Former NRL player Arana Taumata could break a coveted record after earning yet another nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.
Taumata probably already holds the record for playing the least NRL games at the most clubs. He played only 14 games at 7 different clubs, and could break a record for the most number of hall of fame nominations. He will struggle to beat Ben Cousins for off-field incidents, but he is giving it a good crack.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the men’s and women’s National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Ezra Mam is the most recent recipient.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Cousins and Julian O’Neill.
Taumata was recently nominated after being found guilty of defrauding two victims in a Ponzi-style investment scheme. He posed as a property investor to defraud the victims of more than $160,000. He also used funds from one victim to reimburse another.
He was ordered to repay his victims and serve an 18-month intensive corrections order, including 126 hours of community service. The fraud came to light when victims received notices about missing superannuation funds after Taumata disappeared in late 2021.
Taumata was already on the police radar.
He was convicted of damaging his ex-girlfriend’s car during a domestic violence incident and ordered to pay $943 in damages and undergo community service.
But that’s not the end – and this is why Cousins is worried about his record.
Taumata ended up behind bars in 2024 after being arrested during an alleged foot chase with police outside the Coogee Pavilion in Sydney. He was approached by officers due to a number of outstanding warrants and allegedly ran from officers before being arrested.
Police said an officer suffered a laceration to his head during Taumata’s arrest and was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Following his arrest, he was charged with four counts of outstanding domestic violence warrant as well as hindering/resisting a police officer in the execution of their duty.
The former backrower had earlier failed to appear at Gosford Local Court and was convicted of seven offences in his absence. He had pleaded not guilty to fraud, dealing with the proceeds of crime, common assault and intimidation. When he failed to appear in court, he was convicted in his absence and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Taumata was in trouble even whle playing in the NRL. He played for Canterbury, North Queensland and Penrith as well as the Broncos, Roosters and Melbourne, and was supposed to play for the Tigers as well.
He did not survive at either club for the following reasons:
Sacked by Broncos for disciplinary reasons, as he was at the Roosters a year later.
Sacked by Bulldogs for allegedly breaking another man’s jaw in an off-field incident.
Sacked by Melbourne over an alcohol-fuelled brawl, but earned yet another second chance, this time at the Tigers.
Left the Tigers, joined the Cowboys, but was released by the north-Queensland club at the end of the season.
Sacked by the Panthers, after a conversation with Phil Gould.
“First time a footy official gave it to me straight,’’ Taumata conceded. “Gus said I was going to kill myself. Maybe kill somebody else. I broke down right there in front of him.”
Taumata himself admitted he was out of control during his career. He told media outlets:
“My whole life, everything has come so easy. Even during my last start at Penrith, I was on benders the night before games and nobody knew — nobody — because I’d play so well next day.”
He eventually walked out of the Panthers after being found guilty of stealing club doctor’s prescription pad to order Valium.
In 2013 he made a racist tweet towards My Kitchen Rules contestants Jessie Khan and Biswa Kamilla. He couldn’t even keep his contract with lower-grade club Wyong Roos. So bad was his behaviour, that his former manager, Cameron Day, once said:
“Some people think he’s an angel. He’s not. If he were going out with my daughter I’d shoot him”.
Proof that all records are meant to be broken.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 