Corey Webster
July 23, 2020
Isaih Tueta
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 31/01/91
- Place of Birth:
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 188
- Weight (KG): 82
- Junior Assoc:
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 7/10/16
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 19/11/17
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: New Zealand 2017 | Brisbane 2017-18
- Championships: 0
- None
NBL EXPERIENCE
Isaih Tueta made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 25 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2016/17
New Zealand entered 2016/17 after finishing fourth with a 16-12 record and losing the Grand Final series to Perth. Chief executive Richard Clarke and coach Dean Vickerman departed during the offseason, with Paul Henare promoted from assistant to head coach and Dillon Boucher taking over as general manager. Cedric Jackson (to Melbourne) and Tai Wesley (to Melbourne) also left, while Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Alex Pledger and captain Mika Vukona returned. Kirk Penney (via Illawarra), Robert Loe (via Limburg United), Ben Woodside (via Türk Telekom) and Akil Mitchell (via Antibes) were added, while Finn Delany, Shea Ili and Jordan Ngatai were elevated from development player roles.
Ili suffered a stress fracture in his lower back during the preseason and was ruled out for the opening weeks, leading New Zealand to sign Isaih Tueta (via Brisbane Spartans) as a short-term injury replacement. Tueta had spent the previous two seasons playing under former Breaker CJ Bruton in the SEABL and produced 22 points against Adelaide during the Australian Basketball Challenge while New Zealand was without several injured players.
Tueta made his NBL debut against Melbourne at Vector Arena on October 7, where Tueta (0 points and 1 rebound) played 6 minutes from the bench. Abercrombie (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Vukona (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) led New Zealand, while former Breaker Cedric Jackson (14 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists) was Melbourne’s best as the Breakers opened Henare’s coaching tenure with a 76-71 victory.
Tueta (3.8 points across 11 games) came from the bench in every appearance while filling Ili’s roster position. His best game came against Adelaide on October 29, where Tueta (7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) made three of four shots and his only three-point attempt. Penney (27 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Webster (22 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) led New Zealand, while Nathan Sobey (32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) was Adelaide’s best as the Breakers won 119-93 and produced their highest score since the NBL moved to 40-minute games.
Woodside suffered a serious right-foot injury against Melbourne the following week, leaving New Zealand without its starting point guard and opening further minutes for Tueta. Against Brisbane on November 6, Tueta (13 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made three of four shots, both of his three-point attempts and five of seven free throws in 20 minutes. Penney (30 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Pledger (12 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks) helped New Zealand win 86-70, while Jermaine Beal (16 points and 1 steal) led Brisbane. Tueta’s 13 points were a career-high and he combined with Penney to make eight three-pointers as the Breakers collected their third consecutive victory.
Woodside’s ruptured plantar fascia ruled him out for six to eight weeks and David Stockton (via Cedevita Zagreb) was signed as his injury replacement. Tueta remained in the rotation until Ili recovered, with his final appearance for New Zealand coming against Illawarra on November 20. Tueta (0 points) played 6 minutes from the bench, while Pledger (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Mitchell (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand and Rotnei Clarke (22 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) led Illawarra to a 109-78 victory. Ili returned the following week after almost three months sidelined, bringing Tueta’s short-term injury replacement stint to an end after 11 games.
New Zealand continued to deal with injuries and roster changes after Tueta departed. Webster (11.7 points across 15 games) battled hip and back problems before undergoing season-ending hip surgery and Abercrombie (11.7 points and 5.2 rebounds across 21 games) missed time with a broken hand. Paul Carter (via Alba Berlin) joined as Webster’s injury replacement while also providing cover for Abercrombie. Stockton (8.3 points and 4.2 assists across 10 games) later suffered a lower-back problem and was released alongside the still-injured Woodside (8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals across 6 games), with Kevin Dillard (via Pınar Karşıyaka) signed for the final nine games.
Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals across 9 games) combined with Penney (17.4 points and 3.4 rebounds across 28 games) to revive a season which had fallen to 8-12, leading four consecutive victories and returning New Zealand to playoff contention. Mitchell (9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds across 25 games), Pledger (8.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 28 games), Loe (7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds across 26 games), Vukona (6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds across 27 games) and Carter (9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds across 11 games) provided the other major contributions, while Penney was named the Breakers’ club MVP.
Tueta had moved on to Brisbane when New Zealand closed the season against Melbourne at Vector Arena on February 10. Dillard (16 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Penney (15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led the Breakers, while Casper Ware (23 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) was Melbourne’s best as New Zealand won 88-70 and finished fifth with a 14-14 record.
BRISBANE BULLETS
2016/17
Brisbane returned to the NBL for the first time since 2008/09 with Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis appointed head coach and Adam Gibson (via Adelaide) named captain. Daniel Kickert (via Melbourne), Tom Jervis (via Perth), Shaun Bruce (via Cairns), Mitchell Young (via Townsville), Reuben Te Rangi (via New Zealand), Torrey Craig (via Cairns), Jermaine Beal (via Perth) and Cameron Bairstow (via Chicago) were among those assembled for the Bullets’ return.
Brisbane’s frontcourt was badly affected by injuries during December. Bairstow suffered a season-ending ACL injury and Anthony Petrie required surgery for cartilage damage in his left knee, leaving the Bullets searching for additional depth. Isaih Tueta (via New Zealand) joined in the final week of December after his short-term injury replacement deal with the Breakers had ended following Ili’s return from a back injury.
Tueta made his Brisbane debut against Cairns on December 31 and immediately produced his best game for the Bullets. Tueta (6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made three of six shots and scored consecutive baskets during the fourth quarter as Brisbane broke open a close contest. Kickert (19 points, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) and Gibson (15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals) led the Bullets, while Travis Trice (20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) was Cairns’ best as Brisbane won 93-76.
Tueta (3.3 points across 8 games) came from the bench in all eight of his Brisbane appearances and did not make a start. He joined with 10 games remaining and appeared in eight, with no injury reported for the two games he did not play. His highest-scoring performance came against Illawarra on January 13, where Tueta (8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) played almost 20 minutes. Kickert (20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) and Gibson (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Brisbane, while Rotnei Clarke (20 points) was Illawarra’s leading scorer as the Hawks won 85-80.
Brisbane continued to make changes during the second half of the season. Wang Tong (via Shanghai) and Yan Peng (via Shanghai) had joined as development players as part of the NBL’s developing relationship with Chinese basketball, while Jeremy Kendle (via Bendigo) was added in January. Jermaine Beal (11.2 points across 23 games) was released on January 21 following a decline in form, with Lemanis saying the change was “in the best interests of the team, both in terms of winning games this season and building for the future.” Kendle (11 points across 7 games) remained in the rotation for the rest of the season.
Craig (15.2 points and 8 rebounds across 28 games) led Brisbane in scoring and rebounding, won the NBL Best Defensive Player award and earned All-NBL Second Team honours. Kickert (12.8 points and 4 rebounds across 28 games) also made the All-NBL Second Team and became the first player in league history to qualify for a 50-40-90 season. Bairstow (12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds across 13 games), Gibson (9.8 points and 3.8 assists across 21 games), Jervis (7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds across 28 games), Petrie (7.1 points and 3.1 rebounds across 18 games), Bruce (5.9 points across 28 games) and Young (5.5 points across 28 games) provided the other major contributions.
Tueta played in Brisbane’s final game against Illawarra on February 11, where Tueta (3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) came from the bench. Craig (30 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Jervis (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) led Brisbane, while Oscar Forman (26 points and 1 block) was Illawarra’s leading scorer as the Hawks won 106-79 and the Bullets finished eighth with a 10-18 record.
BRISBANE BULLETS
2017/18
Following an eighth-place 10-18 finish in 2016/17, Brisbane returned under Andrej Lemanis with Adam Gibson captain. Torrey Craig (to Denver), Jermaine Beal (to Israel) and Jeremy Kendle (to South West Metro) departed, while Travis Trice (via Cairns), Stephen Holt (via Czech Republic) and Perrin Buford (via Italy) were added.
Isaih Tueta had spent the previous season with New Zealand as a short-term injury replacement for Shea Ili before also playing with Brisbane. Tueta returned to the Bullets during 2017/18 as an injury replacement, later saying of his NBL opportunity, “Receiving that shot I went out there and showed that I belonged in the league.”
Tueta (0.5 points across 4 games) appeared four times during a short November stint. His best game came against Cairns on November 12, where Tueta (2 points and 1 assist) played six minutes as Brisbane defeated the Taipans 82-74. Trice (17 points and 8 assists) and Tom Jervis (14 points and 7 rebounds) led Brisbane, while Cameron Gliddon (15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns.
Tueta’s final appearance came against New Zealand on November 19 and proved to be his final NBL game. Brisbane went on to finish eighth with a 9-19 record.
Isaih Tueta played three seasons in the NBL. He averaged 3 points, 1 rebounds, and 1 assists in 23 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 27 | Brisbane | 9-19 (8) | 4 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 20% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 20% | 0% | 2 |
| 2016-17 | 26 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 11 | 123 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 31 | 39% | 5 | 14 | 36% | 7 | 17 | 41% | 54% | 47% | 13 |
| 2016-17 | 26 | New Zealand | 14-14 (5) | 8 | 96 | 26 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 30 | 30% | 3 | 11 | 27% | 6 | 19 | 32% | 33% | 35% | 8 | Totals | 23 | 231 | 70 | 23 | 25 | 2 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 66 | 33.3% | 8 | 27 | 29.6% | 13 | 36 | 36.1% | 43% | 39% | 13 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 27 | Brisbane | 9-19 (8) | 4 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 20% | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 20% | 0% | 2 |
| 2016-17 | 26 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 11 | 11.2 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 39% | 0.5 | 1.3 | 36% | 0.6 | 1.5 | 41% | 54% | 47% | 13 |
| 2016-17 | 26 | New Zealand | 14-14 (5) | 8 | 12.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 30% | 0.4 | 1.4 | 27% | 0.8 | 2.4 | 32% | 33% | 35% | 8 | Total | 23 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 33.3% | 0.0 | 29.6% | 0.3 | 1.2 | 36.1% | 43% | 39% | 13 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 13 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Sunshine Coast (2017–2022), Brisbane (2024–2025), Southern Districts (2026)
Tueta joined USC Rip City for the 2017 Queensland Basketball League season. Rip City finished fifth with an 11–6 record before losing 93–76 to Cairns in the quarter-finals. Tueta was named QBL Player of the Week in Round 6 and finished the season as the league leader in three-point field-goal percentage.
Tueta remained with USC Rip City for the 2018 Queensland Basketball League season as team captain under Nathan Arousi. He entered the season as one of Rip Citys lead guards after the clubs 11–6 fifth-place finish the previous year and helped the team return to the quarter-finals.
He continued with USC Rip City through the 2019 Queensland Basketball League season as part of the clubs senior core before the competition moved into the NBL1 North era.
Tueta remained with USC Rip City in 2020 when Queensland State League competition replaced the planned NBL1 North season. A broken toe interrupted his campaign, but he appeared in seven games and averaged a team-high 17.0 points and 6.1 assists along with 5.3 rebounds per game. Rip City finished 10th with a 2–9 record, while Tueta remained involved with the group as younger players received extended court time during the COVID-interrupted season.
He returned to USC Rip City for the inaugural 2021 NBL1 North season, with Isaih and Josh Tueta entering their fifth season together at the club. Tueta top-scored for USC with 17 points in a 98–56 season-opening loss to Sunshine Coast Phoenix at USC Stadium and went on to average 19.13 points, 5.40 assists and 4.87 rebounds per game.
Tueta returned as USC Rip Citys mens captain for the 2022 NBL1 North season after becoming the clubs first mens signing for the year. He averaged 16.27 points, a team-high 6.14 assists and 3.41 rebounds per game. In Round 5, he hit the game-winning shot in a 91–89 victory over Brisbane Capitals while scoring 30 points with four rebounds and three assists on 13-of-19 shooting.
During the 2022 regular season, Tueta added 26 points, nine assists and three rebounds on 11-of-19 shooting in an 88–76 win over North Gold Coast Seahawks and recorded 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists as USC improved to 13–5 with a late-season victory over Sunshine Coast Phoenix.
USC finished the 2022 regular season third at 13–6 and defeated Darwin Salties 89–86 in the quarter-finals before beating Cairns Marlins 90–63 in the semi-finals. Tueta produced 16 points and 10 assists in the semi-final victory in front of a club-record crowd of 1,400 at USC Stadium.
Tueta played in USCs 2022 NBL1 North Grand Final Series against Gold Coast, recording 20 points, three rebounds and two assists in the 101–86 Game 1 loss. An early knee injury in Game 2 limited his involvement as Gold Coast won 118–71 to complete the series.
Tueta joined the Brisbane Capitals for the 2024 NBL1 North season and averaged 14.25 points, 4.20 assists, 2.55 rebounds, 1.20 steals and 1.45 made three-pointers per game. He recorded 15 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds in a 93–91 victory over Rockhampton.
Brisbane finished fourth at 11–6 and defeated Rockhampton in the quarter-finals before beating Darwin 103–76 in the semi-finals. Tueta finished the semi-final with 17 points, 10 assists and three rebounds as the Capitals advanced to the Grand Final Series.
The Capitals lost the 2024 NBL1 North Grand Final Series 2–0 to Mackay. Tueta had eight points, five assists and four rebounds in the 91–79 Game 1 loss before adding 10 points, four assists and two rebounds in the 102–80 Game 2 defeat. He was later named Brisbanes NBL1 Mens CAPS Player of the Year.
Tueta remained with Brisbane for the 2025 NBL1 North season and averaged 14.71 points, 4.59 assists, 2.82 rebounds, 0.82 steals and 2.53 made three-pointers per game. He led the Capitals with 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, in a 111–75 win over Cairns.
Brisbane finished the 2025 regular season second at 9–5, with Tueta recording 12 points, five assists and four rebounds in a 109–96 victory over Northside that secured a top-two finish. He then produced 28 points, seven assists and four rebounds while making 6-of-10 three-pointers in the semi-final win over Sunshine Coast to send the Capitals into their second consecutive NBL1 North Grand Final Series.
Tueta recorded 14 points, four rebounds and four assists as Brisbane lost Game 1 of the 2025 Grand Final Series 90–78 to Southern Districts. He scored 23 points with five assists and three rebounds in Game 2, briefly putting Brisbane in front with a floater inside the final two minutes before Southern Districts recovered to win 93–88 and complete the series.
Tueta joined Southern Districts for the 2026 NBL1 North season after his two seasons with Brisbane, joining a mens roster that included Tamuri Wigness, Darcy Ryder and Andre Ugrinic. He averaged 12.44 points, 3.89 assists, 2.67 rebounds and a team-high 1.44 steals per game during the season.
Southern Districts finished the 2026 regular season eighth at 7–9 and missed the finals. Tueta closed the season with 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds as the Spartans defeated Brisbane 110–98 in their final game.
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