# Salesi Foketi
**Salesi Foketi** (Salesi Mafile'o Foketi) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward and lock for the [Sydney Roosters](https://www.edgepedia.org/sydney-roosters) in the [National Rugby League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-rugby-league) (NRL).[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) • [2](https://profilpelajar.com/en/Salesi_Foketi) He made his NRL debut in Round 1 of the 2025 season, became a starting edge forward during 2026, and was a member of the Roosters' 2026 premiership-winning side.[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) • [3](https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/salesi-foketi/summary.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position | Second row and lock for the Sydney Roosters[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) • [3](https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/salesi-foketi/summary.html) |
| Birthplace | Auckland, New Zealand; junior club Manurewa Marlins[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) |
| Physical profile | 185 cm, 97 kg[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) |
| NRL debut | 6 March 2025, Round 1, for the Roosters against the Brisbane Broncos[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) |
| Career totals (through 2026) | 45 NRL appearances, 4 tries, 979 tackles at 96.17% efficiency[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) |
| Honors | NRL Premiership 2026; Anzac Cup 2025 and 2026[3](https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/salesi-foketi/summary.html) |
| Contract | Signed with the Roosters through 2027[4](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/01/01/2026-nrl-signings-tracker-the-latest-from-all-17-clubs/) |
## Background
Foketi was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and played his junior football with the Manurewa Marlins.[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) His date of birth is reported differently by two databases: the official NRL profile gives 11 April 2004,[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) while Rugby League Project gives 4 November 2005 and lists his birthplace as Otahuhu, Auckland.[3](https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/salesi-foketi/summary.html)
He moved to Sydney as a 17-year-old to join the Roosters pathways program, and rose through the club's development pipeline.[5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/) In 2024 he played 15 games in the Knock On Effect NSW Cup for the Roosters, scoring 3 tries.[6](https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/nsw-cup/sydney-roosters-nsw-cup/salesi-foketi/) His father, Solomoni, was an elite player himself, appearing in both top-tier rugby union and rugby league competitions in New Zealand.[7](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-selesi-foketis-journey-to-the-nrl-roosters-promising-young-talent-foketi-try-against-knights-emerging-rugby-league-news/news-story/057281cdaa34c13e2b66555724eaaadc)
## NRL career
**Debut and rookie season.** Foketi made his NRL debut on 6 March 2025 in Round 1 against the [Brisbane Broncos](https://www.edgepedia.org/brisbane-broncos), and scored his maiden NRL try during the 2025 season.[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) • [8](https://org.rugbyleagueproject.com/annual/RugbyLeague2025Annual.pdf) He featured in 19 games in his rookie campaign, winning 11 and losing 8, with 1 try and 447 tackles at 95.51% efficiency.[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) • [9](https://leagueunlimited.com/people/show/salesi-foketi/2025)
**2026 breakout.** Foketi played 26 games in 2026, winning 18, and scored 3 tries with 4 line breaks, 12 offloads, 532 tackles at 96.7% efficiency, and 1,678 running meters at an average of 64 per game.[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) He spent much of the season on the Roosters left edge after a serious foot injury to representative star Angus Crichton accelerated a succession plan in which Foketi had long been viewed as Crichton's long-term replacement.[5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/) Foketi has credited Crichton's mentoring for his development, saying that learning from how Crichton trains and plays had helped him tremendously on the field.[5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/)
**Finals and premiership.** In the 2026 finals series, Foketi delivered 53 minutes in his maiden finals appearance against the Panthers, a match he nearly missed after battling influenza all week and being cleared only a few hours before kick-off; he came off the six-man bench and entered the game after 19 minutes when Egan Butcher suffered a head knock.[5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/) He was passed fit after a head injury assessment to play in the week-two semi-final against the Sharks, which the Roosters won 46-10 at Allianz Stadium.[10](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/roosters-vs-sharks-free-nrl-semi-final-2026) • [5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/) The Roosters went on to win the 2026 NRL Premiership, and Foketi also holds Anzac Cup wins in 2025 and 2026.[3](https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/salesi-foketi/summary.html)
## Representative prospects
Foketi is eligible for both New Zealand and Tonga, and was a member of Kristian Woolf's Tonga squad for the Pacific Championships.[5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/) His 2026 finals matches were framed as a chance to press his claim for a place in Stacy Jones' New Zealand squad for the upcoming World Cup.[5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/)
## Playing style
Foketi is an edge forward who combines running volume with defensive reliability: in 2026 he averaged 64 running meters per game while making 532 tackles at 96.7% efficiency, missing only 18 tackles across 26 matches.[1](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/) Teammates have highlighted his character and effort areas, with lock Victor Radley describing his willingness to play through illness and take big minutes as super impressive.[5](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/)
## References
1. [Official NRL profile of Salesi Foketi for Sydney Roosters, NRL.com](https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/roosters/salesi-foketi/)
2. [Salesi Foketi, Profilpelajar](https://profilpelajar.com/en/Salesi_Foketi)
3. [Salesi Foketi - Playing Career, Rugby League Project](https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/salesi-foketi/summary.html)
4. [2026 NRL signings tracker, NRL.com](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/01/01/2026-nrl-signings-tracker-the-latest-from-all-17-clubs/)
5. [How injured star helped unleash Roosters young gun, NRL.com, 18 September 2026](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/18/how-injured-star-helped-unleash-roosters-young-gun/)
6. [Official NSW Cup profile of Salesi Foketi for Sydney Roosters NSW Cup, NSWRL](https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/nsw-cup/sydney-roosters-nsw-cup/salesi-foketi/)
7. [Inside teen's journey to the NRL, Fox Sports, 5 July 2025](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-selesi-foketis-journey-to-the-nrl-roosters-promising-young-talent-foketi-try-against-knights-emerging-rugby-league-news/news-story/057281cdaa34c13e2b66555724eaaadc)
8. [2025 Rugby League Annual, Rugby League Project / League Unlimited](https://org.rugbyleagueproject.com/annual/RugbyLeague2025Annual.pdf)
9. [Salesi Foketi in 2025: every game, League Unlimited](https://leagueunlimited.com/people/show/salesi-foketi/2025)
10. [How to watch Roosters vs Sharks: NRL Semi-Final 2026, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/roosters-vs-sharks-free-nrl-semi-final-2026)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › Rugby league players and personnel*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license