Born: February 10, 1982 – Auckland
Test record: 3 Tests (2005-06) – 2 tries (8 tries)
Tours: 2005 Tri Nations

Powerhouse forward Iafeta Paleaaesina debuted for the Kiwis at the conclusion of his five seasons as a New Zealand Warriors cult hero, while he made a further Test appearance during his first year with Wigan Warriors.

The Auckland-born Otahuhu and Papatoetoe junior, of Tokelau and Samoan descent, was just 19 when he made his NRL debut with the burgeoning Warriors in 2001.

A fan favourite for his bullocking, long-striding, defence-scattering carries, Palea’aesina became a top-grade regular in 2003 and featured in that year’s finals campaign – ultimately playing 83 games for the club.

Paleaaesina received a call-up to the Kiwis’ Tri Nations squad in 2005, debuting of the bench in a 28-26 loss to the Kangaroos at Mt Smart Stadium and scoring a try after starting at prop in a 38-22 non-tournament Test against France in Toulouse.

Joining English heavyweights Wigan in 2006, Paleaaesina was again a tryscoring in New Zealand’s mid-season loss to Great Britain at St Helens with a side predominantly made up of Super League-based players.

The highlight of his 145-game, five-season stint with Wigan was a Super League grand final triumph in his last appearance, while he enjoyed subsequent stints with Salford (2011-12), Hull FC (2014-16) and Doncaster (2017).