Named NZRU Age Grade Player of the Year in 2010, Liaki Moli’s Super Rugby debut season was cruelly ripped away from him after a serious shoulder injury sustained at the end of 2010 required surgery at the start of 2011.
The burly lock burst onto the scene in 2010 with some eye catching performances for the New Zealand Under-20s in their Junior World Championship victory in Argentina, and he was later selected for his debut season of provincial rugby with Auckland in the ITM Cup, where he excelled.
His power, aggression and athleticism make him an extremely exciting prospect for the Blues in 2012, and the player dubbed "monster" by his teammates will be pushing locks Anthony Boric and Ali Williams all the way for a starting spot.
He has previously represented New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Under-17s, and while he now stands at almost 2m tall, he actually began his rugby career playing centre.