Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Zeb Taia
open-in-new
<h2 id="background">Background</h2> <p>Taia was born in <a href="/facts/Auburn%2c_New_South_Wales/28lMGD2Q">Auburn, New South Wales</a>, Australia. He is of <a href="/facts/Cook_Islanders/zek7F7eg">Cook Islands</a> descent as his parents are from the island of <a href="/facts/Penrhyn_(atoll)/jShLzssm">Penrhyn</a> (Tongareva).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="playing-career">Playing career</h2> <p>He played his junior football for the Enfield Federals and the <a href="/facts/St_Clair_Comets/zcqQ9ScV">St Clair Comets</a> before being signed by the <a href="/facts/Parramatta_Eels/zGgn4sIh">Parramatta Eels</a>. He played for the Eels' <a href="/facts/NSW_Cup/NfS7R2Sq">Premier League</a> reserve-grade team in 2006.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> In Round 5 of the <a href="/facts/2006_NRL_season/IpxLAuwr">2006 NRL season</a> he made his <a href="/facts/NRL/RGNa04lC">NRL</a> debut for the Eels against the <a href="/facts/Penrith_Panthers/5Ej5RrPl">Penrith Panthers</a>. </p><p>In 2007, Taia was granted a release from his Eels contract and moved mid-season to the <a href="/facts/Newcastle_Knights/U72taInN">Newcastle Knights</a>. In 2008, Taia established himself as a permanent first-grader with Newcastle. </p><p>In the first week of the finals series of 2011, Taia made a comeback from a career threatening neck injury in which he suffered four rounds into the season. </p><p>On 16 May 2012, Taia signed a 3-year deal with French <a href="/facts/Super_League/SxKRInqj">Super League</a> club, <a href="/facts/Catalans_Dragons/sr1InwGw">Catalans Dragons</a> starting in 2013. Taia said about the move, <i>"Whilst my wife and I are looking forward to experiencing life in another country, a beautiful one at that, I am forever indebted to the Knights. Not just for the time I have been here but the support they showed me, particularly last season during a potentially career ending injury."</i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>On 5 August 2015, Taia signed a 2-year contract with the <a href="/facts/Gold_Coast_Titans/Ks6Ru9KQ">Gold Coast Titans</a> to return to the <a href="/facts/National_Rugby_League/RGNa04lC">National Rugby League</a> after three years in France, starting in 2016.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>On February 14, 2017, Taia signed for St. Helens in a swap deal taking Joe Greenwood to the <a href="/facts/Gold_Coast_Titans/Ks6Ru9KQ">Gold Coast Titans</a>. Taia was part of the St Helens side which won both the 2019 <a href="/facts/League_Leaders_Shield/4zuy34lC">League Leaders Shield</a> and the <a href="/facts/2019_Super_League_Grand_Final/nzV4Yr2c">2019 Super League Grand Final</a> securing the club's 14th championship.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>He played in the <a href="/facts/2019_Challenge_Cup_Final/yjEL3b0u">2019 Challenge Cup Final</a> defeat by the <a href="/facts/Warrington_Wolves/QIdtjMD1">Warrington Wolves</a> at <a href="/facts/Wembley_Stadium/mQC5Bonq">Wembley Stadium</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>He played in the <a href="/facts/2019_Super_League_Grand_Final/nzV4Yr2c">2019 Super League Grand Final</a> victory over the <a href="/facts/Salford_Red_Devils/S0XAc7F6">Salford Red Devils</a> at <a href="/facts/Old_Trafford/t522MJpQ">Old Trafford</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>He played in St Helens 8-4 <a href="/facts/2020_Super_League_Grand_Final/47WuB38w">2020 Super League Grand Final</a> victory over Wigan at the <a href="/facts/Kingston_Communications_Stadium/mLUgR1Q6">Kingston Communications Stadium</a> in Hull. It was his final game as a player as he announced his retirement following the game.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="representative-career">Representative career</h2> <p>For the <a href="/facts/2010_Anzac_Test/djSVtNFs">2010 Anzac Test</a>, Taia was selected to debut for the <a href="/facts/New_Zealand_national_rugby_league_team/Im8alSMz">New Zealand national rugby league team</a> at second-row forward in their loss against <a href="/facts/Australia_national_rugby_league_team/dKzVP6fg">Australia</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p><p>On 16 October 2010, Taia represented the <a href="/facts/Cook_Islands_national_rugby_league_team/dNQQyEVG">Cook Islands</a> against a NSW Country representative side.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> In the match Taia captained the side. He made his official international debut for the Cook Islands in 2012 in a match against <a href="/facts/Lebanon_national_rugby_league_team/zN1lQsn3">Lebanon</a>. </p><p>Zeb captained 'the Kukis' in the <a href="/facts/2013_Rugby_League_World_Cup/TWR0efMk">2013 Rugby League World Cup</a>. </p> <h2 id="statistics">Statistics</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>Games</th><th>Tries</th><th>Pts</th></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td> <a href="/facts/Parramatta_Eels/zGgn4sIh">Parramatta Eels</a></td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2007</td><td> <a href="/facts/Parramatta_Eels/zGgn4sIh">Parramatta Eels</a></td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Newcastle_Knights/U72taInN">Newcastle Knights</a></td><td>10</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td rowspan="5"> <a href="/facts/Newcastle_Knights/U72taInN">Newcastle Knights</a></td><td>20</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>24</td><td>4</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>19</td><td>3</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>23</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td rowspan="3"> <a href="/facts/Catalans_Dragons/sr1InwGw">Catalans Dragons</a></td><td>25</td><td>13</td><td>52</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>32</td><td>12</td><td>48</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>24</td><td>13</td><td>52</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td> <a href="/facts/Gold_Coast_Titans/Ks6Ru9KQ">Gold Coast Titans</a></td><td>24</td><td>5</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td rowspan="4"> <a href="/facts/St_Helens_R.F.C./uwtzUPJ4">St Helens</a></td><td>30</td><td>6</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>31</td><td>8</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>27</td><td>6</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>20</td><td>3</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Totals</td><td>315</td><td>78</td><td>312</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zeb Taia. <ul><li><a href="https://www.saintsrlfc.com/teams/first-team/zeb-taia/">St Helens profile</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/11/zeb-taia">SL profile</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161027055050/http://www.titans.com.au/team/profiles/zeb_taia.html">Gold Coast Titans profile</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120408214440/http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/playerprofiledisplay/Knights/Zeb%20Taia/858">Newcastle Knights profile</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=16799">Saints Heritage Society profile</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018. <a href="http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/zeb-taia/summary.html" target="_blank">http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/zeb-taia/summary.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Alderson, Andrew (15 August 2010). "League: Watch out for Taia if Kiwi coach calls". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2010. <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10666182&ref=rss" target="_blank">http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10666182&ref=rss</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>[1] Archived 18 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.rleague.com//db/player/t/taia_zeb/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.rleague.com//db/player/t/taia_zeb/index.php</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>[2] Archived 7 September 2012 at archive.today <a href="http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Taia-signs-with-Catalans-Dragons/55250" target="_blank">http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Taia-signs-with-Catalans-Dragons/55250</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Titans.com.au (5 August 2015). "Taylor and Taia to join Titans | NRL". Zero Tackle. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015. <a href="http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/taylor-and-taia-to-join-titans-18496/" target="_blank">http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/taylor-and-taia-to-join-titans-18496/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened". The Guardian. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield". Sky Sports. <a href="https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/" target="_blank">https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley". Mirror. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019. <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-vs-warrington-live-18996678" target="_blank">https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-vs-warrington-live-18996678</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford". Telegraph. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2019/10/12/st-helens-vs-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2019/10/12/st-helens-vs-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened". The Guardian. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield". Sky Sports. <a href="https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/" target="_blank">https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens". www.bbc.co.uk. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55072997/" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55072997/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Zeb Taia chases black jumper after sidestepping Blues". Newcastle Herald. 16 July 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2010. <a href="https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/444214/zeb-taia-chases-black-jumper-after-sidestepping-blues/" target="_blank">https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/444214/zeb-taia-chases-black-jumper-after-sidestepping-blues/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"From A to Zeb". Cook Islands News. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020. <a href="http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/75641-from-a-to-zeb/75641-from-a-to-zeb" target="_blank">http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/75641-from-a-to-zeb/75641-from-a-to-zeb</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>