Tohu Harris


Tohu Harris is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, and New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.
He previously played for the Melbourne Storm with whom he won the 2017 NRL Grand Final.

Background

Harris was born in Hastings, New Zealand, and is of Maori descent.
Harris played his junior football for the Tamatea rugby union club and attended Hastings Boys' High School before being signed by the Melbourne Storm. In 2007, Harris played for the New Zealand U15's team. Harris played for the Storm's NYC team from 2010 to 2012, scoring 25 tries in 49 games.

Playing career

2013

Harris played as a and scored a try in the Melbourne Storm's 2013 World Club Challenge 18-14 win over the Leeds Rhinos. In Round 1 of the 2013 NRL season, Harris made his NRL debut for the Storm against the St. George Illawarra Dragons at second-row in the 30-10 win at AAMI Park. Harris was called up to the New Zealand national rugby league team squad as 18th man for the 2013 Anzac Test, replacing Jeremy Smith. Harris was promoted to the playing squad on the day of the test match when captain Simon Mannering was ruled out with a calf injury and made his debut for New Zealand on 19 April 2013 in the Kiwis 32-12 loss against Australia. In Round 13 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Harris scored his first NRL career try in the Storms 38-6 win at AAMI Park. Harris finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 25 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Melbourne Storm in the 2013 NRL season. On 9 October 2013, Harris was dropped from the New Zealand side for the 2013 World Cup, which had been announced a day earlier. The decision was made following the controversial change of mind of Sonny Bill Williams, who had previously ruled himself out of the competition, to join the squad. Harris turned down a position to tour with the squad and play in a pre-tournament match against the Cook Islands in order to have minor surgery and rest before the 2014 NRL pre-season began. Harris also refused to respond to Williams after the latter tried to reach out to him after the much publicized U-turn.

2014

In February 2014, Harris was included in the Storms inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad. In Round 4 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, after Cameron Smith suffered a back spasm in the warm up, Harris was appointed the goal kicker; Harris kicked 2 goals in the Storms 40-12 loss at NIB Stadium in Perth. Harris was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team squad for the 2014 Anzac Test against Australia at SFS. Harris was selected to play off the interchange bench but was shifted to start at over debutant Isaac John, Harris scored a try in the Kiwis 30-18 loss. On 7 May 2014, Harris re-signed with the Storm on a 3-year contract keeping him with the club till the end of the 2017 season. Harris finished the 2014 NRL season with him playing in all of the Storms 25 matches and kicking 2 goals. On 23 September 2014, Harris was selected in the New Zealand national rugby league team 2014 Four Nations train-on squad. Harris was then selected in the final 24 man squad. Harris played off the interchange bench in the Kiwis 22-18 Four Nations final win over Australia at Westpac Stadium.

2015

On 3 May, Harris played for New Zealand against Australia in the 2015 Anzac Test, playing at second-row in the Kiwis' 26-12 win at Suncorp Stadium. In July 2015, the Storm played the first ever NRL game at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand, playing against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Harris designed the team's jersey for the occasion. The Storm won the match 22-4. Harris finished off the 2015 season having played in all of the Storms' 26 matches, scoring 5 tries and kicking 3 goals. On 8 October, he was selected in the 23-man New Zealand squad to tour England. He played in all 3 matches against England in the Kiwis' 2-1 Baskerville Shield series loss. He scored 1 try, in the first test, in the Kiwis' 26-12 loss at KC Stadium.

2016

On 1 February, Harris was named in the Storm's 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. On 6 May 2016, Harris played for New Zealand against Australia in the 2016 Anzac Test, playing at centre in the 16-0 loss at Hunter Stadium. In Round 26 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Harris played his 100th NRL career match in the 26-6 win at AAMI Park. On 2 October 2016, in the Storm’s 2016 NRL Grand Final against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Harris started at second-row in the 14-12 defeat. Harris finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in all the Storm’s 27 matches, scoring 8 tries and kicking 1 goal. On 3 October 2016, Harris was selected in the Kiwis final 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations tournament. Harris played in 4 matches of tournament including starting at fullback and scoring 2 tries in the Kiwis 34-8 Four Nations Final loss against Australia at Anfield.

2017

On 31 January 2017, it was announced that Harris signed a lucrative 4-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors, starting in 2018. Harris said about of the signing, "I’ve had a great time with the Storm and I owe them so much for what they’ve done for me, Coming home to play for the Warriors is a fantastic opportunity, though. The club has a great roster with so many Kiwi boys there and being back in New Zealand closer to family is a big attraction". Harris missed the first two months of the season after suffering a foot injury in the off-season. Harris later made his first appearance of the season in Round 10 against the Gold Coast Titans in the Storm's shock 38-36 upset loss at Suncorp Stadium. On 1 October 2017, in the Storm’s 2017 NRL Grand Final against the North Queensland Cowboys, Harris started at second-row and had a blinder of a performance in the 34-6 victory. Harris finished with last year with the Melbourne Storm on a high with him playing in 14 matches, scoring 3 tries and kicking 1 goal in the 2017 NRL season. After the Grand Final victory, Harris was ruled out of the Kiwis 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign due to niggling shoulder and foot injuries.

2018

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, Harris made his club debut for the New Zealand Warriors against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, starting at second-row in the 32-20 win at Perth Stadium.

Honours

Harris married his wife Natalie in January 2014.