Atelea Vea Explained

Atelea Vea
Birth Date:1986 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height:183cm (72inches)[1]
Weight:103kg (227lb)
Club1:Cronulla Sharks
Year1start:2009
Year1end:10
Appearances1:8
Tries1:0
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:0
Club2:Melbourne Storm
Year2start:2011
Appearances2:11
Tries2:0
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:0
Club3:St. George Illawarra
Year3start:2012
Year3end:13
Appearances3:3
Tries3:0
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:0
Club4:London Broncos
Year4start:2014
Appearances4:23
Tries4:2
Goals4:0
Fieldgoals4:0
Points4:8
Club5:St Helens
Year5start:2015
Year5end:16
Appearances5:40
Tries5:10
Goals5:0
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:40
Club6:Leigh Centurions
Year6start:2017
Appearances6:27
Tries6:7
Goals6:0
Fieldgoals6:0
Points6:28
Teama:Tonga
Yearastart:2009
Appearancesa:2
Triesa:1
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:4
Source:[2] [3] [4]
Updated:4 March 2018

Atelea Vea is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played for the Leigh Centurions in the Super League. He plays as a or forward. He has previously played for the Melbourne Storm, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St. George Illawarra and the London Broncos.

He made his first-grade début for the Sharks in 2009. He was selected to play for Tonga in the 2009 Pacific Cup.[5]

Background

Vea was born in Sydney, Australia.

Playing career

2009: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Vea made his first-grade début for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks away to the Penrith Panthers, in a round 10 loss, a game in which he came on off the interchange bench.[6] He then featured in the 26–4 loss at home to the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the next round, where he was again on the bench.[7] His first start for the Cronulla side came when the side hit something of a run of form. He started out in the second-row in a narrow 13–10 win over the Parramatta Eels,[8] and he kept his starting place in wins over New Zealand Warriors (18–10),[9] Canberra Raiders (24–22)[10] and the thumping 46–16 thrashing of Brisbane Broncos,[11] all of which were consecutive appearances. He was, in round 16 at the Sydney Roosters, shuffled to lock, where the Sharks lost their first game in four.[12] He then had to wait another 10 rounds before being selected again, in the 26–24 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[13]

2010–11: Melbourne Storm

Signed by the Melbourne Storm in July 2009 ahead of the 2010 NRL season,[14] Vea would have to bide his time in NSW Cup. He would return to NRL action in 2011, playing nine games for Melbourne, with all appearances of the bench. His performance in a losing effort in round 26 against the Sydney Roosters was praised by coach Craig Bellamy given the injury toll on the night.

2012–13: St George-Illawarra

He played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in 2012 and 2013.

2014: London

He joined the London Broncos on 24 February 2014.[15]

2015-2016: St Helens

In 2015, Vea joined St Helens where he made 40 appearances over two seasons.[16]

2017: Leigh

In 2017, Vea joined Leigh where he played 27 matches in the 2017 Super League season. Leigh would be relegated from the Super League after losing the Million Pound Game and Vea was released from his contract.[17]

Representative career

He made his international début for Tonga in a 44–14 defeat by Papua New Guinea, where Vea scored a try.[18] As Tonga did not progress to the final, Vea's next game was in the third/fourth place play-off loss to Fiji.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Atelea Vea St Helens. . 2015. www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 26 July 2015.
  2. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Atelea-Vea/ loverugbyleague
  3. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/atelea-vea/summary.html RLP
  4. http://www.londonbroncosrl.com/rugby/fixturesandresults/squad_first_xiii.php London Official
  5. Web site: rleague.com profile. rleague.com. 16 January 2010. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100113110246/http://www.rleague.com//db/player/v/vea_atelea/index.php. 13 January 2010. dead .
  6. Web site: Panthers 26–22 Sharks. rleague.com. 16 May 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103081312/http://rleague.com/db/content/84000/84765.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  7. Web site: Sharks 4–26 Dragons. rleague.com. 23 May 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103083746/http://rleague.com/db/content/84000/84790.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  8. Web site: Eels 10–13 Sharks. rleague.com. 30 May 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103075845/http://rleague.com/db/content/84000/84797.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  9. Web site: Sharks 18–10 Warriors. rleague.com. 7 June 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103081940/http://rleague.com/db/content/84000/84836.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  10. Web site: Raiders 22–24 Sharks. rleague.com. 14 June 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103075845/http://rleague.com/db/content/84000/84797.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  11. Web site: Sharks 46–12 Broncos. rleague.com. 22 June 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103082909/http://rleague.com/db/content/84000/84857.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  12. Web site: Roosters 19–12 Sharks. rleague.com. 27 June 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103075845/http://rleague.com/db/content/84000/84797.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  13. Web site: Sharks 24–26 Rabbitohs. rleague.com. 5 September 2009. 16 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100103075044/http://rleague.com/db/content/85000/85009.php. 3 January 2010 . live.
  14. Web site: Storm signs Stanley, Vea . abc.net.au . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 30 June 2023 . 22 July 2009.
  15. News: Dragons Recruit Vea For 2012 . 23 October 2011 . www.dragons.com.au . 23 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214149/http://www.dragons.com.au/?s=article-display&id=44676 . 3 March 2016 . dead .
  16. Web site: Leigh Centurions sign forward Atelea Vea from St Helens on two-year contract. www.skysports.com.
  17. Web site: Leigh sign Atelea Vea from St Helens. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk.
  18. Web site: PNG 44–14 Tonga. Daily Telegraph. 25 October 2009. 16 January 2010.
  19. Web site: Fiji 26–16 Tonga. Herald Sun. 31 October 2009. 16 January 2010.