Born: March 17, 1987
Test record: 6 Tests (2007-08, 2012-13) – 1 try, 13 goals (30 points)
Tours: 2008 World Cup, 2013 World Cup

One of the biggest New Zealand Test bolters of his era, versatile and enigmatic outside back Krisnan Inu went to represent the Kiwis in two World Cups and play in NRL grand finals with three different clubs in the space of four seasons.

Auckland-born Inu moved to Sydney as a youngster and played his junior football for Cabramatta. After just one NRL appearance for Parramatta in early-2007 – as a centre – the 20-year-old was a shock selection for the Kiwis at fullback for the Anzac Test.

The novice was one of New Zealand’s best in a 30-6 loss and pieced together a stellar rookie season for the finals-bound Eels, scoring 12 tries and 122 points in 20 games. Despite being yet to play in the position at first-grade level, he was retained at fullback for the Kiwis’ dismal post-season loss to the Kangaroos in Wellington.

Named in the Kiwis’ 2008 World Cup squad, Inu kicked six goals from the wing in a 56-8 warm-up Test win over Tonga, but his only appearance at the tournament was a pool fixture against Papua New Guinea – again as a winger and again landing six goals.

Inu starred as Parramatta made an unforgettable late-season charge to reach the grand final from eighth, ultimately going down to Melbourne. He linked with the Warriors in 2011, where he crossed for 11 tries for the second straight season and his mercurial talents helped his new club to an equally unlikely grand final appearance – a loss to Manly. Inu scored the memorable late match-winner in the sudden-death semi against Wests Tigers.

Parting ways with the Warriors early in 2012, Inu was a spectacularly successful mid-season pick-up for Canterbury. In 16 games for minor premiers, he scored nine tries and 148 points, while he endured yet another grand final defeat at the hands of the Storm.

A Kiwis recall after a four-year absence following, featuring at centre and kicking a goal in an 18-10 post-season loss to the Kangaroos in Townsville.

A lengthy dangerous tackle suspension stymied his 2013 campaign but he nevertheless was included in New Zealand’s World Cup squad. His sole outing was in the 48-0 pool win over France in Avignon, scoring a maiden Test try in his last appearance for the Kiwis.

Inu kicked six goals in Samoa’s 32-16 win over Fiji midway through 2014 but he fell out of favour with the Bulldogs that season and headed to Super League, ending his NRL tenure with 64 tries and 518 points from 139 games.

In seven seasons with Catalans (2015-17), Widnes (2018) and Salford (2019-21), he played over 100 games and scored more than 700 points. He was a key figure in the Red Devils’ charge to the 2019 Super League grand final and was named in the 2020 Super League Dream Team.

Inu’s career wound up with a season at Second Division club Leigh in 2022, scoring 25 tries and 418 points that year. He later returned to Salford as an assistant coach.