Joe VAGANA [
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Thu April 19, 2012
by rleague
In an exciting addition to Friday nights test match, ten of the victorious 1998 Kiwis team will be on hand to show their support to this year's challengers.
Matthew Ridge, captain of the team which won the Anzac test that year, will join team mates Sean Hoppe, Richie Barnett, Stacey Jones, Quentin Pongia, Jarrod McCracken, Logan Swann and Joe Vagana on field in a guard of honour for the Kiwis when they take run out for this, the second only Anzac test to be held on NZ soil. 2012 Kiwis management team members Ruben Wiki and Tony Iro were also part of the winning team while current coach Stephen Kearney missed the game due to suspension.
In 1998 the Kangaroos fielded their first unified team in years with the Super League war finally at an end. Bob Fulton was coach, Laurie Daley the captain and Allan Langer was selected ahead of Andrew Johns. They were expected to win easily as the Kiwis camp was under significant pressure at the time.
After the Kiwis team was named coach Endacott lost Stephen Kearney to suspension, Gene Ngamu, Syd Eru & Tony Puletua through injury and Henry Paul, the hooker was only able to join the camp two days before kickoff. Despite the disruptions, the suspension to Stephen Kearney was widely decried at the time, the only new cap in the team was Nigel Vagana, coming off the bench.
The Paul brothers became the 29th set of brothers to represent NZ that day and the 15th pair to play a test together. They were joined in the team by the Iro brothers and the Vagana cousins, a real family affair. This was also the year the traditional V returned to the Kiwis jersey.
They were 12-2 down, had lost Johnny Lomax two minutes into the game and Richie Barnett was playing with a broken hand but in what coach Endacott described at the time as a 'superb effort' they fought their way back to win 22-16 in front of 25,620 screaming fans.
NZRL CEO Jim Doyle said "Rugby League has a proud history in NZ and the 1998 team are an integral part of that. Their win was an inspiration to up and coming Kiwis. I know our current players appreciate their support, and I'm sure the crowd will give them the rousing reception they deserve when they take the field."
Good seats are still available for tomorrow nights game through Ticketek (0800 TICKETEK, www.ticketek.co.nz and all agencies) and through selected Mad Butcher stores.
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by Matthew O'Neill
Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.ukBradford Bulls have announced that Prop Forward Joe Vagana has decided to retire from the game at the end of the 2008 season and that the game against Hull KR on Bank Holiday Monday will be his last at the Grattan Stadium.
Vagana, who joined the Bulls in 2001 from Auckland Warriors and has spent eight seasons at the club, has made 239 appearances, scoring 19 tries and 1 goal.
Speaking of his decision to retire, Vagana said today:
"For a player it's always hard to say when but I think the time is right for me now to make the ultimate decision. I have been at Bradford for eight years and a professional for fifteen and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it but the old body is telling me to give it away!! We have some great players coming through here; players like Sam Burgess, Andy Lynch and Koppy and I just feel the time is right to hang up my boots and enjoy the game from the sidelines."
Bulls Coach Steve McNamara paid this tribute to his Prop Forward:
"Joe has probably been up there with Robbie Paul as the most significant overseas signing the club has ever made. In terms of overall contributions to the club both on and off the field, his presence is simply immense and there will be a whole host of players who will be glad to see the back of Joe Vagana, so they don't have to play against him. He will be a great loss to the club on the field and also off it because of shear amount of work he has done for the club in that area. He has been a tremendous ambassador for Rugby League and for Bradford Bulls and for me personally ? getting my first Head Coaches job ? he has been a vital part of what I have done. To have had Joe Vagana in the organisation to help me along the way has been a massive bonus for me and I'd like to thank him personally for that. It goes without saying that we all wish him every success in whichever avenue he decides to take."
Bulls Chairman Peter Hood feels that Vagana has been a fine example to everyone in the game.
"He will be sadly missed, not just for his often super-human efforts on the field these past eight seasons but, equally, for his contribution around the Club and in the Bradford community at large. Joe was given the sobriquet 'Big Joe' early in his Bradford career. An equally appropriate handle would have been 'Gentleman Joe', for Joe's disciplinary record is one of the best, if not the best, on record for any prop forward in the modern game. As an example of how to play the game hard but fair, how to bring oneself to a winning team in the right frame of mind week in week out and how a professional player should conduct themselves on and off the field one need look no further than the one and only - Joe Vagana."
Bradford Bulls will say a special goodbye to Joe Vagana at what it likely to be his last game at the Grattan Stadium, against Hull KR, next Monday at 2.15 pm.
Vagana lead the side out and a Presentation will be made to the Player by Bulls Chairman Peter Hood. There will also be a special Video Tribute to the player on the Big Screen immediately after the game.
Following the Presentation the Bulls players will walk round the Stadium behind the Speedway fence and will sign autographs for the supporters.
Bulls Media Manager Stuart Duffy said today:
"Joe has been a tremendous servant not only to the club but also to the City of Bradford itself and I am sure everyone who he has met during his time with the club will want to come along and see him for one last time."
Turnstiles will open at 11.45 and the Reserve Grade Curtain Raiser kicking off at 12.00. There will be a DJ in the Marquee Bar and a classic game on the screens in the bars. Pre match entertainment will have a Salsa Theme with Salas dancing and a live band on centre field.
Bulls supporters will have a chance to win Joe's Shirt in a special Gameshirt Draw. Tickets will be available on the day.
The live game kicks off at 2.15pm when the Bulls and Hull KR battle it out to go that step nearer to the play offs.
News Source:
www.bradfordbulls.co.uk
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 2008 engage English Super League
Bradford Bulls
18 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [10 Feb 08] L 24-26 v Wakefield (A). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [16 Feb 08] W 38-12 v Huddersfield (H). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [22 Feb 08] L 16-22 v St Helens (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [01 Mar 08] L 14-28 v Wigan (A). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [23 May 08] L 14-30 v Leeds (H). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [08 Jun 08] L 16-24 v Les Catalans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 17 [13 Jun 08] L 20-58 v St Helens (A). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [22 Jun 08] W 36-22 v Hull FC (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [29 Jun 08] W 40-20 v Hull KR (H). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [06 Jul 08] L 24-25 v Huddersfield (A). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [11 Jul 08] L 28-32 v Warrington (A). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [20 Jul 08] W 24-10 v Wakefield (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [03 Aug 08] L 24-36 v Harlequins (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [08 Aug 08] L 18-28 v Leeds (A). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [17 Aug 08] W 42-14 v Hull FC (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 26 [25 Aug 08] W 42-18 v Hull KR (H). [PR]
[View] Round 27 [06 Sep 08] W 18-16 v Castleford (A). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [12 Sep 08] L 14-30 v Wigan (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2007 engage English Super League
Bradford Bulls
26 games; 4 tries, 16 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Feb 07] W 18-14 v Huddersfield (H). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [18 Feb 07] W 36-20 v Warrington (A). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [24 Feb 07] W 32-28 v Wigan (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [02 Mar 07] L 22-34 v St Helens (A). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [11 Mar 07] W 56-18 v Salford City (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [17 Mar 07] W 36-22 v Harlequins (A). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [25 Mar 07] L 22-29 v Les Catalans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [05 Apr 07] L 14-18 v Leeds (H). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [09 Apr 07] W 36-24 v Wakefield (A). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [15 Apr 07] W 52-22 v Hull KR (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [20 Apr 07] W 32-22 v Hull FC (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 12 [29 Apr 07] W 36-24 v Warrington (H). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [06 May 07] L 38-42 v Leeds. [PR]
[View] Round 14 [18 May 07] L 12-36 v Huddersfield (A). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [27 May 07] W 44-18 v Harlequins (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [02 Jun 07] W 28-20 v Catalans (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [17 Jun 07] W 34-8 v Hull FC (H). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [29 Jun 07] W 38-14 v Leeds (A). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [06 Jul 07] L 18-25 v Wigan (A). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [13 Jul 07] W 10-4 v St Helens (H). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [21 Jul 07] L 10-14 v Salford City (A). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 07] W 38-24 v Wakefield (H). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [02 Sep 07] D 16-16 v Leeds (H). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [09 Sep 07] W 40-8 v Catalans (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 27 [14 Sep 07] L 10-20 v Hull FC (A). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [21 Sep 07] L 30-31 v Wigan (H). [PR]
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2006 World Club Challenge
Bradford Bulls
1 games; [View] WCC [04 Feb 06] W 30-10 v Tigers (H). [BE]
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2006 engage English Super League
Bradford Bulls
31 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 1 [12 Feb 06] W 20-14 v Wakefield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [18 Feb 06] D 18-18 v Harlequins (H). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [24 Feb 06] W 34-4 v Salford City (H). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [04 Mar 06] W 50-18 v Catalans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [10 Mar 06] W 18-12 v Hull (H). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [17 Mar 06] L 16-38 v St Helens (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [24 Mar 06] W 34-12 v Wigan (H). [BE]
[View] Round 8 [08 Apr 06] L 18-22 v Warrington (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 9 [13 Apr 06] W 20-18 v Leeds (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [18 Apr 06] W 52-18 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [23 Apr 06] L 4-27 v Warrington (A). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [28 Apr 06] W 54-6 v Les Catalans (H). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [05 May 06] L 12-28 v Hull FC (A). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [13 May 06] W 58-16 v Harlequins (A). [BE]
[View] Round 15 [26 May 06] L 0-30 v Leeds (H). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [11 Jun 06] D 26-26 v Castleford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [16 Jun 06] W 20-18 v St Helens (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [23 Jun 06] W 42-16 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [30 Jun 06] L 16-17 v Salford City (A). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [07 Jul 06] L 24-26 v Leeds (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [14 Jul 06] W 30-16 v Les Catalans (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [21 Jul 06] W 42-20 v Wakefield (A). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [04 Aug 06] W 50-22 v Warrington (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [12 Aug 06] L 26-28 v Harlequins (A). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [18 Aug 06] W 48-10 v Castleford (H). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [01 Sep 06] L 16-38 v Wigan (A). [PR]
[View] Round 27 [08 Sep 06] L 12-20 v Wakefield (H). [PR]
[View] Round 28 [17 Sep 06] W 42-30 v Huddersfield (A). [PR]
[View] Finals Week One [23 Sep 06] W 52-6 v Salford City (H). [PR]
[View] Finals Week Two [30 Sep 06] W 40-24 v Warrington (H). [PR]
[View] Finals Week Three [06 Oct 06] L 12-19 v Hull FC (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2005 English Super League
Bradford Bulls
31 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Feb 05] L 16-28 v Wildcats (H). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [20 Feb 05] L 22-31 v Widnes (A). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [25 Feb 05] W 28-27 v Wigan (A). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [06 Mar 05] W 48-22 v London (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [11 Mar 05] W 46-6 v Leigh (A). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [18 Mar 05] W 32-22 v Hull (H). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [24 Mar 05] L 12-42 v Rhinos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [28 Mar 05] L 27-34 v St Helens (A). [PR]
[View] Round 9 [10 Apr 05] L 32-35 v Warrington (A). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [17 Apr 05] W 54-10 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [22 Apr 05] W 40-8 v Wigan (H). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [01 May 05] W 41-26 v London (A). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [13 May 05] W 58-0 v Salford (A). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [22 May 05] L 24-44 v Warrington (H). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [28 May 05] W 42-24 v Hull (A). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [05 Jun 05] L 4-66 v St Helens (H). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [11 Jun 05] W 38-20 v Huddersfield (A). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [19 Jun 05] D 25-25 v Widnes (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [01 Jul 05] L 26-36 v Rhinos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [10 Jul 05] L 34-44 v Wildcats (A). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [17 Jul 05] W 58-12 v Leigh (H). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [22 Jul 05] W 24-18 v Salford (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [14 Aug 05] W 58-12 v Salford (H). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [19 Aug 05] W 42-10 v Rhinos (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [02 Sep 05] W 49-6 v Hull (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 27 [11 Sep 05] W 52-34 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 28 [17 Sep 05] W 32-18 v St Helens (A). [BE]
[View] Elimination Play Offs [23 Sep 05] W 44-22 v London (H). [BE]
[View] Elimination Semi-Final [01 Oct 05] W 71-0 v Hull (H). [BE]
[View] Final Eliminator [07 Oct 05] W 23-18 v St Helens (A). [BE]
[View] Grand Final [15 Oct 05] W 15-6 v Rhinos. [BE]
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Vagana, Joe
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