Rugby league and union icon Lote Tuqiri has revealed how he confronted a group of home invaders who broke into his Brisbane property in the early hours of May 22. The 46-year-old former NRL and Wallabies star said he went into 'fight or flight' mode when he discovered up to eight thieves in his home.
Home Invasion Details
Tuqiri told News Corp that the thieves entered through a side door and found car keys in his kitchen. 'It was Friday morning, they came into the house and took the keys. I got woken up and there was six to eight of them – three carloads full,' he said. The intruders managed to steal a Volkswagen from his garage, but Tuqiri prevented them from taking a second vehicle.
'I went out roaring. They quickly got out of the second car and jumped into the other stolen cars and took off down the street,' he added. After the incident, a knife was discovered on the back seat of the stolen car, which police believe was taken from Tuqiri's kitchen.
Police Investigation
The stolen Volkswagen was recovered on the Gold Coast on Sunday. A 19-year-old man has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, receiving tainted property, driving without a licence, and disobeying a speed limit. However, he has not been charged in connection with the original theft.
Comparison to Toutai Kefu Incident
Tuqiri compared his ordeal to the horrific home invasion suffered by fellow ex-Wallaby Toutai Kefu in August 2021. Kefu was stabbed in the stomach, sustaining a life-threatening injury, while his wife Rachel was also knifed. The judge described the scene inside Kefu's home as a 'war zone', with blood splashed and smeared throughout the property. The teenage intruders had entered the home armed with large knives, intending to steal cars.
Tuqiri's Career Highlights
Tuqiri enjoyed a stellar career in both rugby codes. He won NRL premierships with the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs, playing 167 games before switching to rugby union in 2003. He went on to play 67 Tests for the Wallabies, scoring 30 tries, before returning to the NRL with the Wests Tigers in 2010.
Reflecting on the home invasion, Tuqiri said: 'It's scary when you think about it later, but at the time you just go on autopilot. I was loud. I had to be the craziest bloke in the room. Luckily nothing happened.'
