Adam Tangata

Adam Tangata (born 17 March 1991) is a Cook Islands professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Halifax Panthers in the RFL Championship and the Cook Islands at international level.

Adam "Adz" Tangata

Personal information
Full name	Adam Tangata
Born	(1991-03-17) 17 March 1991 (age 34) Raratonga, Cook Islands
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	16 st 12 lb (107 kg)
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2015–18 Halifax 86 26 0 0 104 2019 Widnes Vikings 3 0 0 0 0 2019–20 Halifax 11 2 0 0 8 2019(loan) → Wakefield Trinity 3 0 0 0 0 2020(loan) → Wakefield Trinity 11 1 0 0 4 2021 Wakefield Trinity 3 0 0 0 0 2021– Halifax Panthers 118 16 0 0 48 Total 235 45 0 0 164 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2009– Cook Islands 5 1 0 0 4
Source: [1][2] As of 28 February 2025

He has previously played for Halifax in two separate spells as well as Wakefield Trinity and the Widnes Vikings. Tangata spent time during his second spell at 'Fax on loan at Wakefield in the Super League.

Background

Tangata was born in Raratonga, Cook Islands. His surname Tangata translates to mean people from Polynesian languages.

Career

Tangata played for the Mount Pritchard Mounties in the NSW Cup and he also played for the Canberra Raiders Under 20s side in 2011.

Tangata signed for English semi-professional club Halifax for the 2015 season, on a two-year contract.^[3]

Tangata is known for his aggressive tackling and hit-ups, and has become a fans' favourite at Halifax. He has his own chant – "ooh aah Tangata".

Halifax

On 13 April 2021, it was reported that he had re-signed for Halifax in the RFL Championship on a deal that would keep him at the club until 2022.^[4] On 25 August, Tangata signed a contract extension with Halifax keeping him at the club until the end of 2024.^[5]

International career

He represented his nation in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Adam was named in the Cook Islands squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying match against Tonga.^[6]