Mikaele Ravalawa

Mikaele Ravalawa
Personal information
Full nameMikaele Ravalawa
Born (1997-11-09) 9 November 1997 (age 27)
Galoa Island, Fiji
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019– St. George Dragons 98 67 0 0 268
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017– Fiji 5 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 31 August 2024

Mikaele Ravalawa (born 9 November 1997) is a Fijian rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League and Fiji at the international level.

Background

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Ravalawa was born in Galoa Island, Fiji.

From Galoa Island, Ravalawa originally played rugby union and captained the Fijian Under-18's rugby sevens team.[2]

Playing career

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2017–2018

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He joined Burnside High School on a scholarship as part of their international rugby programme. He played for the schools first XV and the Crusaders' Under-18 team.[3]

He then switched to rugby league after being spotted by Peter Mulholland, joining the Canberra Raiders in 2017 and played for their Holden Cup (Under-20s) team. That season, Ravalawa scored 12 tries in 22 games and won Canberra's under 20s player of the year award.[4]

He was named in the Fiji squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[5][6]

2019

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Ravalawa joined the St. George Illawarra Dragons and made 19 appearances for the club during the 2019 NRL season and finished as the club's top try scorer and became a crowd favourite at Kogarah and WIN Stadium.[7]

2020

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In 2020, Ravalawa was awarded a penalty try in the club's first match of the season against the Wests Tigers. In that match, he injured his thigh, meaning he could not finish the match and play the next week.[8] In June 2020, Ravalawa re-signed with the club on a three-year deal, keeping him at St. George Illawarra until at least the end of the 2023 season.[9] He ended the season as the club's tied top try-scorer alongside Zac Lomax and Matthew Dufty, scoring 13 tries in the process.[10]

2021

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On 27 April, Ravalawa was suspended for two matches after he was initially placed on report for an illegal shoulder charge during the club's loss to the Sydney Roosters in round 7 of the 2021 NRL season.[11]

In round 10 of the 2021 NRL season, Ravalawa scored a hat-trick in the club's 44–18 loss against Melbourne, his first in the NRL.[12] Due to an illegal shoulder charge during this game, he again received a two match suspension.[13]

On 22 June, Ravalawa was suspended for four games by the NRL after being placed on report for an illegal shoulder charge during the club's round 15 victory over Canberra.[14] In round 24, Ravalawa scored two tries in a 26–38 loss against North Queensland.[15]

2022

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During the first round of the 2022 NRL season the St. George Illawarra defeated New Zealand Warriors 28-16 with Ravalawa scoring three tries.[16] In round 15 of the 2022 NRL season, Ravalawa scored two tries for St. George Illawarra in a 32-12 upset victory over South Sydney.[17] Ravalawa played 14 games for St. George Illawarra in 2022 as the club finished 10th and missed the finals.[18]

2023

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On 21 February, Ravalawa was issued with a breach notice and fined by St. George Illawarra after he was involved in an altercation with teammate Zane Musgrove following the clubs Charity Shield loss to South Sydney in Mudgee. It was alleged that both players were heavily intoxicated after a night out of drinking following the game. It was reported that Ravalawa told club officials he was “too drunk to remember” what happened.[19]

In round 5 of the 2023 NRL season, Ravalawa scored two tries for St. George Illawarra as they defeated the Dolphins team 38-12.[20]

In round 14, Ravalawa scored two tries for St. George Illawarra in their 26-18 loss against Penrith. In round 19, Ravalawa scored a hat-trick in St. George Illawarra's 36-26 loss against Canberra. On 12 July, Ravalawa re-signed with St. George Illawarra until the end of 2026.

In round 23, Ravalawa equalled the St. George clubs try scoring record by crossing over for four tries in their 26-20 loss against Parramatta.[21] Ravalawa would finish as the clubs top try scorer with 21 tries from 21 games. St. George Illawarra would finish the year in 16th place.[22]

2024

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Ravalawa played 12 games for St. George Illawarra in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.[23] There had been reports through the year that Ravalawa had fallen out of favour with head coach Shane Flanagan and was reportedly told he could negotiate with other clubs.[24]

Statistics

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Season Team Pld T G FG P
2019 St. George Illawarra Dragons 19 11 - - 44
2020 16 13 - - 52
2021 16 14 - - 56
2022 14 5 - - 20
2023 21 21 84
2024 12 5 20
Totals 98 67 0 0 268

References

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  1. ^ "Mikaele Ravalawa – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  2. ^ Mat Kermeen (13 March 2019). "Ex-Crusaders age-group winger Mikaele Ravalawa to make NRL debut". Stuff. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  3. ^ Egan, Brendon (19 July 2016). "Burnside High duo impressing for plucky overachievers". Stuff. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  4. ^ Helmers, Caden (9 October 2017). "Mikaele Ravalawa chasing a dream with nothing more than a backpack". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. ^ Baleilevuka, Rusiate (9 October 2017). "Ravalawa still in shock after being named in Fiji Bati squad for RLWC". Fijivillage. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  6. ^ Helmers, Caden (7 October 2017). "Canberra Raiders young gun Mikaele Ravalawa named in Fiji's World Cup squad". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  7. ^ Chisholm, Ed (2 September 2019). "Paul McGregor facing the axe as St. George Illawarra Dragons coach following horror season". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019.
  8. ^ Walter, Brad (15 March 2020). "Benji brilliant as Tigers down dropsy Dragons". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  9. ^ O'Loughlin, Liam (18 June 2020). "Dragons re-sign Fijian international Mikaele Ravalawa on three-year deal". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Stats – Players (Tries)". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  11. ^ St John, Mark (27 April 2021). "Dragons duo cop bans after ugly shots in Roosters loss: Judiciary". Fox Sports. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Penrith, Parramatta and Melbourne — all score wins on final day of Magic Round". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Round 10 charges: Titans duo accept bans; Papa out of Origin". National Rugby League. 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Chris (22 June 2021). "Ravalawa banned for four matches; Taukeiaho cleared". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Parramatta ends Melbourne Storm's 19-match NRL winning streak as Cronulla, North Queensland celebrate victories". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Dragons beatting the Warriors 28-16 during the first round".
  17. ^ "'Saw the confidence drop away': Matty Johns labels Ilias' hooking 'unfair' after Dragons flogging". www.foxsports.com.au.
  18. ^ "NRL 2022: St George Illawarra Dragons season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  19. ^ "Dragons punish stars 'too drunk to remember' Mudgee melee at team hotel after all-nighter". www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. ^ "'We want to be top four': Dragons aiming high ahead of Titans clash". www.nrl.com.
  21. ^ "Eels survive Dragons scare to remain in NRL finals hunt". www.espn.co.uk.
  22. ^ "Hunt call that could define Flanagan era; glaring hole that must be filled: Brutal Review". www.foxsports.com.au.
  23. ^ "The Mole's end-of-season review: 'Bullies' exposed as big-money Dragons forward called out". www.nine.com.au.
  24. ^ "Super League clubs track Fijian NRL winger with salary contribution offer". www.hulldailymail.co.uk.
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