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Sam RAPIRA [Player Stats]

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Price wins Lion Red Player of the Year award
Thu September 6, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Less than 24 hours after his twin successes at the Dally M Awards, Vodafone Warriors captain Steve Price last night became the first double winner of the club's Lion Red Player of the Year Award.

The 33-year-old backed up his success last year when he was crowned with the Vodafone Warriors' ultimate accolade in front of more than 700 guests at the Sky City Convention Centre.

As well as the night's big award, Price was also named the Vodafone One Tribe Supporters' Player of the Year to complete his second double success in a day.

Last night Price was named Captain of the Year and Prop of the Year at the Dally M Awards in Sydney.

Tonight's success was yet another high point in a year the champion front rower has described as the most enjoyable of his 14 seasons as a first-grade player.

He arrived in Auckland after 222 matches for the Bulldogs from 1994-2004 and will make his 59th appearance for the Vodafone Warriors in Friday night's play-off against Parramatta at a sold-out Mt Smart Stadium.

Price missed three NRL matches through State of Origin duty for Queensland this year but in his 21 appearances in the regular season he has produced some staggering feats.

He has made more runs than any other player - 463 or an average of 22.3 a game - and also gained more metres by far than anyone else. So far he has a read-out of 4213 metres (200.6 a game) as well as 524 tackles (25 tackles a game) and 1330 minutes on the field (63.33 minutes a game). He has also scored four tries.

The Lion Red Player of the Year is voted on by the coaching staff and players. The other nominees for the title were loose forward Micheal Luck and fullback Wade McKinnon.

Price's fellow front rower Sam Rapira (20) was named the Vodafone NRL Young Player of the Year. Rapira, who made his first-grade debut last year and went on to appear in 10 matches, was one of only four players who featured in all 24 matches of the regular season while he also made his international debut in the Kiwis' Anzac Test against Australia in Brisbane. In the latter part of the season he established himself as a starting prop alongside Price and recently extended his contract with the club to the end of the 2012 NRL season.

The other contenders for the award were centre Simon Mannering (21) and winger Manu Vatuvei (21).

Like Price, hard-working loose forward Luck completed back-to-back success when he was again named the Puma Club Person of the Year for his all-round contribution to the Vodafone Warriors. Luck extended his unbroken run of appearances to 48 since joining the club last year. He has been on the field more than any other forward this year, 1585 metres in total (66.04 minutes a game).

Luck (25) is set to become the competition's leading tackler on Friday night. His total of 886 tackles (an average 36.9 a game, only 27 missed tackles for the year) is bettered by only Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon (902), but his season is over.

As well as his team-first attitude as a player, Luck again won widespread admiration for his efforts in all walks of club life. Joining him as nominees for the award were hooker George Gatis and vice-captain Ruben Wiki.

The other key accolade of the night - the Allied Work Force Under-20 Player of the Year - was won by second rower Sonny Fai (19), who missed just one of the 22 matches played by the Vodafone Auckland Lions in their debut campaign in the New South Wales Premier League. He finished the season with 14 tries. The other contenders were back rower Scott Jones and winger Malo Solomona.

A special feature of the evening was an announcement by executive football director John Hart to present rings to all players who have appeared in 100 or more games for the Vodafone Warriors. Logan Swann (169 games), Wairangi Koopu (151), Jerry Seuseu (132) and Monty Betham (101) were honoured at the dinner while it's planned to acknowledge Stacey Jones (238), Awen Guttenbeil (170), Clinton Toopi (129), Joe Vagana (116), Ali Lauitiiti (115), Francis Meli (110) and Brent Webb (103) in the future.

Special service awards were also made to Vodafone Warriors ambassador Peter Leitch and the NRL team's assistant manager Terry Baker.

Departing players Louis Anderson, Todd Byrne, George Gatis, Corey Lawrie and Tony Martin were farewelled and presented with mementoes of their time with the club.

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

Rapira extends contract with Warriors until 2012
Wed August 22, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Vodafone Warriors prop Sam Rapira has secured one of the NRL's longest contracts after signing a deal that will make Mt Smart Stadium his home until the end of the 2012 season.

A Kiwi test debutant this year, Rapira (20) was originally signed by the club until 2009 but has now agreed to a three-year extension.

Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said Rapira deserved the long-term security after an outstanding start to his first-grade career.

"Ivan Cleary and the coaching staff always saw immense potential in Sam and he has certainly delivered on it," he said.

"We see Sam as one of the cornerstones on which the Vodafone Warriors will be built in the years ahead."

Rapira, a Hamilton Boys' High School product, began his first-grade career in the Vodafone Warriors' home game against Wests Tigers in May last year. He's elated he has a long-term future with the club.

"It was a dream to make my first-grade debut but I didn't expect it to all come so soon," he said.

"I've been so lucky to have players like Steve (Price) and Ruben (Wiki) around to teach me. I've learnt plenty off them and I've still got a lot more to learn.

"Playing first-grade football has been everything I thought it would be and I'm grateful I have the chance to play a lot more for the Vodafone Warriors.

"The club has been fantastic to me, so have the coaches and players and I want to repay the faith everyone has shown in me."

Rapira played 10 NRL matches in 2006 but has now established himself as a first-choice player. One of only four players to appear in all 22 matches this season, he has been one of the starting props in the last six games and has again been named to start against Manly on Sunday.

He has gained an average 91 metres and made 21 tackles a game so far this season and also impressed when he played his first international in this year's Anzac Test against the Kangaroos.

Cleary said there was every reason to believe Rapira would become one of the game's top front rowers.

"Sam has been one of our best players and one of our most consistent," he said.

"For a 20-year-old, he's extremely mature as a person and a footballer and he's also very willing to listen and learn. If he keeps working at the game the way he has been so far, he has a really big future ahead of him."

Out of the Hukanui club in Waikato, Rapira is a product of the Vodafone Warriors' Allied Work Force development programme. As well as playing Bartercard Cup football for the Waicoa Bay Stallions, he was a

Junior Kiwi in 2004 and 2005, captaining the side in his second year. He was also in the New Zealand A side which trounced an Australian invitation team in Melbourne last year.

SAM RAPIRA
Born: April 8, 1987
Birthplace: Hamilton
Position: Prop
Height: 184cm
Weight: 106kg
Club: Vodafone Warriors (No 131)
NRL Appearances: 32
NRL Points: 16 (4 tries)
NRL Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Wests Tigers, Ericsson Stadium, May 20, 2006 (Round 11)
Previous Clubs: Hukanui (Waikato), Waicoa Bay Stallions (Bartercard Cup)
International: One Test for Kiwis, 2007
Other Honours: New Zealand A 2006, New Zealand Residents 2005, Junior Kiwis 2004-2005
Educated: Hamilton Boys' High School

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

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Tue July 18, 2006

Warriors sign Michael Witt

Tue June 27, 2006

Warriors make one forced change to winning line-up

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2008 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
17 games; 1 tries, 4 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [17 Mar 08] L 18-32 v Storm (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 2 [23 Mar 08] W 30-16 v Eels (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] L 6-52 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 4 [06 Apr 08] W 26-20 v Knights (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] W 36-16 v Bulldogs (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] L 20-48 v Cowboys (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] L 24-36 v Gold Coast (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 8 [04 May 08] W 14-6 v Raiders (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 10 [18 May 08] L 22-46 v Panthers (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 11 [25 May 08] L 12-38 v Roosters (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 12 [31 May 08] W 18-16 v Knights (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] L 28-35 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 14 [14 Jun 08] L 8-24 v Sharks (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 08] L 14-20 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 16 [29 Jun 08] W 28-26 v Tigers (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [12 Jul 08] W 24-14 v Cowboys (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 08] W 18-4 v Sharks (H). [BE] 
======================================================================================================

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
23 games; 3 tries, 12 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [17 Mar 07] W 34-18 v Eels (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 2 [25 Mar 07] W 24-14 v Broncos (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 3 [01 Apr 07] L 12-30 v Storm (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [08 Apr 07] L 10-13 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 5 [15 Apr 07] W 34-14 v Cowboys (H). [SR] 
[View] Round 7 [29 Apr 07] W 18-16 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 8 [05 May 07] L 20-22 v Sharks (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (39th)
[View] Round 9 [12 May 07] L 18-24 v Knights (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 10 [20 May 07] L 26-30 v Tigers (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 11 [28 May 07] L 6-30 v Eels (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 12 [03 Jun 07] L 20-40 v Bulldogs (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 13 [10 Jun 07] L 2-4 v Storm (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 14 [16 Jun 07] W 12-2 v Sharks (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 07] W 54-14 v Panthers (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 16 [30 Jun 07] W 22-6 v Gold Coast (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [07 Jul 07] L 12-18 v Cowboys (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 18 [15 Jul 07] W 44-16 v Dragons (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 19 [22 Jul 07] W 28-16 v Tigers (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 20 [28 Jul 07] W 52-10 v Knights (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 21 [05 Aug 07] D 31-31 v Roosters (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 23 [18 Aug 07] L 24-26 v Raiders (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 24 [26 Aug 07] W 36-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 25 [01 Sep 07] W 24-20 v Panthers (A). [PR] 
======================================================================================================

2007 International Test Matches

New Zealand Kiwis 
1 games; [View] Bundaberg Rum Test [20 Apr 07] L 6-30 v Australia (A). [BE] 
======================================================================================================

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
10 games; [View] Round 11 [20 May 06] W 34-12 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [27 May 06] L 20-34 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [11 Jun 06] W 22-12 v Roosters (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [01 Jul 06] W 28-22 v Panthers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [29 Jul 06] L 6-36 v Panthers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 06] W 12-10 v Sharks (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [12 Aug 06] W 26-0 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] W 24-20 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 06] W 42-16 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 06] L 12-36 v Broncos (A). [BE]
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Rapira, Sam

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