Vatuvei: From cult hero

whirlwind rise from the domestic Bartercard Cup competition to international league stardom inside 18 months and before his 20th birthday. Cult hero status quickly followed for the hard-running winger who scored a club record 152 tries in 226 appearances – third most for the Warriors behind Simon Mannering (301) and Stacey Jones (261). Vatuvei’s onfield highlights were topped by a World Cup victory over the Kangaroos in 2008 and playing in the 2011 NRL grand final won by Manly.

Vatuvei, who was named player of the year for the Warriors in 2010, was the club’s top tryscorer for seven straight years between 2008 and 2014.

His popularity was arguably never greater than when he won reality TV series Dancing with the Stars alongside dance partner Loryn Renyolds in June 2019.

Just six months later, Vatuvei would be arrested and charged. His name would remain a secret until late last week. A fan favourite during his 13 seasons at the Warriors, an out-of-favour Vatuvei left the club after limited game time to join Super League club Salford in 2017.

His final two seasons at the Warriors were blighted by injuries, talk of an impending move to play overseas and a prescription drugs saga when he was one of six players suspended over the incident.

Five of the group, including Vatuvei, mixed prescription pain pills and energy drinks on a night out in Auckland just a day after a 42-0 thrashing from Melbourne on Anzac Day. Vatuvei was given leave by the club on medical grounds following the incident.

A year earlier, Vatuvei was caught up in a saga alongside Konrad Hurrell and Dominique Peyroux when the trio attended a concert by R&B star Ginuwine the night before the team left for Australia in 2015.

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