Tim Simona

Tim Simona (born 20 November 1991) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who currently plays for Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League. A Samoan international, Simona primarily plays at centre but can fill in at fullback and wing and halfback.

Early years

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Simona is of Samoan descent. Simona moved to Australia as a 6-year old. and was a Western City Tigers and Doonside Roos junior. Simona was educated at Chifley College Mount Druitt Campus and Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown. Simona played for the Wests Tigers NYC team in 2010-2011.

Playing career

2011

Simona joined the Wests Tigers first grade squad in 2011. In Round 13, he made an "impressive NRL debut" against the Newcastle Knights at centre in the Tigers 17-16 win at Leichhardt Oval.

2012

Simona played 3 first-grade games in 2012. He was a member of the Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers side that lost the NSW Cup grand final the Newtown Jets.

2013

Starting the season in NSW Cup, Simona returned to first grade in Round 8 after injuries to Blake Ayshford and Chris Lawrence and spent the rest of the season playing either wing or centre. In Round 13 Simona scored his first NRL career try against the Penrith Panthers in the Tigers 20-18 win at Penrith Stadium. On 18 July, he re-signed with the Tigers to the end of 2015. Simona finished the year as the Tigers highest try-scorer with 12 tries in 17 matches. At the end of the season, Simona underwent an operation on his shoulder that was expected to see him out of action for some months. Simona had been selected for New Zealand's 2013 World Cup side, but declined in order to better prepared for the 2014 season.

2014

In April, Simona was named for Samoa against Fiji in the Pacific Rugby League International match, a qualifier for the 2014 Four Nations, but was later ruled out with suspension and replaced by St George Illawarra Dragons player Peter Mata'utia. Simona finished off the year with him playing in 14 matches and scoring 3 tries. On 25 October, Simona made his international debut for Samoa against England at Suncorp Stadium, playing at fullback in Samoa’s 32-26 loss. He played in 3 matches and scored 1 try throughout the Four Nations.

2015

On 23 January, Simona was named in the Tigers Auckland Nines squad. He started the regular season by scoring 3 tries and setting up 6 more in the first 7 rounds. In May, he played at halfback for Samoa against Tonga in the Polynesian Cup, and suffered an ankle injury during the match. He ended the season with 5 tries and 10 try-assists from a personal-best 20 appearances.

2016

Simona again started the pre-season playing in the Auckland Nines. On 7 May, Simona played fullback for Samoa in the 2016 Polynesian Cup, winning 18-6. He made a career-best 21 appearances for Wests Tigers, scoring 7 tries, but admitted to being disappointed with his form. "I spoke one-on-one with my coach and he told me that I'd had a pretty good year, but I just know for myself as a player that I've got plenty more to prove," he said.

Personal life

Simona is the cousin of winger Sami Sauiluma he is also uncle of Cronulla Sutherland Sharks forward Jesse Sene-Lefao and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles winger Matthew Wright. Simona's younger brother Paul Simona played for the Cronulla Sharks Toyota Cup. He is eligible to play for either Samoa through his heritage, New Zealand due to being born there, or Australia as a result of playing junior footy in that country.