Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha

Tukupa-Ke Taa’i Hau Tapuha (born 10 December 2001) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL.

Background Hau Tapuha was born in Pukekohe and is of Māori & Tongan descent. He moved to Brisbane when was 11-years-old. He played his first junior rugby league for Pine Central Holy Spirit and then Valleys Diehards when he was 14.

Hau Tapuha attended Wavell State High School and represented the Queensland Schoolboys side before being signed by the Sydney Roosters.

Playing career Early career In 2015, Hau Tapuha represented the Brisbane Stingers under-14 side while playing for Valleys. In 2018, he played for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Mal Meninga Cup.

In 2019, Hau Tapuha moved to Sydney, playing for the Roosters SG Ball Cup side. In 2020, he moved up to the club's Jersey Flegg Cup side. On 15 December 2020, he re-signed with the Roosters until the end of the 2022 season.

2021

Hau Tapuha began the 2021 season playing for North Sydney in the NSW Cup.

In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, Hau Tapuha made his first grade debut for the Sydney Roosters against Parramatta.

2024 In round 2 of the 2024 NRL season, Hau Tapuha made his club debut for Cronulla in their 25-6 victory over Canterbury. He played ten games for the club throughout the season as they finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals. On 29 September, he played for Newtown in their 2024 NSW Cup Grand Final victory over North Sydney. On 20 December, the Sharks announced that Hau Tapuha had re-signed with the club until the end of 2026.

2025 He was limited to just six games for Cronulla in the 2025 NRL season as the club finished 5th on the table.