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Caught the eye in the Warriors' preseason trial in Hamilton early in 1999 and, when an opening came through an acute run of injuries and suspensions, Mark Graham enlisted Meli's help. That was for the Ericsson date with South Sydney, a match that turned into a grim experience for the Warriors. Meli was teamed in the centres with Joe Galuvao that day in a side well down on first grade experience. The Warriors were beaten 12-8 in a game they surely should have won. From the Marist club in Auckland, he didn't reappear until the home game against St George-Illawarra, grabbing a long-range intercept try and repeating the feat in the season-ending win over Western Suburbs. Plenty of pace.
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