Performer of the Week: Isaia Petelo (Marist St Pat’s)

This week’s Club Rugby Performer of the Week is Marist St Pat’s midfielder Isaia Petelo.

Petelo ran out on to Evans Bay Park on Saturday to play his 200^th Premier match for MSP.

He celebrated this major milestone with a 15-14 win over Northern United to send his side into this coming weekend’s semi-finals against the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone Park.

Petelo has been a fixture in MSP backlines for at least a decade and a half, and joins former first-five Fa’atonu as the second player to reach 200 Premier matches for MSP.

He is the third player in Wellington club rugby to raise the double century this year, the others being Greg Lealofi (Wainuiomata) and Josh Hunt (Upper Hutt Rams).

Petelo was in MSP’S backline that won the Jubilee Cup in 2012, beating Ories 14-8 in the final, and he has won the Swindale Shield twice.

He is a former Manu Samoa squad member has also played numerous post-club season representative matches, most notable for the Wellington Samoans.

Below: Isaia Petelo scores off the shoulder of Fa’atonu Fili from the set-piece in the 2019 Hardham Cup final. MSO beat OBU 28-22.