Born: January 1, 1967 - Huntly
Test record: 19 Tests (1990-94, 1997) - 4 tries (16 points)
Tours: 1994 tour of Papua New Guinea
A dynamic and intimidating back-row enforcer who made a huge imprint on club competitions in Britain and Australia, Tawera Nikau played 19 Tests for New Zealand during the 1990s and was inducted to the NZRL Legends of League in 2008.
Part of New Zealand Māori's 1986 Pacific Cup win while still a teenaged player in Waikato, Huntly-born Nikau cut his teeth in the ARL competition with Ōtāhuhu Leopards. He received an opportunity with Canterbury-Bankstown via the NZRL's rookie scheme during the late-1980s, playing in the Bulldogs' lower grades.
Nikau featured in Auckland's 26-24 upset of Australia in 1989, then made his New Zealand Test debut the following season as a 23-year-old. He played all three Tests against Great Britain in the second-row, scoring a try in the 21-18 win in the third Test in Christchurch, then switched to lock for the two-Test series in Papua New Guinea. Captain Hugh McGahan's return saw Nikau play in the second-row in the 24-6 loss to Australia in Wellington.
One of the stars of the Kiwis' 1991 program, he scored a try in the 60-6 series-opening rout of France and bagged a memorable four-pointer to help inspire New Zealand to a famous 24-8 defeat of Australia in the first Test in Melbourne.
Having had off-seasons with Sheffield and Ryedale-York, Nikau linked with heavyweights Castleford in the 1991-92 English winter. He would play 165 games for 'Cas', including Yorkshire Cup (1991-92) and Regal Trophy (1993-94) final wins, and a loss to Wigan in the 1992 Challenge Cup final.
Nikau lined up in New Zealand's 66-14 demolition of Papua New Guinea in 1992, but he broke camp ahead of the first Test against Great Britain due to concerns over his baby's health. But after playing for Ōtāhuhu the day before the clash with the Lions, he was suspended for two club matches by the NZRL and left out of the Kiwis' side for the second Test.
The aggressive defender returned to Howie Tamati's line-up for all three Tests of the 1993 series against Australia but played in only the first Test against Great Britain on the Kiwis' tour later that year, dropped in favour of Northland debutant Jason Mackie after the 17-0 defeat at Wembley.
Nikau played in both Tests on the 1994 tour of Papua New Guinea, scoring his fourth Test try in the series-opening win in Goroka.
But owing to a personal dispute with former Castleford and Kiwis teammate Richie Blackmore, Nikau played just once more for New Zealand (he refused selection in any team containing Blackmore thereafter) - the 34-22 Anzac Test loss to Super League Australia in Sydney.
Nikau continued to be hugely influential at club level, however. He joined Cronulla Sharks in 1995, helping the club end a six-year absence from the finals that year, reach a preliminary final in 1996 and get to the Super League grand final (a 26-8 loss to Brisbane) in 1997.
The 31-year-old was part of Melbourne Storm's foundation squad in 1998 and missed just two games in their first two seasons. His ferocious second-half performance was widely credited with inspiring the Storm to their 1999 grand final triumph after trailing St George Illawarra 14-0 at halftime.
Nikau returned to England the following season, rounding off a wonderful career with two seasons at Warrington and captaining Aotearoa Māori at the 2000 World Cup. He had also represented New Zealand Māori against Great Britain in 1990 and '96.
A motorcycle accident in 2003 resulted in the amputation of Nikau's right leg. Nikau was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby league and the community, in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours. He is a member of the Castleford Tigers Hall of Fame and is a Melbourne Storm life member, while he succeeded Tamati as NZRL President in 2024.