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Lima, Jeff |
  Jeff LIMA [Player Stats] + Submit additional information or a correction to this player 
Lima re-signs with Melbourne for three years Sat May 3, 2008 Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au Melbourne prop Jeff Lima has committed his future to the club that turned him from journeyman to premiership player and New Zealand international for a further three years. Lima, who joined the Storm mid-way through 2006 from French club St Gaudens, said the opportunity to be a part of more success with Melbourne helped sway his decision. "The Storm gave me a chance to get back into the NRL and for that I will be eternally grateful," said Lima. "The winning attitude of the players here, and the determination of the coaching staff for continued success make this the best place for me to play my football. "I was struggling when I arrived in 2006, but because of the belief shown in me by Craig and the coaching staff here I've become the player I am today, representing my country and winning a premiership. "Because of that I wanted to be loyal to the Melbourne Storm and pay them back for the faith they showed in me." Storm coach Craig Bellamy believes Lima's loyalty to the Storm is a reflection of the culture at the club. "Jeff has gone from having played just two NRL games when he arrived here to being a starting front-rower with us, and he deserves a lot of credit for that," said Bellamy. "He was close to our best player in the Grand Final last year which goes to show what a valuable player he's become in our team. "For him to choose the Storm, given we couldn't compete financially with other NRL clubs, just goes to show the kind of environment we've created here and that players are willing to sacrifice higher wages for the chance to be a part of this club." A former Balmain Tiger junior, Jeff spent the beginning of the 2006 season playing in the French national competition. After a number of front-row injuries to the Storm's squad in 2006, Jeff was recruited to bolster the stocks. Jeff impressively debuted for Storm against the Warriors in Round 24 of 2006 at Olympic Park and went on to play an integral part in the Storm's march to the 2007 premiership. His Grand Final performance was so impressive he must have gone close to becoming the first player to win the Clive Churchill Medal off the bench. He was rewarded for his performance in the Grand Final with a spot in the New Zealand squad for the one-off Test against Australia and the Test series against Great Britain. News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au Six players to make debuts for Kiwis in Centenary Test Sun October 7, 2007 by NZRL Coach Gary Kemble tonight confirmed six players will make their debuts for the Kiwis in the Centenary Test against the Kangaroos in Wellington next Sunday (October 14). In trimming his original 19-man squad, Kemble handed first test jerseys to wingers Luke Covell (Cronulla) and Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers), halfback Jeremy Smith (South Sydney), prop Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta) and loose forward Jeremy Smith (Melbourne) with Melbourne prop Jeff Lima included on the interchange bench. Named 18th man is Warriors back rower Louis Anderson and the 19th man is young St George Illawarra centre Chase Stanley. The selection means two players with the same name will appear in the same test side for the first time in New Zealand rugby league history - Jeremy James Smith in the No 7 jersey and Jeremy Jon Oscar Smith in No 13. There has been a previous instance of two players with the same name appearing in the same Kiwi side but it was in a tour match against Queensland in 1925. Jim O'Brien, a second rower from Devonport, had Marist prop Jim O'Brien as a team-mate (Marist, prop) in that match. With two Smiths and four other new players, Kemble is excited about the prospect of fielding such a new-look side in such a significant test. "We're really happy with the players we have and the whole squad has come together well since we've been in camp," said Kemble. "This will be one of the most exciting tests in some time with so many players set to make their test debuts, not just in our team but in the Australian side as well." Of the New Zealand side that played in this year's Anzac Test, only two remain in the backline - Inu and Roberts. The other survivors are captain Roy Asotasi, the most experienced test player in the team with 17 appearances, hooker Dene Halatau, back rowers Simon Mannering and Frank Pritchard and interchange forwards David Faiumu and Sam Rapira. Mannering was in the centres in the Anzac Test. Centres Paul Whatuira and Steve Matai plus interchange utility Shontayne Hape are recalled after missing the Anzac Test. Matai and Hape were both involved in the Tri Nations campaign last year while the last of Whatuira's 11 tests was last year's Anzac Test. CENTENARY TEST KIWIS V KANGAROOS WESTPAC STADIUM, WELLINGTON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 KIWIS 1 Krisnan Inu 2 Luke Covell 3 Steve Matai 4 Paul Whatuira 5 Taniela Tuiaki 6 Ben Roberts 7 Jeremy Smith 8 Roy Asotasi (c) 9 Dene Halatau 10 Fuifui Moimoi 11 Simon Mannering 12 Frank Pritchard 13 Jeremy Smith Interchange: 14 David Faiumu 15 Shontayne Hape 16 Sam Rapira 17 Jeff Lima ISSUED ON BEHALF OF NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE
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