This is a thread for us old school Warriors fans. For many years I had watched union and league but it wasn't until Ali came along that I discovered no amount of toughness, no amount of coaching and no amount of structure could ever contain an athlete so freakish he broke all the rules. What are your memories of Ali ? I remember watching him at Penrith when he had 5 defenders trying to push him across the touchline and he offloaded back infield and was smiling while he did it. I have never seen anything like it. Any Ali memories from you old school folks ?
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)
NZWarriors.com
I always remembered he had the ability to twist his body to get an offload. He was so hard to stop and contain. Very agile for such a big man. The Michael Jordon of league because he made the hard stuff look so easy. The closest player I can think of is Jason Taumalolo at his peak.
One of the best, i was devastated when he left such a talent that could have slotted into every single club in the Nrl. Some of his offloads and that flick pass before Benji was insane. Just His general ball playing, athleticism and his size were incredible, players Like Inglis and Lauitiiti don't come round very often.
They also carry themselves well real humble unlike some of these younger characters.
They also carry themselves well real humble unlike some of these younger characters.
NZWarriors.com
Ali could have been even better if he had of played more NRL - such a shame.
He was a superstar of the Otahuhu 1st XV - they won the 1A comp - unusual for a co-Ed school.
Ali was second five eight with Orene Ai’i at first five - they were unstoppable!
He was a superstar of the Otahuhu 1st XV - they won the 1A comp - unusual for a co-Ed school.
Ali was second five eight with Orene Ai’i at first five - they were unstoppable!
NZWarriors.com
Imagine if Webby had him as coach.. no way he goes off to SL… it would have been a dynasty here with Stacey 
I remember when he left the comments sections on various news sites that were full of comments that he wouldn't last in the UK, would get homesick, he'll be back soon.
They were all proved wrong.
He ended up having a great career over there. Was over there for a long time, and won championships.
They were all proved wrong.
He ended up having a great career over there. Was over there for a long time, and won championships.
He was just a loveable freak whose talent was just wasted by the club management.
My outstanding memory of him is when he made a decent line break and was going to get caught not far before the line.
Stacey Jones had been following up and was catching him as well, Ali just flipped the ball behind his back to Stacey, without looking!!!!
Stacey scored under the posts..
Stacey had been calling to him of course so Ali knew he was there, somewhere.
Stacey said afterwards he knew the ball would come from somewhere, and it did.
Warrior ball at its best.
I have tried to find it on YouTube.
The only pass that I can recall that was anything like it was the flip pass that Benji Marshall made in the 2005 GF try of the century.
NZWarriors.com
NZWarriors.com
Watch at about 55 seconds in for one of his passes.
NZWarriors.com
Interesting point of view.
His talent was over the top, just like SBW.
However SBW benefited from excellent management and coaching, both in league and yawnion.
Ali got yelled at by Anderson, and horribly insulted by Mick Watson.
heyzeuss what could have been?
That is the one.I forgot Stacey passed it to Ivan
NZWarriors.com
Ali Lauiti'iti
Alaimatagi "Ali" Lauitiiti (born 13 July 1979) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, as a second-row. He was touted as "The Michael Jordan of Rugby League" in his playing days due to his large hands and athleticism.
Both a Samoa and New Zealand international representative forward, Lauitiiti played for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition and for English clubs Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. Whilst at the Leeds Rhinos, he was part of their 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 championship-winning sides.
Of Samoan descent, Lauitiiti was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 13 July 1979. He played rugby league football for the Mangere East club in 1996, and shone as a junior in their U19 side in 1997, scoring 17 tries in 19 games. He went on to gain international honours with the Junior Kiwis that year, and again in 1998. He is the uncle of New Zealand Warriors player Ali Leiataua and Dolphins player Herman Ese'ese.
Lauitiiti made his National Rugby League (NRL) début in April 1998 for the Auckland Warriors. He was selected for the New Zealand test squad for the 2000 ANZAC test but missed out on final selection for the match, instead making a try-scoring début against the Cook Islands at Reading in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. He also scored against Wales in the next game at the Millennium Stadium.
In 2002 he was named the NRL's second-rower of the year. He was an integral part of the Warriors squad that reached the 2002 NRL Grand Final, the first time in the club's history, however they lost the match to the Sydney Roosters. Lauitiiti, who would go on to play 14 times for New Zealand, was part of the Kiwis side that toured Great Britain and France in 2002, featuring in seven out of the eight games on the tour, including all three tests against the Lions, plus games against St Helens, England A, Wales and France. He also scored in the third test against Great Britain.
When Lauitiiti was released from his contract with the Warriors it sparked a worldwide chase for his signature. However, the Leeds Rhinos beat competition from 14 other clubs in Australia and England to secure the second rower. He had appeared in 115 games for the Warriors and scored 33 tries by the time he left the club after the 2003 NRL season.
Lauitiiti joined Leeds in May 2004 on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his début for Leeds against Salford and took little time to settle in, scoring his first try in the subsequent game against Bradford Bulls. His incredible ball-handling skills earned him a place in the Tetley's Super League Dream Team in 2004. He played for the Leeds Rhinos at second-row forward in their 2004 Super League Grand Final victory against the Bradford Bulls.
As Super League IX champions, the Rhinos faced 2004 NRL season premiers, Canterbury-Bankstown in the 2005 World Club Challenge. Lauitiiti played from the interchange bench in Leeds' 39–32 victory. In 2005 Lauitiiti scored 14 tries in 32 appearances including 17 as a replacement. His 14 tries includes an incredible five tries against Wakefield when he came off the bench to become the first forward in the summer era to score five tries. He also appeared in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final. He was subsequently named in 2005's Super League Dream Team. He helped Leeds to their second successive Super League Grand Final appearance when he scored the winning try against St Helens with an 80-metre run in the Grand Final Qualifier, then played in the 2005 Super League Grand Final which ended in defeat for Leeds. In the 2005 Tri Nations tournament Lauitiiti once again joined the New Zealand squad and scored a try against Great Britain after coming on from the bench, and was then part of the successful squad who defeated Australia in the historic final victory.
Lauitiiti played in Leeds' three Grand Final wins in a row between 2007 and 2009. He was also selected to represent the All Golds side in the match against The Northern Union at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington in October 2007, scoring two tries in the match. Lauitiiti was named in the Samoa squad for their 2008 Rugby League World Cup campaign.
He played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.
He played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.
Lauitiiti joined Wakefield Trinity for the 2012 season and remained with the club until the end of 2015.
On 15 October 2015, it was announced that Lauitiiti would play one more time for Leeds in a one-off exhibition match against New Zealand, one of the countries he had previously represented.
In November 2015 it was announced that Lauitiiti would return to the New Zealand Warriors, with the signing of a second-tier contract for 2016. He retired at the end of the season.
In 2023, Lauiti'iti participated in season 3 of Match Fit, where former rugby players return to play against the Australian counterparts. He joined in the first season that featured former rugby league stars. He revealed he retired from rugby due to arthritic knees, partially made worse by his sweet tooth and liking milk chocolate. He was exempt from doing the Bronco fitness test, the 1.2km aerobic fitness and agility test. He performed a ramp test on an exercise bike instead so body weight and gravity aren't taken into account.
Ali Lauiti'iti - Wikipedia
Talented forward, a veteran of 11 Tests for the Kiwis between 1998 and 2002, was named ‘Dally M’ second rower of the year in 2002 – the year that club lost the grand final to the Roosters. Lauit’iti was selected to play against Australia in July 2003 but was forced to miss the match through suspension in a club match. He was then sensationally cut from the club midway through the disappointing 2004 season and joined Leeds in the English Super League competition. He won the premiership grand final with the club after less than a season in England before coming off the interchange bench in NZ’s Tri-nations win over Australia.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Ali Lauiti'iti - Playing Career - RLP
A summary of the career stats for Talented forward, a veteran of 11 Tests for the Kiwis between 1998 and 2002, was named ‘Dally M’ second rower of the year in 2002 – the year that club lost the grand final to the Roosters. Lauit’iti was selected to play against Australia in July 2003 but was...
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