Experienced NRL star ready for ‘new challenge’ at Wakefield Trinity
It could turn out to be the signing of a lifetime.
There were plenty of nods of approval and appreciation when Wakefield Trinity announced the eye-catching capture of NRL star Jazz Tevaga last July.
A Samoan international with well over 150 appearances in the world’s most renowned league, Tevaga’s move from Manly Sea Eagles, after spending most of his career with New Zealand Warriors, to West Yorkshire is probably still sinking in for some Trin fans.
This is what owner Matt Ellis promised in 2023 when he took over the club. Star quality players from around the globe.
And the star 30-year-old forward, who has signed until the end of the 2027 season, cannot wait to get going at the DIY Kitchens Stadium.
He said: “I wanted a new challenge. I felt like it was the right time. I had a good stint in the NRL but I didn’t really enjoy NRL anymore. I wanted a change and Wakefield happened.
“I spent a long time in the NRL, played a fair few games and I’ve been around now and feel like I’m one of the older heads. I certainly look like one! I feel like I have got a lot to give back, especially to our younger boys and hopefully I can make them better in whatever way I can.
“I am really looking forward to the next two years here at Wakey. When I was at Manly I kept a close eye on Wakey and they had a really good year. There was no expectation and no pressure on them.
“I was just excited for the challenge and I really wanted to get over here and make a stamp on the game.”
He added: “For me, I haven’t seen many other teams’ footage so it’s hard to measure us against them, but the way we have been training and the way the boys have been ripping in I’m pretty confident we will do alright this year.
“Hopefully we can pull some solid combinations together and the brand of footy we play is good. Hopefully we will get to play some final footy.”
But Tevaga is not alone in terms of added quality to the Trin ranks with Tyson Smoothy also making the trip across the planet from Australia having recently been part of the 17-man squad which won the NRL Grand Final with Brisbane Broncos.
On his new team-mate, Tevaga said: “Tyson is only young and he has got a lot of footy ahead of him. He has come from a prestigious club who won it last year.
“He is going to have a lot of experience from it. He played in some big final games last year, he has been at two Grand Finals and has got a lot of NRL footy experience under his belt.
“That is only going to benefit us.”