Junior Tia-Kilifi


Junior Tia-Kilifi is a Samoa international former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2020s for the Penrith Panthers and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League. Tia-Kilifi usually played on the or as a.

Background

Tia-Kilifi was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He attended Chifley College in Mt Druitt, and St Dominics College in Penrith, and played for the school team. Tia-Kilifi played his junior footy for the Minchinbury Jets.

Playing career

Tia-Kilifi made his debut with the Penrith Panthers in 2009, but left the club at the end of the season to sign a two-year contract with the Bulldogs, commencing at the start of the 2010 season.
Tia-Kilifi mostly played for Canterbury's feeder side in the NSW Cup. At the end of the 2011 season, Tia-Kilifi moved back to Penrith in a one-year contract. He then renewed his contract for another season.
In 2015, Tia-Kilifi played for the Auburn Warriors in the Ron Massey Cup. In The 2017 Ron Massey Cup season, Kilifi played for foundation club The Western Suburbs Magpies.

International career

Tia-Kilifi was called up for the Samoa national rugby league team in 2006, but never played.
On 8 September 2014, Tia-Kilifi was named in the Samoa train-on squad for the 2014 Four Nations, but didn’t make the final 24 man squad.