Tea Ropati | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OVERALL STATISTICS | |||||||
BIRTH | AGE | SIGNED ON | FROM | ||||
DEBUT | LAST MATCH | LEFT | |||||
CAREER | APPEARANCES (SUBS) | ||||||
TRIES | GOALS | DGOALS | PTS | ||||
Biography of Tea Ropati |
---|
HERITAGE NO : 1021 Tea Ropati by Alex Service We didn't get to see the best of Tea Ropati initially, as his progress was hindered by a knee injury. At his best, however, he had few equals. Tea was one of several Kiwis at Knowsley Road in the early 1990s, together with the likes of Shane Cooper, George Mann and Coach Mike McClennan. Tea was a superb footballer, strong in terms of physique, skilful, with superb hands and a great eye for the gap meant that he could play anywhere in the backs with total effectiveness. If need be, as illustrated in the 1992-93 season, he could also kick goals. In the 1990-91 season, Tea played mainly in the right centre position, with Alan Hunte outside him. His tally of 12 tries from 29 appearances added much to Saints overall firepower, although the team was unlucky to lose out at Wembley against Wigan after smashing Widnes in the semi-finals, when the Kiwi influence was most apparent. Tea showed his versatility in 1991-92 when he played at left centre, covering the gap left by Paul Loughlin's injury. He was full value to the team once again, with 17 tries from 37 appearances. He won a Lancashire Cup winner's medal as Saints defeated Rochdale Hornets at Wilderspool, although defeat by Wigan in the Premiership final at Old Trafford took the edge off what had been a promising campaign. The Saints pushed Wigan to the very limit during 1992-93, with the side playing some superb fast, open football. The threequarter line in particular was superb, although by this time Tea was at stand off and showed brilliant form. Unfortunately, a couple of key matches against unfancied opponents cost Saints the First Division tile, despite drawing with Wigan on points. The Riversiders also won the last-ever Lancashire Cup final by a single point at Knowsley Road, but Saints got some welcome reward by lifting the Premiership trophy at Old Trafford against their perennial rivals. For Tea it had been an outstanding campaign. He was the club's only ever present and scored 21 tries in his 40 appearances. His achievements were recognised by his selection for the Coaches XIII at the end of the campaign. He was a natural choice for the number 6 jersey, with Gary Connolly in at centre and Kevin Ward in the front row. He was also elected the Stones Bitter First Division Player of the Year and was unlucky not to win the coveted Man of Steel award, which went to Wigan's Andy Platt. Tea and the team did not quite reach those heights during 1993-94. The side had been depleted with the sale of Gary Connolly and new blood was being brought in. Even so, Tea played in 20 matches and scored 7 tries, with a Challenge Cup semi-final appearance against Leeds the major highlight. His last match was at Central Park when the team lost 16-34 to a Wigan side who went on to win the competition. Tea moved on to the fledgling Auckland Warriors outfit back home in New Zealand and he was to make a welcome reappearance at Knowsley Road during the 1997 World Club Challenge opener, which the visitors won by 42-14, where he showed more than a few glimpses of his former brilliance. |
SEASON STATISTICS | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Season (Official Matches) | Tries | Goals | DGoals | Matches |
1989~90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
1990~91 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
1991~92 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
1992~93 | 21 | 24 | 2 | 40 |
1993~94 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
TOTALS: | 57 | 24 | 2 | 132 |
Season (Other Matches) | Tries | Goals | DGoals | Matches |
1991~92 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
1993~94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ALL MATCHES |
Date | Match | Pos | Opponents | Comp | Venue | FT | FTO | T | G | DG | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13th Dec 1989 | 1 | W |
6 | Dewsbury | RT2 (rep) | A | 14 | 0 | VIEW | |||
23rd Sep 1990 | 2 | W |
3 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | H | 42 | 10 | VIEW | |||
30th Sep 1990 | 3 | L |
3 | Leeds | L | A | 4 | 23 | VIEW | |||
7th Oct 1990 | 4 | L |
3 | Australia | Tour | H | 4 | 34 | VIEW | |||
21st Oct 1990 | 5 | L |
3 | Castleford | L | H | 16 | 29 | VIEW | |||
4th Nov 1990 | 6 | W |
3 | Rochdale Hornets | L | A | 30 | 18 | 1 | VIEW | ||
11th Nov 1990 | 7 | W |
2 | Sheffield Eagles | L | H | 34 | 17 | VIEW | |||
21st Nov 1990 | 8 | L |
4 | Bradford Northern | L | A | 16 | 18 | VIEW | |||
25th Nov 1990 | 9 | W |
2 | Rochdale Hornets | L | H | 44 | 14 | 1 | VIEW | ||
2nd Dec 1990 | 10 | W |
2 | Swinton | RT1 | A | 31 | 7 | VIEW | |||
11th Dec 1990 | 11 | W |
5 | Featherstone Rovers | RT2 | A | 33 | 16 | 1 | VIEW | ||
16th Dec 1990 | 12 | L |
5 | Warrington | RT3 | A | 12 | 18 | VIEW | |||
23rd Dec 1990 | 13 | L |
14 | Sheffield Eagles | L | A | 8 | 18 | VIEW | |||
26th Dec 1990 | 14 | L |
2 | Wigan | L | H | 15 | 28 | VIEW | |||
1st Jan 1991 | 15 | L |
14 | Widnes | L | A | 8 | 14 | 1 | VIEW | ||
6th Jan 1991 | 16 | W |
4 | Wakefield Trinity | L | H | 36 | 14 | 1 | VIEW | ||
13th Jan 1991 | 17 | W |
3 | Featherstone Rovers | L | A | 36 | 28 | 1 | VIEW | ||
20th Jan 1991 | 18 | W |
3 | Leeds | L | H | 22 | 16 | 1 | VIEW | ||
27th Jan 1991 | 19 | D |
3 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | A | 26 | 26 | VIEW | |||
3rd Feb 1991 | 20 | W |
3 | Oldham | L | A | 20 | 16 | 1 | VIEW | ||
10th Feb 1991 | 21 | W |
3 | Swinton | CC1 | A | 18 | 8 | 1 | VIEW | ||
18th Feb 1991 | 22 | W |
3 | Hull | L | H | 12 | 10 | 1 | VIEW | ||
23rd Feb 1991 | 23 | W |
3 | Wakefield Trinity | CC2 | H | 16 | 2 | VIEW | |||
3rd Mar 1991 | 24 | L |
3 | Warrington | L | A | 20 | 34 | VIEW | |||
10th Mar 1991 | 25 | W |
3 | Halifax | CC3 | A | 24 | 16 | VIEW | |||
24th Mar 1991 | 26 | L |
3 | Castleford | L | A | 4 | 28 | VIEW | |||
30th Mar 1991 | 27 | W |
3 | Widnes | CCSF | N | 19 | 2 | VIEW | |||
4th Apr 1991 | 28 | L |
6 | Wigan | L | A | 14 | 28 | 1 | VIEW | ||
7th Apr 1991 | 29 | W |
3 | Wakefield Trinity | L | A | 22 | 8 | 1 | VIEW | ||
14th Apr 1991 | 30 | W |
3 | Warrington | L | H | 62 | 16 | VIEW | |||
21st Apr 1991 | 31 | L |
3 | Hull | PT1 | A | 12 | 28 | VIEW | |||
27th Apr 1991 | 32 | L |
3 | Wigan | CCF | N | 8 | 13 | VIEW | |||
18th Aug 1991 | -- | W |
16 | Widnes* | Fr Charity | A | 30 | 26 | VIEW | |||
25th Aug 1991 | -- | W |
6 | Barrow* | Fr Testimonial | A | 20 | 16 | VIEW | |||
1st Sep 1991 | 33 | W |
3 | Hull | L | A | 31 | 10 | 1 | VIEW | ||
8th Sep 1991 | 34 | W |
3 | Warrington | L | H | 27 | 20 | VIEW | |||
15th Sep 1991 | 35 | W |
6 | Trafford Borough | LC1 | H | 104 | 12 | 2 | VIEW | ||
22nd Sep 1991 | 36 | W |
6 | Swinton | L | A | 16 | 12 | 1 | VIEW | ||
26th Sep 1991 | 37 | W |
6 | Oldham | LC2 | H | 39 | 26 | 1 | VIEW | ||
29th Sep 1991 | 38 | W |
6 | Castleford | L | H | 25 | 14 | VIEW | |||
6th Oct 1991 | 39 | L |
6 | Halifax | L | A | 6 | 26 | VIEW | |||
10th Oct 1991 | 40 | W |
4 | Wigan | LCSF | H | 28 | 16 | VIEW | |||
13th Oct 1991 | 41 | W |
4 | Bradford Northern | L | H | 30 | 12 | VIEW | |||
20th Oct 1991 | 42 | W |
4 | Rochdale Hornets | LCF | N | 24 | 14 | VIEW | |||
23rd Oct 1991 | 43 | W |
4 | Salford | L | H | 25 | 16 | 1 | VIEW | ||
27th Oct 1991 | 44 | D |
6 | Leeds | L | A | 8 | 8 | VIEW | |||
3rd Nov 1991 | 45 | L |
6 | Wakefield Trinity | L | A | 12 | 20 | VIEW | |||
10th Nov 1991 | 46 | W |
4 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | H | 38 | 15 | VIEW | |||
17th Nov 1991 | 47 | W |
4 | Huddersfield | RT1 | A | 32 | 10 | VIEW | |||
24th Nov 1991 | 48 | W |
4 | Oldham | RT2 | A | 24 | 18 | 2 | VIEW | ||
1st Dec 1991 | 49 | W |
6 | Bradford Northern | RT3 | H | 30 | 12 | VIEW | |||
4th Dec 1991 | 50 | L |
6 | Featherstone Rovers | L | A | 6 | 8 | VIEW | |||
8th Dec 1991 | 51 | W |
6 | Swinton | L | H | 28 | 4 | 1 | VIEW | ||
15th Dec 1991 | 52 | L |
4 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | A | 14 | 24 | VIEW | |||
21st Dec 1991 | 53 | L |
6 | Widnes | RTSF | N | 10 | 18 | VIEW | |||
26th Dec 1991 | 54 | L |
4 | Wigan | L | A | 6 | 16 | VIEW | |||
1st Jan 1992 | 55 | W |
4 | Widnes | L | H | 24 | 22 | 1 | VIEW | ||
5th Jan 1992 | 56 | W |
4 | Salford | L | A | 15 | 6 | 1 | VIEW | ||
12th Jan 1992 | 57 | W |
4 | Featherstone Rovers | L | H | 28 | 10 | 1 | VIEW | ||
19th Jan 1992 | 58 | W |
4 | Wakefield Trinity | L | H | 40 | 12 | VIEW | |||
2nd Feb 1992 | 59 | W |
4 | Widnes | CC1 | A | 10 | 2 | VIEW | |||
8th Feb 1992 | 60 | W |
4 | Leeds | CC2 | A | 32 | 12 | VIEW | |||
16th Feb 1992 | 61 | W |
6 | Bradford Northern | L | A | 20 | 8 | 2 | VIEW | ||
22nd Feb 1992 | 62 | L |
4 | Wigan | CC3 | H | 6 | 13 | VIEW | |||
1st Mar 1992 | 63 | W |
4 | Leeds | L | H | 19 | 8 | VIEW | |||
8th Mar 1992 | 64 | D |
4 | Castleford | L | A | 8 | 8 | VIEW | |||
22nd Mar 1992 | 65 | W |
6 | Halifax | L | H | 30 | 28 | VIEW | |||
29th Mar 1992 | 66 | W |
3 | Hull | L | H | 42 | 12 | 2 | VIEW | ||
4th Apr 1992 | 67 | L |
14 | Warrington | L | A | 18 | 30 | 1 | VIEW | ||
17th Apr 1992 | 68 | L |
3 | Wigan | L | H | 6 | 16 | VIEW | |||
20th Apr 1992 | 69 | W |
6 | Widnes | L | A | 28 | 23 | VIEW | |||
17th May 1992 | 70 | L |
6 | Wigan | PTF | N | 16 | 48 | VIEW | |||
23rd Aug 1992 | 71 | W |
4 | Wigan | CS | N | 17 | 0 | 1 | 2 | VIEW | |
30th Aug 1992 | 72 | W |
4 | Leeds | L | A | 27 | 14 | 1 | 3 | VIEW | |
6th Sep 1992 | 73 | W |
6 | Wakefield Trinity | L | H | 24 | 12 | 6 | VIEW | ||
13th Sep 1992 | 74 | W |
6 | Barrow | LC1 | A | 36 | 2 | 4 | VIEW | ||
20th Sep 1992 | 75 | W |
4 | Sheffield Eagles | L | A | 18 | 10 | 2 | VIEW | ||
27th Sep 1992 | 76 | W |
6 | Salford | L | H | 48 | 8 | 2 | VIEW | ||
30th Sep 1992 | 77 | W |
6 | Widnes | LC2 | H | 10 | 8 | 1 | VIEW | ||
4th Oct 1992 | 78 | W |
6 | Wakefield Trinity | L | A | 18 | 5 | VIEW | |||
7th Oct 1992 | 79 | W |
6 | Salford | LCSF | H | 18 | 5 | VIEW | |||
11th Oct 1992 | 80 | W |
4 | Hull | L | H | 38 | 8 | 1 | VIEW | ||
18th Oct 1992 | 81 | L |
6 | Wigan | LCF | N | 4 | 5 | VIEW | |||
27th Oct 1992 | 82 | W |
4 | Huddersfield | RTP | H | 44 | 18 | 3 | 3 | VIEW | |
1st Nov 1992 | 83 | L |
4 | Bradford Northern | L | H | 18 | 35 | VIEW | |||
8th Nov 1992 | 84 | W |
6 | Leeds | RT1 | H | 15 | 14 | 1 | VIEW | ||
11th Nov 1992 | 85 | L |
6 | Leigh | L | A | 6 | 11 | VIEW | |||
15th Nov 1992 | 86 | W |
6 | Salford | L | A | 15 | 12 | 1 | VIEW | ||
22nd Nov 1992 | 87 | W |
6 | Bradford Northern | L | A | 16 | 4 | 1 | VIEW | ||
29th Nov 1992 | 88 | W |
6 | Sheffield Eagles | L | H | 30 | 20 | 2 | 3 | VIEW | |
6th Dec 1992 | 89 | W |
6 | Featherstone Rovers | RT2 | A | 25 | 8 | VIEW | |||
11th Dec 1992 | 90 | L |
6 | Castleford | L | A | 6 | 16 | VIEW | |||
19th Dec 1992 | 91 | L |
6 | Castleford | RT3 | H | 8 | 12 | VIEW | |||
27th Dec 1992 | 92 | W |
6 | Wigan | L | H | 41 | 6 | 1 | VIEW | ||
6th Jan 1993 | 93 | W |
6 | Leigh | L | H | 64 | 9 | 1 | VIEW | ||
17th Jan 1993 | 94 | W |
6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | A | 22 | 11 | VIEW | |||
22nd Jan 1993 | 95 | W |
6 | Halifax | L | H | 18 | 16 | VIEW | |||
31st Jan 1993 | 96 | W |
6 | Featherstone Rovers | CC1 | A | 24 | 22 | VIEW | |||
5th Feb 1993 | 97 | W |
6 | Warrington | L | H | 12 | 4 | VIEW | |||
13th Feb 1993 | 98 | L |
6 | Wigan | CC2 | A | 3 | 23 | VIEW | |||
17th Feb 1993 | 99 | L |
6 | Widnes | L | A | 8 | 26 | 1 | VIEW | ||
21st Feb 1993 | 100 | L |
6 | Hull | L | A | 16 | 21 | 1 | VIEW | ||
3rd Mar 1993 | 101 | W |
6 | Castleford | L | H | 24 | 20 | 1 | VIEW | ||
12th Mar 1993 | 102 | W |
6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | H | 34 | 14 | 1 | 1 | VIEW | |
19th Mar 1993 | 103 | W |
6 | Halifax | L | A | 18 | 12 | 1 | VIEW | ||
28th Mar 1993 | 104 | W |
6 | Warrington | L | A | 32 | 17 | 1 | VIEW | ||
4th Apr 1993 | 105 | W |
6 | Leeds | L | H | 42 | 8 | VIEW | |||
9th Apr 1993 | 106 | D |
6 | Wigan | L | A | 8 | 8 | VIEW | |||
12th Apr 1993 | 107 | W |
3 | Widnes | L | H | 29 | 18 | 1 | VIEW | ||
23rd Apr 1993 | 108 | W |
3 | Halifax | PT1 | H | 34 | 25 | VIEW | |||
9th May 1993 | 109 | W |
6 | Leeds | PTSF | H | 15 | 2 | VIEW | |||
16th May 1993 | 110 | W |
6 | Wigan | PTF | N | 10 | 4 | VIEW | |||
22nd Aug 1993 | -- | W |
6 | Widnes* | Fr Charity | A | 30 | 14 | VIEW | |||
29th Aug 1993 | 111 | L |
6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | A | 10 | 16 | 1 | VIEW | ||
19th Sep 1993 | 112 | W |
6 | Leigh | L | H | 34 | 16 | 1 | VIEW | ||
26th Sep 1993 | 113 | W |
6 | Castleford | L | A | 35 | 18 | 1 | VIEW | ||
1st Oct 1993 | 114 | W |
6 | Featherstone Rovers | L | A | 37 | 16 | VIEW | |||
20th Oct 1993 | 115 | L |
6 | New Zealand | Tour | H | 8 | 14 | VIEW | |||
24th Oct 1993 | 116 | L |
6 | Sheffield Eagles | L | H | 12 | 19 | VIEW | |||
11th Dec 1993 | 117 | L |
6 | Warrington | RT3 | H | 8 | 16 | VIEW | |||
17th Dec 1993 | 118 | W |
6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | L | H | 23 | 22 | VIEW | |||
13th Feb 1994 | 119 | W |
14 | Whitehaven | CC5 | A | 46 | 4 | 1 | VIEW | ||
20th Feb 1994 | 120 | W |
14 | Featherstone Rovers | L | H | 27 | 18 | VIEW | |||
27th Feb 1994 | 121 | W |
3 | Doncaster | CC6 | H | 40 | 9 | VIEW | |||
6th Mar 1994 | 122 | W |
3 | Wakefield Trinity | L | A | 35 | 22 | VIEW | |||
11th Mar 1994 | 123 | L |
3 | Sheffield Eagles | L | A | 6 | 18 | VIEW | |||
26th Mar 1994 | 124 | L |
3 | Leeds | CCSF | N | 8 | 20 | VIEW | |||
1st Apr 1994 | 125 | L |
6 | Wigan | L | H | 9 | 15 | VIEW | |||
4th Apr 1994 | 126 | L |
6 | Widnes | L | A | 17 | 20 | VIEW | |||
10th Apr 1994 | 127 | W |
6 | Hull | L | H | 52 | 10 | VIEW | |||
13th Apr 1994 | 128 | W |
6 | Leeds | L | H | 68 | 0 | 2 | VIEW | ||
17th Apr 1994 | 129 | L |
6 | Oldham | L | H | 26 | 30 | VIEW | |||
19th Apr 1994 | 130 | L |
3 | Bradford Northern | L | A | 16 | 18 | VIEW | |||
24th Apr 1994 | 131 | L |
6 | Halifax | L | A | 30 | 37 | 1 | VIEW | ||
8th May 1994 | 132 | L |
3 | Wigan | PT1 | A | 16 | 34 | VIEW |
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub. |
WINS : 88 | LOSSES : 43 | DRAWS : 4 |
---|
GALLERY |
---|