Born: July 8, 1978 – Auckland
Test record: 4 Tests (2003-04) – 0 points
Tours: 2004 Tri Nations

Joe Galuvao’s tenure in the Kiwis jersey was relatively brief, but the bustling forward carved out an outstanding 240-game NRL legacy that included grand final appearances with three different clubs, including two premiership rings – all after seemingly being left on the scrapheap in Auckland.

The Manurewa Marlins junior helped Western Samoa reached the 1997 Super League World Nines final as a 19-year-old and represented the Junior Kiwis, before breaking into the Warriors’ first-grade line-up in 1998 as a dynamic fullback/centre.

But after making 27 appearances across three seasons and turning out for Samoa at the 2000 World Cup, Galuvao was languishing in the Bartercard Cup while the Warriors embarked on a surge to respectability in 2001.

Galuvao was thrown a lifeline by battlers Penrith in 2002 and reinvented as a powerful forward forming an outstanding second-row combination with Kiwi Test forward and fellow Samoan Tony Puletua. The follicularly gifted pair – dubbed the ‘Hair Bears’ – played a monumental part in the Panthers’ incredible charge to the 2003 minor premiership and grand final upset of the Roosters.

The 25-year-old’s renaissance was completed by his selection on the bench for New Zealand’s crushing 48-6 mid-season loss to Australia in Sydney and the stunning 30-16 victory over the Kangaroos at North Harbour Stadium at the end of the year, teaming up in the second-row with Puletua in the latter.

Galuvao played two further Tests in 2004: the 37-10 Anzac Test loss in Newcastle and the Tri Nations-opening 16-all draw with Australia at North Harbour.

After 78 games for the Panthers, Galuvao was a prized signing for South Sydney in 2006 but endured a couple of lean seasons with the Rabbitohs in 2007 and Parramatta Eels in 2008. Producing another remarkable turnaround, he played every game as the Eels famously came from nowhere to finish eighth and reach the grand final (a loss to Melbourne) in 2009.

Galuvao linked with Manly in 2010 and, in something of a full circle moment, played every game in the Sea Eagles’ 2011 premiership-winning campaign – which concluded via a grand final victory over the Warriors.

A ruptured Achilles suffered during the 2013 season saw 35-year-old Galuvao hang up the boots. He remained in rugby league as a community engagement officer with the NRL, then worked in the wellbeing and education space with Wests Tigers and Penrith, and later took up a role as a transition manager with the Rugby League Players Association.