Iosia Soliola made an immediate impact in his first season with the Raiders, taking out the prestigious 2015 Mal Meninga Medal as voted on by his fellow players.
Soliola joined the Raiders with a wealth of experience after previous stints in the NRL and English Super League, while also representing New Zealand and Samoa on the international stage. He instantly rewarded the faith of recruiters and is fast becoming a fan favourite for his tremendous leadership, incisive running game and brutal defence.
Soliola was a consistent performer on the stat sheet in all games he took part in. Soliola began his Raiders career against the Sharks in Round One, making 40 tackles and running for 137 metres. He continued this form for the rest of the season, remaining a player the Raiders could always rely on.
Apart from his Meninga Medal triumph, a season highlight for Soliola was his ironing out of Tigers halfback Luke Brooks in the Raiders stunning coming from behind victory in round 7.
In a season filled with highlights, the only downer was an arduous 24 hour drive from North Queensland to Canberra after a fractured cheekbone left him unable to fly home. Having successfully undergone surgery on his cheekbone, Soliola will be fit and ready for season 2016 as he seeks to add further success to his glowing resume.
A premiership winning player with St Helens and experience in the NRL with the Roosters gives Soliola the perfect credentials and at just 29 he still has plenty to offer at the top level.
Statistics:
Matches |
Runs |
Metres |
Tackles |
Tries |
Try Assists |
Tackle Breaks |
Offloads |
Line Breaks |
19 |
226 |
1934 |
695 |
4 |
3 |
15 |
13 |
5 |
