Matt Ikuvalu
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Ikuvalu
Born (1993-11-09) 9 November 1993
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018–21 Sydney Roosters 38 25 0 0 100
2022–23 Cronulla Sharks 5 4 0 0 16
2023– Catalans Dragons 11 5 0 0 0
Total 54 34 0 0 116
Source: [1]
As of 27 April 2023

Matt Ikuvalu (born 9 November 1993) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.

He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Ikuvalu was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and is of Tongan and European descent.

He played junior rugby league for the Gosford Kariong Storm. He later transferred to the Erina Eagles while attending Narara Valley High School.

Ikuvalu played for Manly Warringah in the Under 20's competition, The Toyota Cup, in 2011 and 2012.[2]

Career

2018

Ikuvalu made his first grade debut in round 13 of the 2018 NRL season against the Wests Tigers.[3]

2019

Ikuvalu joined the Sydney Roosters in their World Club Challenge 20-8 victory over Wigan before the start of the 2019 NRL season.[4]

2020

In round 9 of the 2020 NRL season, Ikuvalu was called into the Sydney Roosters team 15 minutes before kick off due to an injury suffered by Brett Morris in the warm up. Ikuvalu went on to score five tries in the 42-16 win over North Queensland. He became the first Sydney Roosters player since 1955 to score five tries in a game.[5]

2021

In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored a hat-trick for the Sydney Roosters in their 31-18 loss against Parramatta.[6]

In round 14 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 35-34 victory over the Gold Coast.[7]

In round 18, he scored two tries in a 34-18 victory over North Queensland.[8] On 27 July, it was announced that he would be ruled out from playing for an indefinite period after suffering a syndesmosis injury.[9]

At the conclusion of the 2021 season, Ikuvalu was released from the final year of his contract to take up a deal with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, following his assistant coach at the Roosters Craig Fitzgibbon in departing the club for Cronulla-Sutherland.[10]

2022

In round 23 of the 2022 NRL season, he scored two tries for Cronulla in a 40-6 victory over rivals Manly in the battle of the beaches game.[11]

2023

On 23 April, Ikuvalu was granted an immediate release from his Cronulla contract to join Super League side the Catalans Dragons.[12] On 14 October, Ikuvalu played in Catalans 2023 Super League Grand Final loss against Wigan.[13]

Statistics

NRL

Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2022 season[1]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2018 Sydney Roosters 310—04
2019 1030—012
2020 1070—028
2021 15140—056
2022 Cronulla-Sutherland 540—016
2023 Catalans Dragons 5 2
Career totals 48 31 0 — 0 116

References

  1. 1 2 Rugby League Project
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "NRL team lists for round 13, 2018". Courier Mail. 31 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "World Club Challenge 2020 scores, Rugby League World - FlashScore".
  5. ↑ "Ikuvalu scores five as Roosters rout North Queensland". www.nrl.com. 9 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Parramatta Eels outmuscle Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers demolish Cronulla Sharks". ABC News. 7 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Brisbane Broncos' Kobe Hetherington sent off in loss to Canberra Raiders; Roosters and Rabbitohs score wins". ABC News. 12 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Melbourne Storm thrash Newcastle Knights 48-4 as Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters post NRL victories". ABC News. 17 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "Johnson's Sharks career on the brink as Panthers lose To'o in double blow: Casualty Ward". www.foxsports.com.au. 27 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "'It really is home': Walker inks one-year extension with Bunnies — NRL Transfer Centre". www.foxsports.com.au. November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Roosters, Eels and Sharks add pre-finals drubbings to one-sided round of NRL". ABC News. 20 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Catalans confirm capture of NRL outside-back". www.loverugbyleague.com. 23 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "Wigan Warriors crowned Super League champions after downing Dragons". www.theguardian.com.
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