Making a name for himself as an imposing – and versatile – back-rower at Parramatta, Marata Niukore made his New Zealand Test debut at centre during a career-best 2022 season.
Howick Hornets junior Niukore was a standout for the Warriors’ NYC team, representing Junior Kiwis in 2015-16 and Cook Islands in 2017. He was signed by the Eels and gained a solid NSW Cup grounding with Wentworthville Magpies before receiving his first NRL call-up midway through 2018 and playing 14 games in his rookie campaign.
A first-grade regular ever since, Niukore featured in Parrmatta’s 2019-21 finals campaigns and showed an impressive ability to slot into the backline, despite his hulking 105kg frame ideally suited to the pack. He represented Cook Islands again in 2019, helping the island nation qualify for the World Cup.
Injury hampered Niukore during the first half of 2022 but limited football did not deter Kiwis coach Michael Maguire from calling him up as a centre for the mid-season Test against Tonga. The debutant proved a handful in the 26-6 win at Mt Smart Stadium, running for 108 metres.
Niukore reverted to a middle-forward role for the Eels as the 2022 campaign wore on and featured prominently in their playoffs campaign, which culminated in the club’s first grand final appearance in 13 years and a loss to the Panthers in the decider. The 26-year-old tempered the disappointment of that loss with a spot aboard the plane to England for New Zealand’s World Cup foray.
The 26-year-old was limited by injuries at the tournament, making just two appearances – off the bench against Lebanon and a tryscoring effort at centre against Jamaica – before heading home to link with the Warriors ahead of the 2023 NRL season.
A key part of the Warriors’ resurgence as an edge forward, Niukore was unavailable for the 2023 Pacific Championships but returned to the Kiwis’ squad for the title defence, despite injuries restricting the hulking enforcer to just 14 NRL appearances in 2024.
Niukore came off the bench against Australia and Tonga, before being an unused 18th man against Papua New Guinea.
