and a chance to bond with his daughters.
"It's a fun thing me and the family can bond over, but being involved with the Warriors in my new role has meant I'm able to occasionally cross the two passions over so it's been really cool in that respect."
Returning to the club where he began, Lauitiiti takes on the role of chaplain offering spiritual support and pastoral care.
His presence adds a unique flavor to the growing wellbeing team at the One New Zealand Warriors.
It aligns with his position as a wellbeing and education officer at the New Zealand Rugby League, bridging grassroots and professional levels.
"It's been an honour and privilege to be given the opportunity by the wellbeing team to come back to the club where I started my journey and serve in a small capacity as the team chaplain," he said.
"I honestly can't thank the club enough for always welcoming back past players."
As the club continues to invest in holistic development for players, having Lauitiiti as chaplain showcases a commitment to overall player welfare, he said.
Beyond his core responsibilities, the on-field presence that was Lauitiiti's has not been missed by the current group and the club hopes it leaves a lasting imprint both on and off the field for the 2024 squad - and beyond.
Big Ali back home taking on new ventures
Big Ali Lauitiiti is back combining new business venture Kofe Bro and club's chaplaincy.
www.warriors.kiwi
Where are they now? Former Warriors great Ali Lauitiiti
Brendon EganAugust 18, 2024
Ali Lauitiiti only played for the New Zealand Warriors for six seasons, but left an indelible mark on the club.
An offload king, Lauitiiti was an integral performer for the side, helping them to their first grand final appearance in 2002.
Lauitiiti left the Warriors at just 24, signing a big money move with the Leeds Rhinos. He spent 12 seasons playing in England, winning five Super League titles with Leeds before finishing with Wakefield Trinity.
Now 45, rugby league remains an important part of Lauitiiti’s life.
He speaks to Brendon Egan in this week’s ‘Where are they now?’.
This year you took on a chaplain role with the Warriors. What does that involve?
I think it’s more another support person for the team and the club. It’s a faith based organisation, but it’s not about pushing their beliefs on anyone. It’s more pastoral care and anywhere they can help where needed. It’s just a neutral person for our athletes and also the staff to vent to. More of a presence and action, more than anything else.
I just show face and make sure the boys and team know that I’m here to support. It’s voluntary. I try and turn up as much as I can and just show the support.
You are involved in the wellbeing space for NZ Rugby League. What are your big messages to the players?
It’s looking after yourself, especially with mental health stuff on the rise. It’s like a band-aid. We can see all the physical stuff, but especially the mental stuff we can’t see. The main message to the players is talk to someone, reach out if you need professional help.
For those that see their friends or their families going through a tough time check in on them. It’s looking after not only your physical, but whatever fills your cup and thinking about your why and knowing your values go a long way. For wellbeing we’re trying to shine some light on what the pathway looks like coming through. Always having another career path other than just thinking about sport goes a long way.
You also run a mobile coffee cart business called ‘Kofe Bro’. How’s business?
It’s not a big money maker, but I started because it’s something I wanted to do with my daughters. I’ve got four girls and one boy. Now that they’re at the age that they’re too cool now, I’m not really doing as much with them.
I’m doing it with the Warriors boys, more of a connection piece. Coffee and building that connection with them and checking in with them. Using the coffee as a vehicle doing it. I do it at church and try and do it at community stuff. We try and hopefully do a few per month just to keep the wheels turning.
Former Warriors coach Mark Graham dubbed you ‘the Michael Jordan of rugby league’. How much pressure did that title bring?
Still to this day I think it’s definitely not for me. It was a big compliment. I just laughed it off. I knew I wasn’t Michael Jordan. I just did my best to play my part in the team. I think just knowing who you are. Big ups to whoever said it. He was too kind. Maybe because of my colour I think he called me Michael Jordan. He’s a great player, he’s the man. I think I just laughed it off.
You were coached by Mark Graham and Daniel Anderson at the Warriors. What was their most intense spray?
They had some good sprays. We deserved it most of the time. Probably some of the words I can’t even mention on air. When they sprayed you no-one spoke. It was one of those moments where no-one spoke and it was quiet, apart from bottles of water flying around. That’s all you can kind of remember and all the other nice words that came with it.
What are your best memories from your time in the Otahuhu College First XV as a second five?
I played with Orene Ai’i who played for the Blues, [New Zealand] Sevens, he was probably the reason why our team did so well. I think it was just a good bunch of boys from different parts of south Auckland that came together.
It was good beating all those private schools and the boys’ schools. The boys ended up winning the 1A [Auckland secondary schools competition] in 1997, they beat Kelston in the final and that was because of Orene. Those moments are cool. It’s good to be the underdog and come away with the win, let alone winning the whole championship.
The 2002 NRL season was a great ride for the Warriors. What sticks out about the grand final loss to the Roosters?
I think it was good for rugby league. It was good for the organisation, just sport in general in New Zealand. Hopefully, we’ve inspired so many. It was a great occasion. It just happened so fast. I know we didn’t get the dub, but credit to the Roosters they played better in that second half.
I just remember having an ice cream with Jerry [Seuseu] after the game. Just sitting down with Jerry and having something to eat and reflecting on how amazing the season was, even though we didn’t win the grand final.
Any regrets all these years on about your departure from the Warriors?
It is what happened. I’m sure I could go back and say I wish I did this, but I think I have no regrets. Everything happens for a reason. I’m an ex-player of the Warriors, but I always love supporting the team and the club.
I went over to the UK and met some beautiful team-mates and forged a good life not only for myself, but for my family. No regrets. I’m real thankful for all the clubs I played with or played for. Grateful for rugby league.
You won five Super League titles with Leeds. Just how special was that time in your life?
Putting on the jersey for the first time, but also that year playing in the [first] grand final [in 2004] was another amazing experience coming from 2002 [with the Warriors]. I never would have thought in my wildest dreams I would have been playing in another grand final on the other side of the world. I ended up playing five and three or four Challenge Cup finals. Amazing memories. Those are the memories I’ll cherish all my life.
How did a south Auckland lad find it in Yorkshire?
It was awesome. You can just imagine a kid from Ōtara in south Auckland, going to the other side of the world. It was funny. I went there two or three years beforehand with the Kiwis and I thought this is too far I won’t be coming here and then a few years later I ended up going there to live. Great people, beautiful place. It’s pretty much my second home. I’ll always remember Leeds. I went there about a month ago and it still seems like home.
You played 19 tests for the Kiwis from 2000-06. What are your fondest memories playing for New Zealand?
Putting on the black jersey for the first time that’s an amazing experience, especially if you’re a young rugby league player putting on that jersey for the first time, never imagining you’ll represent your country. That was massive over in the World Cup [in 2000].
Also winning some of those games and playing with the great players of the era, just being part of those teams was a dream come true.
Always good to put on the black jersey and represent it because your representing your community, but also all the clubs and coaches, managers, and players you played with during your grassroots all the way up. Always pinching yourself thinking you did put on the black jersey.
How much did your Christian faith get you through the tough times in your career?
It was massive. That was my wellbeing and still is my wellbeing now. I definitely faced heaps of challenges, like the other players, but my faith definitely kept me in good stead and I was anchored in that. That’s the reason why I’m here it’s definitely because of my faith. It’s the reason I probably did okay. If it wasn’t for that I’d have definitely been much different.
The Post
www.thepost.co.nz
Popdukes
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I remember having a very difficult time trying to hunt down highlights of Lauitiiti maybe a year ago there were almost none….some have popped up on YT but the editing sucks as they they have condensed them into a shorter video…..anyone know why there were no highlights for a few years?
