True Roosters: Isaac Liu /

One of the most reliable forwards in Club history, Isaac Liu has carved out a career of Premierships, International representation and milestones in the Red, White and Blue distinguished by his professionalism and hard-working attitude.

Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Liu moved to Australia and settled on the Gold Coast – becoming a prominent figure at Rugby League nursery Keebra Park before venturing south to Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Playing 19 games for the Tricolours’ National Youth Competition side in 2011, the young forward garnered early success in the NSW Cup as part of the Premiership-winning Newtown Jets side a season later in a sign of what was soon to come.

Liu’s influence on the Club continued in his debut match in Round 4, 2013, with the Roosters thrashing Parramatta 50-nil, in a season where the side lifted the trophy as they claimed their 13th Premiership. Despite not featuring in the Grand Final, he played in fifteen matches with just three losses in his debut season.

It wouldn’t take long for the hard-hitting forward to make his debut on the international stage, representing Samoa the following season in a 32-16 victory over Fiji. While the Roosters came agonisingly close to making a second consecutive Grand Final, Liu was in the thick of things in the post-season, featuring prominently for Samoa in the Four Nations.

Liu’s place in Trent Robinson’s side was solidified as he featured in every single match of the 2015 season, with his consistency rewarded in his 100th game in 2017 as he barged over for a try in the 28-4 victory over Newcastle at the Sydney Football Stadium, and that same season he made his International debut for New Zealand with three appearances in the 2017 World Cup.

His hard work and dedication to the game and his Club would come to fruition in 2018, where he came off the bench in the Roosters’ Grand Final victory over the Melbourne Storm, showing tremendous efficiency with 115 metres in just 36 minutes on the field.

He’s such a detailed player. He just gets the job done week-in-week-out, no questions asked. He’ll do any job that we need of him and he’ll never do anything wrong.

James Tedesco Sydney Roosters Captain

The following season his presence only grew as he earned a starting spot in the front row for his second consecutive Premiership in the memorable 14-8 win over the Canberra Raiders.

A member of the Roosters’ leadership group, Liu has assumed a mentoring role in his most recent seasons at the Club and has played an integral role in the development of young forwards during the turbulent 2021 season, playing every match of the season and recording his most average metres and tackles.

Liu’s major milestone so far this season will be achieved in Round 24, cementing himself as one of the most durable players to wear the famous Tricolours as he becomes just the eleventh player to feature in 200 matches.

Captain James Tedesco was quick to laud Liu during the week, stating:

“He’s such a detailed player. He just gets the job done week-in-week-out, no questions asked. He’ll do any job that we need of him and he’ll never do anything wrong.

“He’s always detailed in his preparation and everything that he needs to do to play his best footy.”

Typifying the professionalism of the Club from his debut season, Isaac Liu remains a master of defence, a workhorse in attack, and with the rare ability to play anywhere in the forward pack - he is certainly one of the best we’ve ever seen.