Thomas Mikaele
A powerhouse prop from New Zealand who carved a path from local fields to the NRL with his formidable size and relentless forward charges.
Born 1998 (age 28)·New Zealand rugby league footballer·Birthday: January 11·Generation Z
Biography
Born in Auckland, Thomas Mikaele's journey to the National Rugby League was forged in the tough local competitions of New Zealand. His raw talent and imposing physical presence as a prop caught the eye of scouts, leading him to the Wests Tigers in 2019. Mikaele quickly established himself as a key figure in the forward pack, known for his hard-running style and ability to bend defensive lines. His career took him to the North Queensland Cowboys, where he continues to be a vital engine room player, providing the grunt and go-forward that modern rugby league demands. Off the field, his quiet determination and commitment to his Samoan heritage shape his identity as much as his on-field exploits.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Thomas was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Thomas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Thomas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
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 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in 2019 against the New Zealand Warriors.
- Represented the Samoan national team in international rugby league.
- Played a key forward role for the North Queensland Cowboys in the 2023 NRL season.
Did You Know?
He is of Samoan descent.
He stands at 191 cm (6'3") tall and weighs approximately 115 kg (254 lbs).
Before his NRL career, he played for the Keebra Park State High School rugby league team.
“My job is to move forward and make a dent in their line.”
