Name Paterika Vaivai Career start 2013 Weight 120 kg | Height 1.81 m Role Rugby Player | |
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Paterika Vaivai (born 14 February 1992) is a Samoan professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League. He plays at prop. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights.
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Background
Born in Salamumu, Samoa, Vaivai moved to New Zealand at a young age and played his junior rugby league for the Bay Roskill Vikings in the Auckland Rugby League's Sharman Cup, before being signed by the Melbourne Storm.
Early career
After playing with the Melbourne Storm, Vaivai returned to New Zealand in 2010 to play for the New Zealand Warriors. He was a part of their NYC squad but didn't play a game. In 2012, he joined the Newcastle Knights. He played for the Knights' NYC team in 2012, winning the Knights' NYC Coach's Award, before graduating to the Knights' New South Wales Cup team in 2013.
2014
In round 9 of the 2014 NRL season, Vaivai made his NRL debut for the Knights against the Penrith Panthers. On 1 November, he re-signed with the Knights on a 2-year contract.
2015
Vaivai went on to play 5 more games in 2015, but at the end of the season, was released a year early from his Knights contract, due to being arrested for allegedly taking part in what was reported as an out-of-control brawl.
2016
In 2016, Vaivai joined the Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup. In September, after impressing in the Queensland Cup, he signed a 1-year contract with the Gold Coast Titans starting in 2017.