Taniela Lasalo
A powerful and versatile Parramatta Eels stalwart whose long-serving loyalty in the NRL was defined by hard carries and unwavering club commitment.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Australian rugby league footballer·Birthday: September 23·Millennials
Biography
Taniela Lasalo made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels in 2010 and played 79 first-grade games for the club. A product of the Parramatta system, the hulking forward operated as a prop or lock in the engine room. He was not a flashy star but a valued contributor, delivering strong runs and tireless work rate in the middle of the park. His nearly decade-long tenure in blue and gold represented significant service during a turbulent period for the Eels. After his NRL chapter closed, Lasalo continued his career in the NSW Cup. There he brought experience and physicality to the semi-professional ranks, embodying the passion of a player who simply loved to play the game.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Taniela was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Taniela Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Taniela's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 79 NRL games over eight seasons for the Parramatta Eels from 2010 to 2017.
- Scored 10 tries in his NRL career, primarily from the forward position.
- Was a mainstay in the Eels' forward pack during the mid-2010s, playing over 20 games in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
- Continued his playing career at a high level in the NSW Cup competition after his NRL tenure.
Did You Know?
He is of Tongan descent.
Lasalo played his junior rugby league for the Cabramatta Two Blues.
His final NRL game was in Round 26 of the 2017 season against the New Zealand Warriors.
He played for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Intrust Super Premiership after leaving the Eels.
“I just put my head down and work for the boys in the middle.”
