Jeff Lima

For the actor, see Jeff Lima (actor).

Jeff Lima (born 4 July 1982) is a former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.^[3] A New Zealand international representative prop, he previously played for the Wests Tigers, Melbourne Storm,^[4] South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wigan Warriors and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League, as well as France's Elite One Championship for the Saint-Gaudens Bears.^[5]

Jeff Lima

Personal information
Born	(1982-07-04) 4 July 1982 (age 42) Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	113 kg (17 st 11 lb) [1]
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2004–05 Wests Tigers 2 1 0 0 4 2006–10 Melbourne Storm 95 9 1 0 38 2011–12 Wigan Warriors 61 6 0 0 24 2013 South Sydney 20 1 0 0 4 2014–15 Catalans Dragons 46 3 1 0 14 2016–17 Canberra Raiders 9 0 0 0 0 Total 233 20 2 0 84 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2006–13 Samoa 2 1 0 0 4 2007–09 New Zealand 6 0 0 0 0 2012 Exiles 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Background

Lima was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

Went to De La Salle College, Mangere, New Zealand

Biography

Of Samoan heritage,^[6] Lima was educated at Auckland's De La Salle College, Mangere East. His junior club was the Mangere East Hawks. Lima moved to Sydney, where he attended Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown.

Professional playing career

Wests Tigers

Lima made his début in the National Rugby League with Sydney's Wests Tigers club, scoring a try as the team defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. In the next round, he was again chosen to play from the bench, but it was to be his last first-grade appearance for the club.

Lima while playing for Melbourne in 2008

Melbourne Storm

Lima was rewarded for his good form throughout the 2007 NRL season's finals with selection on the interchange bench for the Storm's victory in the 2007 NRL grand final as well as the New Zealand national side to play Australia on 14 October.

In August 2008, Lima was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[7] and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad.^[8]

Lima played at prop in the Storm's loss in the 2008 NRL grand final. He was then forced to withdraw from New Zealand's squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup through injury.^[9]

Lima played from the interchange bench in the Storm's 2009 NRL grand final victory over Parramatta. He then played at prop for Melbourne's victory over Super League champions Leeds Rhinos in the 2010 World Club Challenge. However, months later, these and all previous honours achieved by the Melbourne club during Lima's time there were stripped by the NRL when long-term systematic breaches of the salary cap at the club were uncovered. Lima and his teammates were also prevented from playing for premiership points in the 2010 NRL season as the club tried to offload players to bring them within the salary cap. In July 2010, Lima signed with English Super League club Wigan Warriors.^[10]

Wigan Warriors

He played as a prop forward in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium. He scored two tries and became the fifth ever New Zealander, and first prop forward since 1980 to win the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]}

On 25 May 2012, Lima agreed to terms for re-joining his Wigan coach Michael Maguire in the National Rugby League with the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Lima played at prop forward for the Samoa national rugby league team in their 2013 one-off test match loss against Tonga.

Catalans Dragons

In 2014, Lima returned to the Super League, joining French side Catalans Dragons. He played 39 games and scored 1 try.^[27]

Canberra Raiders

In October 2015, it was revealed that Lima would be joining the Canberra Raiders on a two-year contract starting in 2016.^[28][29] In September 2017, Lima announced his retirement from rugby league with his final game being for the Mount Pritchard Mounties in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW elimination final against Illawarra.^[30]

References

1. "Catalans Dragons Equipe Saison 2015". Catalans Dragons site officiel. Catalans Dragons S.A.S.P. 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
2. loverugbyleague
3. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
4. "Grand Final, Oct 4". nrl.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
5. "Kiwi benchmen celebrate NRL title, test callup". Stuff.co.nz. NZPA. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
6. Donaghy, Dave (15 March 2007). "Islander blood runs deep". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
7. "Kiwis select Sonny Bill". Sky Sports. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
8. "Kiwis to wait on Webb and Matai". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
9. "Kiwi Webb forced out of World Cup". BBC. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
10. "Latest League News, features and breaking League News". Sportal. 9 October 2014. Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
11. "O'Loughlin savours special cup win". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
12. "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
13. Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Wigan's Challenge Cup win a team effort - Joel Tomkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
14. skysports.com (27 August 2011). "Maguire salutes Wembley heroes". Sky Sports. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
15. ESPN staff (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup glory for Wigan Warriors". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
16. wiganwarriors.com (28 August 2011). "Wigan are 2011 Cup Champions". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
17. Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
18. Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
19. therfl.co.uk (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup: Lima inspires Wigan win". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
20. Brown, Oliver (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 18 Wigan Warriors 28". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
21. Chisnall, Craig (28 August 2011). "Lima double inspires Wigan to Cup win". Wide World of Sports. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
22. Henson, Mike (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
23. Brown, Oliver (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final 2011: Wigan's warrior spirit shades controversy in emphatic win over Leeds Rhinos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
24. Press Association (27 August 2011). "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". Free Press. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
25. "O'Loughlin savours special cup win". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
26. bbc.co.uk (30 August 2011). "Wigan's Sam Tomkins punished for gesture at Leeds fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
27. "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
28. Jon Tuxworth (24 October 2015). "Canberra Raiders ready to pounce on rival big men as salary cap squeeze sets in". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
29. "Wayne Bennett Signs Dragons Backrower; Bulldogs Outside Back Re-Signs". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
30. "Canberra Raiders prop Jeff Lima ready to start a new chapter with his family". 5 September 2017.

External links

• Melbourne Storm profile