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Written By: WaratahJesus on March 7, 2011 One Comment

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will continue to bring his unique style to the HSBC Waratahs and the Wallabies after signing on for a further two seasons.

Polota-Nau is the latest international to re-sign with the Tahs following the signatures of Drew Mitchell and Berrick Barnes last month.

With negotiations not complete at the start of the Super Rugby season, Polota-Nau put any further discussions on hold to allow him to concentrate on the HSBC Waratahs first three games of the year.

In signing on until 2013, Polota-Nau said that once talks had been finalised with the Australian Rugby Union there was no question for which team he would continue his Super Rugby career.

“I love playing for the Wallabies and hopefully my form will continue to allow me to do that for at least another two years,” said Polota-Nau. “Once I knew I was staying in Australia my preference was always to remain at NSW and thankfully I’ve been able to do that.

“We’ve had a good core group at the Tahs for a few years now and the number of players who have re-signed in the last two years shows we think there’s something pretty special here.”

Polota-Nau has not just taken a lead by action approach on the field, recently taking on formal leadership roles at club and provincial level. As a board member of Parramatta Rugby Club, Polota-Nau has been the public face in the resurgence of the Two Blues while he also has an off-field leadership role at the HSBC Waratahs.

“I was born in an era when the Two Blues were beating Randwick in Grand Finals and at the moment we’re a long way off that,” said Polota-Nau. “It looked for a while as though the club may end up folding but I thought I might be able to play some small role in helping to build it back up and with strong leadership from a motivated board I think we’re starting to get there.

“I think it’s important that you recognise when you have an opportunity to make a difference, and all of us as professional Rugby players have the opportunity to do that at a community level,” said Polota-Nau.

Polota-Nau has missed just three Super Rugby matches since his debut against Queensland six years ago, and he is hoping he will not have to add to that tally despite MRI scans revealing damage to his left posterior cruciate ligament suffered in Friday night’s match against the Crusaders.

“It’s much better that it’s the PCL rather than the ACL [anterior cruciate ligament],” said Polota-Nau. “It’s going to be a day-to-day proposition and so the bye couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I don’t want to miss any footy if I don’t have to, but I also don’t want to burden the team if I’m not ready to go. I’ve got my sights set on being back in a couple of weeks, but we’ll just have to see how it comes along.”

Born in Sydney but of Tongan family roots, Polota-Nau was co-captain of the Australian Schoolboys in 2003 just two years after taking up the game at Granville South High School. He went on to represent his country at the 2004 Under 19 World Championships and the 2004 and 2005 Under 21 World Championship. In 2005 he was named the IRB Under-21 player of the year and made his Test debut against England at Twickenham.

In 2006 Polota-Nau made his Super Rugby debut for the HSBC Waratahs, and in 2009 became the youngest player to earn 50 NSW state caps.

Polota-Nau enjoyed a standout Super Rugby season in 2010, winning the Matthew Burke Cup for the Players’ Player. He was also the recipient of the Waratah Medal for on and off-field excellence, largely due to his efforts to rebuild Parramatta Rugby Club.

TATAFU POLOTA-NAU
Position: Hooker
Physical: 181cm, 113kg
Born: 26.07.85, Sydney NSW
Club: Parramatta
State Caps: 70
State Points: 45 [9t]
State Debut: 2005 v Auckland
Super Rugby Caps: 69
Super Rugby Points: 45 [9t]
Super Rugby Debut: 2006 v Queensland Reds
Test Caps: 25
Test Points: 10 [2t]
Test Debut: 2005 v England