Player Alice Vailea

[mt.wellington]

Alice Vailea


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Alice Vailea (born 30 January 1996) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played as second-row for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Vailea was born in Auckland, NZ and is of Tongan heritage ('Otea (Vava'u) & Kolonga (Tongatapu) villages).

In 2016, Vailea represented the Akarana Falcons while playing for the Bay Roskill Vikings.

In June 2018, while playing for the Richmond Roses, she was named in the New Zealand train-on squad. That year, she was named the Auckland Rugby League Women's Player of the Year.

On 1 August 2018, she was announced as a member of the inaugural New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership squad.

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors, starting at second-row in their 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.

In 2020, she played for Tonga XIII against Niue XIII.

 

[mt.wellington]

'You don't want to run their way': Warriors' Alice Vailea says big hitters ready to deliver more brutal defence on Dragons​

By Faleatua Malili, 1 NEWS NOW Sport Reporter
September 13, 2018


'You don't want to run their way' - Warriors women’s star Alice Vailea on brutal round one defence.

The Warriors second rower said there are certain players the Dragons opposition should probably avoid on the pitch.

The Warriors second rower said there are certain players the Dragons opposition should probably avoid on the pitch. (Source: Other)

Warriors star Alice Vailea isn't getting ahead of herself, despite her side's shock round one win, with her Warriors teammates ready for a fired up Dragons outfit in the women's NRL this Saturday.

The 22-year-old second rower had a more than solid outing in the Warriors women's 10-4 Premiership win against the Sydney Roosters.

She made an impressive four tackle busts, carried the ball for 81 metres and delivered some at times brutal defensive hits, throughout the match.

But Vailea says her side have a new challenge in preparing for a St George Illawarra side still smarting from a 30-4 hammering from the Broncos in round one.

"I think for us we enjoyed the win and I know that's one game, just trying to stay focused week by week," said Vailea.

"It's good to get the win and start the competition like that, but we have a whole new challenge ahead of us."

Vailea's skipper Laura Mariu provided the game's biggest moment in delivering an absolutely bone-rattling tackle in the final minute of the match, to cause a turnover and cement the Warriors win.

"Those girls (Mariu and Nu'uausala) you just don't want to run their way, unlucky for those girls (Roosters) they kind of ran into the wrong person and defensively those girls are always going to be gunning for you," said Vailea.

She admitted she never really took rugby league seriously until realising she could play on the NRL stage.

"Never thought this would come so soon for me, I've always been one to just chill out and watch the girls do their thing.

"But this year I thought 'I wanna try and have a good go at this'.

"To be able to be amongst this team and be given the opportunity to play out there, I'm just grateful for the opportunity.

"And to be a part of it is just amazing."

Vailea said her family have been a great support throughout her rugby league career.

"Mum wanted to come over (Sydney) but couldn't come over, but to have the support of my family and know I'm making them proud makes me happy."

Warriors coach Luisa Avaiki said she was proud of her side's efforts last week, but hopes to see improvement in her club's attacking plays this weekend.

"Attacking wise we want to be able to put on more of our plays," said Avaiki.

"And move the ball around a bit more even in our forwards.

"We did do a lot of single one-ups and that but we want to be able to run up in numbers."

'You don't want to run their way': Warriors' Alice Vailea says big hitters ready to deliver more brutal defence on Dragons

The Warriors second rower said there are certain players the Dragons opposition should probably avoid on the pitch.

www.1news.co.nz

 

[mt.wellington]

Vailea takes chance as Warriors unlock next generation​

Alicia Newton
Wed 12 Sep 2018, 01:24 pm


She is one of New Zealand's rising players and Alice Vailea's debut performance for the Warriors has given her the self-confidence to believe in that statement.

Vailea and her long curly locks featured strongly in the big hits that came out of the Warriors' win over the Roosters in the opening round of the Holden Women's Premiership clash, and she'll be keen to repeat those efforts in her side's clash against St George Illawarra on Saturday.

The 22-year-old carried the ball for 81 metres, made four tackle busts and was a part of some bone-rattling tackles to set the standard of defence for the competition last week.

While she looked like a natural on the paddock, playing at a venue like ANZ Stadium was the first time Vailea had ever experienced an elite setting for a rugby league fixture.

It's the type of enticement set to lure players from across New Zealand and Australia to discover their rugby league dream.


"It's still sinking in, I'm buzzing about the whole experience," Vailea told NRL.com.
"I still don't know how to feel about it, I'm just grateful to be able to be part of history. To open up the competition like that and get a win was really special for everyone back home who has supported us."

Vailea was rated the best women's rugby league player at club level in Auckland this year and is destined for higher honours at the international level with the Kiwi Ferns.

The Richmond Roses junior has been playing rugby league for six years but had never taken it seriously until confirmation the NRLW competition was to become a reality.

She admitted she sat back in the past and watched her teammates succeed, never believing she had what it took to reach a higher level.

Vailea's time under Warriors coach Luisa Avaiki has proved a turning point.

"I put my head down and worked hard and find myself here," Vailea said.

"I was in cruise mode about rugby league until I heard the competition was going to happen. It's a great culture to be a part of.

"Our strength as a team is we've got some girls up front that can take on anyone physically and everyone's putting their hand up and backing themselves."

The Warriors weren't tipped to reach the inaugural grand final but another win in Sydney could see them finish in the top two on the competition ladder.

"We never let anything anyone says bother us," Vailea said.

"We're the underdogs. We just roll with that, the men's side seem to have that same treatment. It's humbling for us to know people don't look at us to go far in this competition.

"Luisa has installed that from the start to get that right mindset about not worrying about anyone else and focusing on those within the squad."

Vailea takes chance as Warriors unlock next generation

She is one of New Zealand's rising players and Alice Vailea's debut performance for the Warriors has given her the self-confidence to believe in that statement.

www.nrl.com

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Sister of Viliami?