Taniela Tuiaki To Appear At Leichhardt Oval

Retired Wests Tigers winger Taniela Tuiaki will be presented to the crowd at Leichhardt Oval tomorrow night (Saturday, March 19) in acknowledgement of his wonderful career.

Tuiaki recently announced his retirement from rugby league due to a severe right ankle injury suffered in round 24 of the 2009 Telstra Premiership season.

The injury sidelined Tuiaki for the entire 2010 season and despite undergoing three operations and receiving expert medical treatment, the ankle had not responded well enough for the former New Zealand Test winger to return to the rigours of the NRL.

One of the most feared wingers in the NRL, Tuiaki scored 42 tries in 78 matches for Wests Tigers. He holds the Club record for most tries in a season, scoring 21 tries in 22 matches in 2009 - the year in which he was named Dally M Winger of the Year.

Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys said Tuiaki would take to the hallowed turf of Leichhardt Oval at half-time of the NRL match against the Warriors.