The Tongan international played his role with distinction during the season as he played all but two regular season matches for the Green Machine.
Whether playing at hooker or at lock, Hiavili provided plenty of energy from the bench as he averaged 57.6 running metres despite limited minutes.
After starting the season from the bench, Havili came to the fore midway through the Round 11 match against the North Queensland Cowboys as Josh Hodgson succumbed to a thumb injury.
Although the Raiders lost that match, Havili started the next three matches which all resulted in wins for the Green Machine.
The hooker got through a mountain of work in those three games making 111 tackles overall while playing roughly 60 minutes per game.
During the representative round, Havili represented Tonga as they faced New Zealand but suffered a 34-14 loss to the Kiwis.
Upon Hodgson’s return, Havili moved back to the bench and coming on late in matches. However, with a close to a full squad to choose from for the end of the season, Bailey Simonsson claimed the utility role for the finals campaign.
Havili’s year wasn’t finished at the conclusion of the NRL season as the Tonga Invitational side played the Great Britain Lions and the Australian Kangaroos.
Havili leads Sipi Tau at Eden Park
Havili led a spine-tingling edition of the Sipi Tau on both occasions as the Tongan side created history by claiming wins against both powerhouses. On the field, Havili played an important role as he started at hooker on both occasions.
