View source for Simaima Taufa

{{short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Simaima Taufa
|fullname       = Simaima Taufa-Kautai
|image          = 
|imagesize      = 
|caption        = 
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|4|28}}
|birth_place    = [[Tofoa]], [[Tonga]]
|height         = {{convert|153|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|82|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position       = {{rlp|LK|PR}}
|club1          = {{nowrap|[[Sydney Roosters Women|Sydney Roosters]]}}
|year1start     = 2018
|year1end       = 20
|appearances1   = 9
|tries1         = 2
|goals1         = 0
|fieldgoals1    = 0
|points1        = 8
|club2          = {{nowrap|[[Parramatta Eels Women|Parramatta Eels]]}}
|year2start     = 2021
|year2end       = 22
|appearances2   = 12
|tries2         = 0
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 0
|points2        = 20
|club3          = {{nowrap|[[Canberra Raiders Women|Canberra Raiders]]}}
|year3start     = 2023
|year3end       = present
|appearances3   = 0
|tries3         = 0
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 0
|teamA          = {{nowrap|[[New South Wales women's rugby league team|New South Wales]]}}
|yearAstart     = 2014
|yearAend       = 22
|appearancesA   = 8
|triesA         = 1
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 0
|pointsA        = 4
|teamB          = [[Australian Jillaroos|Australia]]
|yearBstart     = 2014
|yearBend       = present
|appearancesB   = 11
|triesB         = 0
|goalsB         = 0
|fieldgoalsB    = 0
|pointsB        = 0
|teamC          = {{nowrap|[[All Stars match|Women's All Stars]]}}
|yearCstart     = 2015
|yearCend       = 16
|appearancesC   = 2
|triesC         = 0
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 0
|retired        = 
|source         = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/simaima-taufa/summary.html RLP]
|updated        = 14 November 2022
}}

'''Simaima Taufa-Kautai''' (born 28 April 1994) is a [[rugby league]] footballer who plays as a {{rlp|lk}} for the [[Canberra Raiders]] in the [[NRL Women's Premiership]] and [[Mount Pritchard Mounties|Mounties RLFC]] in the [[NSWRL Women's Premiership]].

She is an [[Australian Jillaroos|Australian]] and [[New South Wales women's rugby league team|New South Wales]] representative.

==Background==
Taufa was born in [[Tonga]] and raised in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]], before moving to [[Sydney]] with her family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/community/program-deliverers/simaima-taufa/|title=Simaima Taufa|website=NRL.com|accessdate=November 21, 2022}}</ref>

She grew up playing rugby union, playing for the Western Sydney Two Blues in Sydney's Jack Scott Cup competition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Featuring NRL Part 2|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/feature/suncorp/nrl-pt2|access-date=2021-09-07|website=FOX SPORTS|language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Playing career==
In 2014, Taufa began playing [[rugby league]] for the [[Canley Heights, New South Wales|Canley Heights Dragons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/story/2448522/womens-interstate-challenge-canley-heights-dragons/|title=Interstate Challenge: Canley Heights Dragons|date=30 July 2014|website=Fairfield Champion}}</ref> On 19 July 2014, she made her debut for [[New South Wales women's rugby league team|New South Wales]] in a 10–26 loss to [[Queensland women's rugby league team|Queensland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/07/13/2014-womens-interstate-challenge/|title=2014 Women's Interstate Challenge|date=13 July 2014|website=NRL}}</ref> On 9 November 2014, she made her Test debut for [[Australian Jillaroos|Australia]] in an 8–12 win over [[Kiwi Ferns|New Zealand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2014/10/21/nsw-stars-in-jillaroos-squad/|title=NSW Stars In Jillaroos Squad|date=21 October 2014|website=NSWRL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2014/10/21/six_new_faces_for_australian_jillaroos_.html|title=Six new faces for Australian Jillaroos|last=Media|first=NRL Digital|date=21 October 2014|work=NRL CLUBS|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en-au}}</ref>

On 27 September 2017, Taufa won the Dally M Female Player of the Year medal at the [[2017 Dally M Awards|Dally M awards]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://matangitonga.to/2017/09/29/simaima-taufa-rugby-league-female-player-year|title=Simaima Taufa rugby league 'Female Player of the Year'|date=2017-09-29|work=Matangi Tonga|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en}}</ref> On 2 December 2017, Taufa started at {{rlp|lk}} in Australia's [[2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup final|World Cup final]] win over New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/jillaroos-named|title=Jillaroos named|date=2017-10-08|work=Rugby League World Cup|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en}}</ref>

On 17 June 2018, Taufa was announced as one of fifteen marquee signings by the [[Sydney Roosters]] [[NRL Women's Premiership]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/06/17/roosters-announce-nrlw-marquee-signings/|title=Roosters announce NRLW marquee signings|publisher=Sydney Roosters|date=17 June 2018|accessdate=17 June 2018}}</ref> On 2 September 2018, she was named captain of the side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/02/simaima-taufa-named-captain-of-womens-premiership-team/|title=Simaima Taufa named captain of Women's Premiership team|date=2 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref>

In Round 1 of the [[2018 NRL Women's season]], she made her debut for the Roosters in a 4–10 loss to the [[New Zealand Warriors]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/08/nrlw-late-mail--round-1/|title=NRLW Late Mail Round 1|date=8 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref> On 30 September 2018, she started at {{rlp|lk}} in the Roosters 12–34 [[2018 NRL Grand Final|Grand Final]] loss to the [[Brisbane Broncos]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/30/nrlw-late-mail--grand-final/|title=NRLW Late Mail Grand Final|date=30 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref>

In 2020, Taufa joined the [[North Sydney Bears]] in the [[NSWRL Women's Premiership]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2020/08/26/womens-origins--simaima-taufa/|title=Women's Origins - Simaima Taufa|date=26 August 2020|website=NSWRL}}</ref> On 25 October 2020, Taufa started at {{rlp|pr}} in the Roosters 10–20 [[2020 NRL Grand Final|Grand Final]] loss to the Broncos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/10/25/nrlw-late-mail--grand-final/|title=NRLW Late Mail Grand Final|date=25 October 2020|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Canberra Raiders women's squad}}
{{Australian 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{Australian 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taufa, Simaima}}
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australia women's national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Australian sportspeople of Tongan descent]]
[[Category:Canberra Raiders (NRLW) players]]
[[Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin Women players]]
[[Category:Parramatta Eels (NRLW) players]]
[[Category:Rugby league locks]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Tongatapu]]
[[Category:Rugby league props]]
[[Category:Sydney Roosters (NRLW) players]]
[[Category:Tongan female rugby league players]]