Tukimihia Simpkins (born 24 December 2001) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop under a Train and Trial deal for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
 Simpkins in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Tukimihia Simpkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 December 2001 Rotorua, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 111 kg (17 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 4 October 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editSimpkins was born in Rotorua, New Zealand, and is of Māori descent.
Career
editEarly career
editSimpkins begun his career playing rugby union for Rotorua Boys High School first XV. He signed with Super Rugby franchise the Chiefs when he was 15 and held brief talks with the Crusaders. He was first spotted by North Queensland Cowboys scouts at the New Zealand 15s rugby league tournament in Rotorua in 2016.[3]
He became a New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby league representative and played for the New Zealand Residents team in 2019 before heading to Australia in 2020.[4]
In 2020, he was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys, he played one game with North Queensland feeder club the Townsville Blackhawks in the under 20s competition. He was brought to the Wests Tigers on a three-year deal in a player swap deal with Kane Bradley.[5]
2021
editSimpkins began the 2021 season playing for Western Suburbs in the New South Wales Cup.[6]
Simpkins made his debut from the bench in round 18 of the 2021 NRL season for Wests Tigers in their 42–24 victory over the Brisbane Broncos at Lang Park.[7]
2024
editSimpkins won the Queensland Cup starting at prop in the Norths Devils 34-20 grand final win over the Redcliffe Dolphins.[8]
He has signed with the Gold Coast Titans for season 2025.
Controversy
editOn 24 January 2022, it was revealed that Simpkins had allegedly been involved in a car accident in which he mounted the kerb and drove through a fence while also being unlicensed. Simpkins then allegedly fled the scene of the accident but later handed himself into NSW Police. The Wests Tigers club later released a statement saying "Wests Tigers have been made aware of an incident involving NRL player Tukimihia Simpkins, the club has alerted the NRL to the matter and will continue to work with the NRL Integrity Unit as needed".[9]
References
edit- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ "Tukimihia Simpkins". 20 September 2024.
- ^ "NRL: Top Kiwi prospect Tuki Simpkins joins Wests Tigers after player switch". 5 January 2021.
- ^ "All Black, white and gold: How New Zealand rugby let Wests Tigers' giant escape". 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Cowboys, Wests Tigers announce player swap | NRL News". 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Magpies fall to Bears in wet and gritty clash". Wests Tigers. 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Round 18 NRL team lists". NRL.com. 4 May 2021.
- ^ "Devils v Dolphins".
- ^ "Wests Tigers star Tuki Simpkins under investigation by police". www.news.com.au.