Player Viliami Vailea

[WahsaurusRex]

Viliami Vailea
​

Name	Viliami Vailea
Born	17 November 2002 (Vaini, Tonga)
Height	185cm
Weight	98kg
Position	Centre, Winger
Warriors Player Number	#264
Warriors Debut	Round 20 vs. Wests Tigers, 30 July 2021
Warriors Career	2021-
Representative	-
Junior Club	Aorere College (Rugby Union)

Viliami Vailea (born 17 November 2002) is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).

In round 20 of the 2021 NRL season, Vailea made his debut for the Warriors against the Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium in a 18–16 win.

He made a total of ten appearances for the New Zealand Warriors in the 2022 NRL season as they finished 15th on the table.

Viliami Vailea - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Viliami couldn't help but capture attention with his deeds for Aorere College in Auckland's highly-regarded First XV rugby union competition. Rated among New Zealand's best players at secondary school level, he won his school's top individual sporting award.

Signed by the Vodafone Warriors, he not only played First XV rugby union for Aorere College last year but he also featured for the Vodafone Warriors in the New South Wales Rugby League's S G Ball Cup (under-18). While the club's debut in the renowned S G Ball was cut short by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vailea made three appearances, scoring two tries.

He joined the Vodafone Warriors' NRL squad for preseason training last November and was among the club's promising young players taken to Australia with the wider squad in the New Year to prepare for the 2021 season.

Viliami joined the squad's non-playing first graders and other players appearing for feeder club Redcliffe in the Queensland Rugby League's Intrust Super Cup. The competition was disrupted by another Covid outbreak in July but up to that point Viliami had impressed, scoring six tries in eight games, averaging 104 metres a game and making 30 tackle breaks and five line breaks.

He was initially named as 18th man for the Vodafone Warriors' 20th-round NRL contest against the Wests Tigers but was elevated to the game day squad at right centre to become Warrior #264.

Viliami Vailea

The NRL profile of Viliami Vailea including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.warriors.kiwi

Viliami Vailea - Playing Career - RLP

A summary of the career stats for Viliami Vailea, a rugby league player who played for the Warriors.

www.rugbyleagueproject.org

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Screenshot from the official Warriors site of Viliami Vailea bio as of 17/10/2023...

 

[chrisnz]

Mixed bag this fella could of been anything feels like it was an attitude problem may be another ice and find an extra leg at the cowboys next year.

 

[mt.wellington]

Vailea leaving One New Zealand Warriors at end of season​

Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Wed 26 Jul 2023, 12:00 PM

Centre Viliami Vailea will leave the One New Zealand Warriors at the end of the 2023 season to continue his career with another NRL club.
The 20-year-old has played five times for the NRL side so far this season to lift his career tally to 17 appearances since his debut in 2021.

“It was an extremely difficult decision to release Vili,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, development and pathways Andrew McFadden.

“We really appreciate his contribution in his time with our club and wish him all the best with his move but first he has a job to do for us for the rest of this season.”

Signed by the One New Zealand Warriors from a rugby union background, Vailea played for the club in the SG Ball Cup (under-18) in 2020 before going on make his NRL debut against the Wests Tigers in round 20 in 2021.

Vailea leaving One New Zealand Warriors at end of season

Viliami Vailea to departing at end of season to continue career with another NRL club.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[Riz]

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

View attachment 6968

Hope he goes well.

So much promise. I liked the guy. Hopefully he takes the opportunity and makes the most of it.

 

[tyrael]

Hope he goes well.

So much promise. I liked the guy. Hopefully he takes the opportunity and makes the most of it.

Why didn't we keep him. Cock blocked by Pomps and return of RTS?

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Why didn't we keep him. Cock blocked by Pomps and return of RTS?

Because he was the most disinterested defender since 2014 Feleti Mateo

 

[CWC]

Why didn't we keep him. Cock blocked by Pomps and return of RTS?

Late and lazy at trainings and tackled like a chihuahua

Had the size, pace and aerial skills to be a future super star fullback and decided to be lazy

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Late and lazy at trainings and tackled like a chihuahua

Had the size, pace and aerial skills to be a future super star fullback and decided to be lazy

I ‘hope’ his disinterest was due to youth and unable to see a pathway. An immaturity thing.

I hope being pushed out of his comfort zone motivates him because with the talent he had and the right mindset,, he could have been anything.

 

[Ref]

I hope he nails it.
He can claim that spot if he plays well.
Laybutts season is over and he is a gun and Tom Chester is decent but he hasn’t made himself indispensable.