View source for Zeb Taia

{{short description|Former NZ & Cook Islands international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Zeb Taia
|fullname       = John Zebelon Taia
|image          = Zeb Taia.jpg
|imagesize      = 
|caption        = 
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1984|10|11}}
|birth_place    = [[Auburn, New South Wales|Auburn]], [[New South Wales, Australia]]
|height         = {{convert|186|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|104|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catalansdragons.com/equipe/|title=Catalans Dragons Equipe Saison 2015|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=2015|website=Catalans Dragons site officiel|publisher=Catalans Dragons S.A.S.P.|access-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626104736/http://www.catalansdragons.com/equipe/|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|position       = {{rlp|SR|LK|CE}}
|club1          = [[Parramatta Eels]]
|year1start     = 2006
|year1end       = 07
|appearances1   = 6
|tries1         = 2
|goals1         = 0
|fieldgoals1    = 0
|points1        = 8
|club2          = [[Newcastle Knights]]
|year2start     = 2007
|year2end       = 12
|appearances2   = 101
|tries2         = 12
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 0
|points2        = 48
|club3          = [[Catalans Dragons]]
|year3start     = 2013
|year3end       = 15
|appearances3   = 77
|tries3         = 36
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 144
|club4          = {{nowrap|[[Gold Coast Titans]]}}
|year4start     = 2016
|year4end       = 17
|appearances4   = 24
|tries4         = 5
|goals4         = 0
|fieldgoals4    = 0
|points4        = 20
|club5          = [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|year5start     = 2017
|year5end       = 20
|appearances5   = 107
|tries5         = 23
|goals5         = 0
|fieldgoals5    = 0
|points5        = 92
|teamA          = [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]]
|yearAstart     = 2010
|yearAend       =
|appearancesA   = 1
|triesA         = 0
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 0
|pointsA        = 0
|teamB          = [[Cook Islands national rugby league team|Cook Islands]]
|yearBstart     = 2012
|yearBend       = 13
|appearancesB   = 4
|triesB         = 0
|goalsB         = 0
|fieldgoalsB    = 0
|pointsB        = 0
|teamC          = [[Exiles rugby league team|Exiles]]
|yearCstart     = 2013
|yearCend       = 
|appearancesC   = 1
|triesC         = 0
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 0
|retired        = yes
|source         = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/zeb-taia/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208182442/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/zeb-taia/summary.html|archive-date=8 December 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Zeb-Taia/ |title=Love Rugby League |access-date=9 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121133658/http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Zeb-Taia/ |archive-date=21 January 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|updated        = 6 December 2020
}}

'''Zeb Taia''' (born 11 October 1984) is a former professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played as a {{rlp|sr}} forward for both [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] and the [[Cook Islands national rugby league team|Cook Islands]] at international level.

He played for the [[Parramatta Eels]], [[Newcastle Knights]] and the [[Gold Coast Titans]] in the [[National Rugby League|NRL]], and the [[Catalans Dragons]] and [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] in the [[Super League]]. Taia has also played for the [[Exiles rugby league team|Exiles]], and earlier in his career he played as a {{rlp|lk|ce}} and {{rlp|pr}}.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>
He also played for Wynum Manly in the 2021 Intrust QLD Cup.

==Background==
Taia was born in [[Auburn, New South Wales]], Australia. He is of [[Cook Islanders|Cook Islands]] descent as his parents are from the island of [[Penrhyn (atoll)|Penrhyn]] (Tongareva).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10666182&ref=rss|title=League: Watch out for Taia if Kiwi coach calls|last=Alderson|first=Andrew|date=15 August 2010|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=15 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023153031/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10666182&ref=rss|archive-date=23 October 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Playing career==
He played his junior football for the Enfield Federals and the [[St Clair Comets]] before being signed by the [[Parramatta Eels]]. He played for the Eels' [[NSW Cup|Premier League]] reserve-grade team in 2006.<ref>[http://www.rleague.com//db/player/t/taia_zeb/index.php]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618105729/http://www.rleague.com//db/player/t/taia_zeb/index.php|date=18 June 2012}}</ref> In Round 5 of the [[2006 NRL season]] he made his [[NRL]] debut for the Eels against the [[Penrith Panthers]].

In 2007, Taia was granted a release from his Eels contract and moved mid-season to the [[Newcastle Knights]]. In 2008, Taia established himself as a permanent first-grader with Newcastle.

In the first week of the finals series of 2011, Taia made a comeback from a career threatening neck injury in which he suffered four rounds into the season.

On 16 May 2012, Taia signed a 3-year deal with French [[Super League]] club, [[Catalans Dragons]] starting in 2013. Taia said about the move, ''"Whilst my wife and I are looking forward to experiencing life in another country, a beautiful one at that, I am forever indebted to the Knights. Not just for the time I have been here but the support they showed me, particularly last season during a potentially career ending injury."''<ref>[http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Taia-signs-with-Catalans-Dragons/55250]  {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120907071730/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Taia-signs-with-Catalans-Dragons/55250|date=7 September 2012}}</ref>

On 5 August 2015, Taia signed a 2-year contract with the [[Gold Coast Titans]] to return to the [[National Rugby League]] after three years in France, starting in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|author=Titans.com.au|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/taylor-and-taia-to-join-titans-18496/|title=Taylor and Taia to join Titans &#124; NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2015-08-05|access-date=2015-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925090847/http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/taylor-and-taia-to-join-titans-18496/|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On February 14, 2017, Taia signed for St. Helens in a swap deal taking Joe Greenwood to the [[Gold Coast Titans]].  Taia was part of the St Helens side which won both the 2019 [[League Leaders Shield]] and the [[2019 Super League Grand Final]] securing the club's 14th championship.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/|title=St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened|website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/|title=St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield|website=Sky Sports}}</ref>

He played in the [[2019 Challenge Cup Final]] defeat by the [[Warrington Wolves]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref name="St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley">{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-vs-warrington-live-18996678|title=St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley|publisher=Mirror|date=24 August 2019|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref>

He played in the [[2019 Super League Grand Final]] victory over the [[Salford Red Devils]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref name="St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2019/10/12/st-helens-vs-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/|title=St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford|publisher=Telegraph|date=12 October 2019|access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="theguardian.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/|title=St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield|website=Sky Sports}}</ref>

He played in St Helens 8-4 [[2020 Super League Grand Final]] victory over Wigan at the [[Kingston Communications Stadium]] in Hull.  It was his final game as a player as he announced his retirement following the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55072997/|title=Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

==Representative career==
For the [[2010 Anzac Test]], Taia was selected to debut for the [[New Zealand national rugby league team]] at second-row forward in their loss against [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/444214/zeb-taia-chases-black-jumper-after-sidestepping-blues/|title=Zeb Taia chases black jumper after sidestepping Blues|date=16 July 2009|work=[[Newcastle Herald]]|access-date=13 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011213724/http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/zeb-taia-chases-black-jumper-after-sidestepping-blues/1569151.aspx|archive-date=11 October 2009|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 16 October 2010, Taia represented the [[Cook Islands national rugby league team|Cook Islands]] against a NSW Country representative side.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/75641-from-a-to-zeb/75641-from-a-to-zeb |title=From A to Zeb |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=21 January 2020 |access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref> In the match Taia captained the side. He made his official international debut for the Cook Islands in 2012 in a match against [[Lebanon national rugby league team|Lebanon]].

Zeb captained 'the Kukis' in the [[2013 Rugby League World Cup]].

== Statistics ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Team
!Games
!Tries
!Pts
|-
|2006
|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]]
|3
|1
|4
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007
|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]]
|3
|1
|4
|-
|{{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Newcastle Knights]]
|10
|1
|4
|-
|2008
| rowspan="5" |{{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Newcastle Knights]]
|20
|1
|4
|-
|2009
|24
|4
|16
|-
|2010
|19
|3
|12
|-
|2011
|5
|2
|8
|-
|2012
|23
|1
|4
|-
|2013
| rowspan="3" |{{leagueicon|Catalans|17}} [[Catalans Dragons]]
|25
|13
|52
|-
|2014
|32
|12
|48
|-
|2015
|24
|13
|52
|-
|2016
|{{leagueicon|Titans|16}} [[Gold Coast Titans]]
|24
|5
|20
|-
|2017
| rowspan="4" |{{leagueicon|St Helens|17}} [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|30
|6
|24
|-
|2018
|31
|8
|32
|-
|2019
|27
|6
|24
|-
|2020
|20
|3
|12
|-
|
|Totals
|315
|78
|312
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.saintsrlfc.com/teams/first-team/zeb-taia/ St Helens profile]
*[https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/11/zeb-taia SL profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161027055050/http://www.titans.com.au/team/profiles/zeb_taia.html Gold Coast Titans profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120408214440/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/playerprofiledisplay/Knights/Zeb%20Taia/858 Newcastle Knights profile]
*[http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=16799 Saints Heritage Society profile]

{{St Helens - 2019 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{St Helens - 2020 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Cook Islands squad 2013 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{2015 Super League Dream Team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taia, Zeb}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in France]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Catalans Dragons players]]
[[Category:Cook Island expatriate rugby league players]]
[[Category:Cook Island expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Cook Island expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Cook Island rugby league players]]
[[Category:Cook Islands national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:Cook Islands national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Gold Coast Titans players]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in France]]
[[Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Cook Island descent]]
[[Category:Newcastle Knights players]]
[[Category:Parramatta Eels players]]
[[Category:Rugby league centres]]
[[Category:Rugby league locks]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Auburn, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Rugby league props]]
[[Category:Rugby league second-rows]]
[[Category:Sportsmen from New South Wales]]
[[Category:St Helens R.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wyong Roos players]]