Tanielu was a Sydenham Swans junior in the Canterbury Rugby League and represented the Junior Kiwis in 2001.
tˈæniːlˌuː wʌzɐ sˈaɪdənˌæm swˈɑːnz dʒˈuːnjɚɹ ɪnðə kˈæntɚbˌɛɹi ɹˈʌɡbi lˈiːɡ ænd ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntᵻd ðə dʒˈuːnjɚ kˈiːwiːz ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd wˈʌn.