Born: 19 April, 1974 – Auckland Test record: 11 Tests (2001-04) – 1 try (4 points) Tours: 2002 tour of Great Britain and France
Fearsome front-rower Jerry Seuseu was an ultra-consistent forward anchor for the Warriors during an eight-year, 132-game NRL career, leading to 11 Test appearances for New Zealand from 2001-04.
Seuseu debuted during Auckland’s 1997 Super League season. He commanded a regular spot on the bench in 1998-99 and passed the 50-game milestone during the Warriors’ diabolical 2000 campaign, before earning selection in Samoa’s World Cup squad. Seuseu was a starting front-rower in all three pool games at the tournament and in the quarter-final against Australia.
The 26-year-old came back a more confident player and grabbed a starting prop jersey for his club from the outset in 2001. Strong early-season form saw Seuseu win his first Kiwi cap for the one-off Test against France and he was retained for the subsequent clash with Australia.
Seuseu took out the Warriors’ Player of the Year Award for the 2001 season, a momentous one for the club as they qualified for the finals for the first time. He was just as vital to the club’s cause in 2002 as the Warriors stormed to the minor premiership and had a personally impressive game in the grand final loss to the Roosters.
Defeat in the NRL decider was tempered by Kiwi selection, and Seuseu started in all five post-season Tests – a narrow loss to Australia, the drawn three-Test series in Great Britain, and a tryscoring effort in defeating France.
Playing a career-high 24 NRL games in 2003 as the Warriors fell one step short of another grand final, Seuseu played in both Test against Australia, including the 30-16 post-season victory at NorthH Harbour.
Seuseu’s last season with the Warriors was hampered by injury, although he managed to take his place on the Kiwis’ bench for the 2004 early-season Test against Australia – his last appearance for the Kiwis – before joining Wigan at the end of the year. Seuseu retired at the end of 2006 after two solid Super League seasons, returning to Auckland to do his part for local rugby league in a junior development role and later became the Warriors’ and NZRL’s Wellbeing Manager.
