Former Leeds Rhinos winger David Fusitu’a has announced he will retire from rugby league, following a 12-year career across Super League and the NRL.
The 30-year-old has decided to hang up his boots, and does so after playing over 100 games in the NRL and donning the Rhinos jersey 43 times.
Starting his career with the NZ Warriors in 2014, the Tongan and New Zealand international burst onto the scene, and became one of the NRL’s top wingers. He had his best season of his career in 2018, scoring 22 tries in 23 games and taking home the league’s top try scorer award.
Fusitu’a moved to Leeds ahead of the 2022 season, and spent three years under at AMT Headingley. Injuries hampered his career in West Yorkshire, however when he was on the field, he provided a great arial threat and made strong metres carrying out of back-field.
The left the club at the end of last year, scoring 18 tries, but failed to find a club in 2025, and has now decided to call time on his playing career.
In a statement he put out on Instagram, Fusitu’a said:
“Putting a full stop on this part of my journey. Grateful to have spent the last 10+ years living out my dream. Celebrating what was, and now just loving being a fan of our great game! A01 through it all, God has always been faithful.”
Former Leeds Rhinos man one of seven ex-Super League stars to be recognised in NRL retiring class of 2025
Prior to the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, the league’s yearly tradition of honouring their retiring players saw them recognise seven former Super League stars that are hanging up their boots now that the season has concluded.
Fusitu’a was one of the seven, with former Rhinos teammate Paul Momirovski another. The centre left Leeds at the end of last year, following one season at the club.
Salford Red Devils duo Tim Lafai and Elijah Taylor were also recognised. Lafai announced his decision to retire amid the ongoing financial issues at the club earlier this season, whereas Taylor left the Red Devils in 2022, before stints at Featherstone Rovers and Oldham saw him round out his career.
Leigh Leopards centre Ricky Leutele spent seven seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, after initally signing with Toronto Wolfpack. When they were forced to fold as a club, the 2016 NRL Grand Final winner moved to Huddersfield for two years, before ending his career with the Leopards. He added a Challenge Cup trophy to his collection in 2023.
The final two to be recognised were ex-St Helens back rower Sione Mata’utia, who became Australia’s youngest ever player to play international rugby in 2014, and former Hull FC and Featherstone half-back Fa’amanu Brown. Mata’utia won two Grand Finals with Saints in his first two seasons, and amassed 85 appearances in the Red Vee. Brown, meanwhile spent time at five different NRL clubs, with two separate stints in the UK sandwiched in between.
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