Kelepi Tanginoa

Kelepi Tanginoa (/kəlɛpi tæŋɡənoʊə/) (born 1 March 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop, second-row forward and loose forward for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.

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He previously played for Wakefield Trinity in the Super League and the Parramatta Eels, North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL.

2013

In round 2 of the 2013 NRL season, Tanginoa made his NRL debut for the Eels against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. In April, Tanginoa played for the New South Wales Under 20s team. He played 9 games for Parramatta in his rookie year before succumbing to a fractured hand and then a stress fracture in his right foot. Parramatta would finish the 2013 NRL season in last place on the table for the second consecutive year.^[3]

In July 2013, Tanginoa re-signed with the Parramatta club on a two-year contract.^[4]

2014

On 29 August 2014, Tanginoa was released from his Parramatta contract, signing a two-year contract with North Queensland, starting in 2015.^[5]^[6]

2015

In round 2 of the 2015 NRL season, Tanginoa made his debut for North Queensland, coming off the bench in the side's 14–16 loss to the Newcastle Knights.^{[citation needed]}

On 27 September 2015, Tanginoa played in the Townsville Blackhawks' Intrust Super Cup Grand Final loss to the Ipswich Jets. Tanginoa was a member of the Cowboys' 2015 Premiership winning squad, though he did not take part in the Grand Final.^{[citation needed]}

2016

On 21 October 2015, Tanginoa signed a one-year contract to return to the Parramatta Eels, after being released from the final year of his Cowboys contract.^[7]^[8] He would spend the season playing for the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup.

2017

Tanginoa spent the first half of 2017 with Wentworthville before Parramatta released him from his contract. He then signed to play for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.^[9]

2018

Tanginoa made 12 appearances for Manly in 2018 as the club avoided the wooden spoon by just 2 competition points.^[10]

2019

Tanginoa joined Super League side Wakefield Trinity for the Super League XXIV season. He played 14 games for the club as they finished 9th on the table.^[11]

2020

Tanginoa at the end of the 2020 season, signed a new contract that would keep him at Wakefield Trinity until the end of the 2024 season.^{[citation needed]}

2021

On 25 June 2021 he played for the Combined Nations All Stars in their 26–24 victory over England, staged at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, as part of England's 2021 Rugby League World Cup preparation.^{[citation needed]}

2022 & 2023

Tanginoa played 22 games for Wakefield Trinity in the 2022 Super League season which saw the side finish 10th. He was limited to only seven matches with Wakefield Trinity in the Super League XXVIII season as the club finished bottom of the table and were relegated to the RFL Championship which ended their 24-year stay in the top flight. After leaving Wakefield Trinity, he moved across the M62 to the city of Hull to join up with former team mates Corey Hall, James Batchelor, Yusuf Aydin, Jai Whitbread and George King ahead of the 2024 Super League season.^[12]

2024

Tanginoa made his club debut for Hull Kingston Rovers against arch-rivals Hull F.C. in round 1 of the 2024 Super League season. Tanginoa scored a try on debut as Hull Kingston Rovers won the derby 22-0.^[13] On 12 October 2024, Tanginoa played in Hull Kingston Rovers 2024 Super League Grand Final loss against Wigan.^[14]

2025

On 7 June, he played in Hull Kingston Rovers 8-6 Challenge Cup final victory over Warrington. It was the clubs first major trophy in 40 years.^[15]

Background

Playing career