Born: November 23, 1984 – Auckland Test record: 11 Tests (2005-06, 2008-09) – 10 tries (40 points) Tours: 2006 Tri Nations, 2008 World Cup
Gifted Warriors utility-back Jerome Ropati’s NRL career was repeatedly punctuated by injury, but his 11-Test tenure included an integral role in one of New Zealand’s greatest-ever triumphs.
No relation to the famous Ropati rugby league family that included Kiwis Joe, Tea and Iva, the Marist Saints product captained the 2002 Junior Kiwis.
He debuted for the Warriors in 2003 at the age of 18 at made appearances at five-eighth, lock, centre, wing and fullback as he cemented a top-grade spot during the second half of 2005.
Ropati was still only 20 when chosen for New Zealand at fullback for the 2005 Anzac Test, scoring two tries in a 32-16 loss at Suncorp Stadium.
He was predominantly utilised at centre by the Warriors in 2005 but spent the 2006 season at five-eighth. Next appearing for the Kiwis during the 2006 Tri Nations, he scored a try off the bench in a 30-18 loss to the Kangaroos in Melbourne, then was a shock selection at hooker for the 20-15 defeat to Australia in Auckland and featured at five-eighth in a crucial 18-14 win over Great Britain in Christchurch.
Ropati scored 10 tries in just 12 games of a shoulder injury-interrupted 2007 NRL campaign and settled in at centre during an excellent 2008 season. He scored three tries in his Test appearance at centre – a World Cup warm-up win over Tonga – and remained in that position for all five of the Kiwis’ matches at that tournament.
Ropati scored a try in the pool win over Papua New Guinea, a double in the semi-final victory against Great Britain and their opening four-pointer in the stunning 34-20 upset of Australia in the World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium on his 25th birthday.
But he would play for New Zealand just once more, at centre in the 38-10 Anzac Test loss in 2009. Injuries subsequently took hold of his career, played no more than eight games in the 2011-14 seasons: he suffered an ACL injury in 2011, a dislocated patella in 2012, a series of leg complaints in 2013 and a broken jaw in 2014, ultimately prompting his retirement at just 29.
Ropati became a community ambassador for the Warriors and later served as the club’s NSW Cup assistant coach, before making a playing comeback in 2018 for Bay Roskill Vikings in the Sharman Cup.