Peni Terepo

Peni Terepo (born 21 November 1991) is a Tonga former international rugby league footballer who played as a prop, second-row and lock for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

Playing career​

Terepo played for the Eels NYC team between 2009 and 2011. On 19 August 2011, Terepo re-signed with the Eels on a 2-year contract. At the end of 2011, Terepo won the Eels NYC Player's Player award.

2013​

In round 8 of the 2013 NRL season, Terepo made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels against the North Queensland Cowboys at lock in the Eels 10–14 loss at Parramatta Stadium. In round 10, against the St George Illawarra Dragons, Terepo scored his first and second try NRL career tries in the Eels 12–32 loss at WIN Stadium. On 5 July 2013, Terepo extended his contract with the Eels for a further 2 years until the end of the 2015 season. Terepo finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 17 matches and scoring 4 tries for the Parramatta Eels in the season.

2014​

In February 2014, Terepo was selected in the Eels inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad. Terepo finished off the 2014 NRL season with him playing in 21 matches and scoring a try for the Eels.

2015​

On 31 January and 1 February, Terepo played for the Eels in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines. He finished off the 2015 season having played in 13 matches for the Eels.

2016​

In February 2016, Terepo played in the Eels' tournament winning 2016 NRL Auckland Nines campaign. Terepo finished the 2016 NRL season having played in 23 matches for the Eels.

2017​

On 27 January 2017, Terepo was stood down from the club for a number of weeks after he pleaded guilty to careless driving and also refused to give a blood alcohol test after he crashed in Auckland. Terepo was later fined $500 and $130 in court costs as well being disqualified from driving for seven months, Terepo was almost sacked from the club for not reporting the incident but instead was fined $15,000 for the club. Terepo made his return to the Eels first grade squad in round 6 against the New Zealand Warriors, coming off the interchange bench in the 10–22 loss at Mt Smart Stadium.

2018​

Terepo made 20 appearances for Parramatta in a difficult 2018 season where the club finished last on the table and claimed its 14th wooden spoon. On 30 October 2018, Terepo signed a one-year contract extension to remain at the club until the end of the 2019 season.

2019​

On March 11, Terepo was stood down by Parramatta for allegedly abusing Air New Zealand staff in an alcohol-fuelled incident on a flight from Tonga to Auckland. Terepo was allegedly upset that he had brought his own alcohol onto the flight but was not allowed to drink it from his coffee cup.

Terepo was told by the flight manager to stop drinking his own alcohol on the plane but continued to do so. Terepo was also seen by staff acting inappropriately towards a female flight attendant. Once the flight arrived in Auckland, Terepo was escorted off the plane by police.

Parramatta released a statement saying "The club has stood Peni down immediately, including this week's Round 1 game against Penrith. The club will now work with the relevant authorities in New Zealand, the NRL Integrity Unit and the RLPA to investigate the incident thoroughly. This process will then guide our next steps. The club will make no further comment until the investigation is completed".

On 25 March, Terepo avoided having his contract terminated by Parramatta but was fined $25,000 in relation to his alcohol-fuelled incident which happened earlier in the month.

Terepo made a total of 16 appearances for Parramatta in the 2019 NRL season. Terepo played for the club's feeder side the Wentworthville Magpies in their Canterbury Cup NSW grand final defeat against Newtown at Bankwest Stadium.

2020​

In round 2 of the 2020 NRL season, Terepo scored his first try in six years as Parramatta defeated the Gold Coast 46–6.

Terepo played a total of six games for Parramatta in the 2020 NRL season. On 12 October, he was released by the club after not securing a new contract. He left Parramatta as one of their longest serving players in the NRL era.

Wikipedia