Taioalo Vaivai
Encyclopedia
Taioalo "Junior" Vaivai is a Samoan
professional Rugby League
player for the Penrith Panthers
in the National Rugby League. His position of choice is at centre but he is also capable of filling in on the wing.
He made his debut in Round 23 2009 for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
against the Penrith Panthers
and scored a try, however the Rabbitohs were thumped 40-10.His call up to the first grade squad was due to his outstanding performances for the Rabbitohs in the Toyota Cup in the same season. He led the Toyota Cup competition in line breaks and was equal third highest try scorer on 20 tries.
He was selected in the Samoan
train on squad in 2010.
In 2011 Vaivai signed with the Penrith Panthers after speculation he was heading to Parramatta Eels
after he was charged with assaulting his girlfriend and released from the Rabbitohs.
and also played for the Easts Tigers
.
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
professional Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player for the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in the National Rugby League. His position of choice is at centre but he is also capable of filling in on the wing.
He made his debut in Round 23 2009 for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
against the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
and scored a try, however the Rabbitohs were thumped 40-10.His call up to the first grade squad was due to his outstanding performances for the Rabbitohs in the Toyota Cup in the same season. He led the Toyota Cup competition in line breaks and was equal third highest try scorer on 20 tries.
He was selected in the Samoan
Samoa national rugby league team
-Notable Players & Coaches:* John Ackland * Steve Kaiser Coach 1990 - 1994* Steve Kaiser 1986* Afi Ah Koui 1986* Andrew Ah Koui 1986* George Apelu 1986* Fa'ausu Afoa circa-1995* Wing Afoa 1990 - 1994* Isaak Ah Mau circa-2006...
train on squad in 2010.
In 2011 Vaivai signed with the Penrith Panthers after speculation he was heading to Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
after he was charged with assaulting his girlfriend and released from the Rabbitohs.
Early Years
He played his junior rugby league with the Goodna Eagles in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and also played for the Easts Tigers
Easts Tigers
The Eastern Suburbs Tigers are a rugby league club based at Langlands Park, which is in the suburb of Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1934 to 1996. From 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is traditionally an all gold jersey...
.