Tahi Reihana admits he knew nothing about Bradford before agreeing to join the Bulls from Perth Western Reds in 1997, but it was a decision that paid off as he went on to play at Wembley and win a Super League title in his debut season at the club.
IT’S A long way to the top.
Former Bradford Bulls star Tahi Reihana’s rugby league career started and ended up in Brisbane, but the road that the 2000 World Cup Māori representative travelled in persevering with his dream of becoming a first grade footballer, wasn’t exactly an easy one.
Whilst he may be long retired, the memories Reihana holds of playing in a Challenge Cup final at Wembley, to debuting for the defunct ARL Western Reds franchise in the most bizarre of circumstances, have stuck with him ever since.
“I suppose for me growing up, it was a little unstable.
“I was born in South Auckland to a Māori father and a mum who has Russian heritage in one of the roughest parts of New Zealand.
“I didn’t know at the time, but mum was sadly the victim of domestic violence, but my siblings and I were too young to realise what was going on.
“To get away from the turmoil, mum fled with us kids to start a new life in Brisbane and never went back.
“Australia is home for me now and I am happily settled on the fabulous Gold Coast with my wife and my two beautiful children.
“Mum always wanted me to play sport, so she took me to our local footy club and signed me up to play with the Souths Magpies Juniors.
“The Magpies welcomed me with open arms and from then, I never looked back.
“Unfortunately, we had to move to the seaside town of Coffs Harbour a few years later which is situated on the North Coast of New South Wales, but I always hoped to return to the Magpies one day.”
Upon arriving in Coffs Harbour, Reihana found his local rugby league club where he hit the ground running.
Having made the North Coast Group 2 representative side in 1993 and taking out the player of the year award, Reihana found himself aiming for a contract with the Newcastle Knights.
“I trialed with the Knights, but nothing really eventuated there.
“I was patient and told myself not to give up as the rewards would eventually come.
“I then decided to move to the Gold Coast in the hope of winning a contract with the Gold Coast Seagulls, but places were in hot demand so I played in the local Group 18 competition in which I caught the eye of former Parramatta legend Ray Price.
“Pricey took me to Sydney in hope of playing with Parramatta in 1993.
“However, I didn’t like Sydney and couldn’t find my feet so I moved on.
“Then, a few mates said that they were heading over to Western Australia to play with the newly formed Western Reds club in Perth.
“I thought, if they can do it, so can I and told them to take my stuff with them and I will meet them over there.”
Having limited funds, no job and driving his unregistered car across the remote Nullarbor Plains, Reihana was determined to follow his heart and was subsequently signed by local club the South Perth Lions for the 1994 season.
“I took the Player of the Year prize for the Lions and was then approached by inaugural Reds coach Peter Mullholland to come and train with his team in their pre-season.”
Reihana’s big break though came at the expense of fellow teammate James Goulding in the opening clash against St George in 1995, something the quietly spoken forward still jokes about.
“James wasn’t feeling too crash hot in the warmup after having too many protein shakes beforehand.
“He was looking to come off urgently as he was suffering from a nasty bout of diarrhoea.
“The assistant coach yelled at me to get on the field to replace him and here I was making my first grade debut quicker than expected, albeit at the hands of James’ embarrassing situation.
“But after two seasons at the Reds, my teammate Mick Potter signed with Bradford Bulls as assistant coach and was looking for another forward to bolster their stocks.
“I thought why not, I wasn’t getting much game time at the Reds and wanted to be a regular first grade starter, so I packed my bags and arrived in West Yorkshire.
“Truth be told, I knew nothing about Bradford itself, the club or its players, it was more of a leap into the unknown to see where it would take me.”
Reihana became a cult hero amongst the Bulls fans during the hype and media attention of Bullmania that swept through the city.
“That Bulls side was one of the best sides I have ever played in.
“We were spoiled to be honest having so much talent right across the park that included the likes of Paul Loughlin, Shaun Edwards and Robbie Paul to mention but a few.
“Reaching the 1997 Challenge Cup Final on the back end of 20 consecutive Super League games was insane, but we just kept chugging along.
“Then, running out in front of 78,000 fans at Wembley, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, that was so surreal.”
But as the Bulls were looking at going in a different direction, the club released Reihana who returned to Brisbane where he went full circle ending his career with the Souths Logan Magpies, the club where it all started for him.
“To finish my time with the Magpies was a fitting end to my career.
“It was the first club that took me under their wing as a kid and then took a punt on me when I left Bradford.
“It is a club that really looks after its players.
“I have no regrets as a player and accomplished everything as best as I could.
“However, the best advice I can give anyone is to enjoy life and go where your heart tells you.
“Success will find you if you are prepared to make sacrifices, but most importantly, never stop believing in yourself.”
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 499 (August 2024)
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