Junior Paulo (rugby league, born 1983) explained

Junior Paulo (rugby league, born 1983) should not be confused with Junior Paulo (rugby league, born 1993).

Junior Paulo
Fullname:Aukuso Junior Paulo
Birth Date:8 September 1983
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Height:194cm (76inches)
Weight:120kg (270lb)
Club1:Parramatta Eels
Year1start:2007
Year1end:09
Appearances1:17
Tries1:0
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:0
Yearastart:2011
Yearaend:13
Appearancesa:3
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Retired:yes
Source:[1]

Aukuso Junior Paulo (born 8 September 1983) is a New Zealand former United States national rugby league team player and a and forward for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League. He is currently a serving a prison sentence in Australia after attempting to sell a large amount of cocaine.

Background

Paulo was born in Auckland, New Zealand, of American Samoan descent.[2] He was one of the Australian Schoolboys.[3]

Playing career

After spending time in the semi-professional and professional reserve grade competitions in New South Wales, Paulo signed with the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the 2007 season. He made his first grade debut for Parramatta in round 10 of the 2007 NRL season against North Queensland which ended in a 44–14 victory at Parramatta Stadium.

In the same year, he played in Parramatta's reserve grade premiership winning team as they defeated North Sydney 20–15 at Telstra Stadium.[4]

He was named to the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,[5] He signed with the St George Illawarra Dragons for the 2010 NRL season, and with the Penrith Panthers for the 2011 NRL season. In 2011 he was named in the United States national team for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers.[6]

Crime

In December 2017, Paulo and fellow former Eels player Royce Hura were arrested.[7] In Waverley Local Court, they faced five charges, including possession of two unauthorised semiautomatic pistols, $649,990 in cash proceeds from crime and participation in a criminal group.

On 10 August 2020, Paulo was sentenced to a minimum of eleven years in prison after attempting to supply Sydney with $180 million of cocaine.[8]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/junior-paulo/summary.html Rugby League Project
  2. Web site: Uncle Sam Wants …. Matthew Elliott . Stevemascord.com . 2011-08-09 . 2017-03-03 . 5 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190405101401/http://stevemascord.com/2011/08/09/uncle-sam-wants-matthew-elliott/ . dead .
  3. Web site: Australian Schoolboys. Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League. 10 October 2007. 23 April 2008. 31 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170131030043/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424. dead.
  4. Web site: Eels break Peachey's heart. Herald Sun.
  5. Web site: Samoa name World Cup Squad . League Unlimited . 5 August 2008 . 6 August 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717060051/http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=16750 . 17 July 2011 .
  6. Web site: 2013 World Cup Atlantic Qualifier Squads Announced . Rugby League International Scores . 2011-09-22 . 2017-03-03.
  7. Web site: Former NRL players among those arrested at gunpoint in Centennial Park. 14 December 2017.
  8. Web site: Former NRL player Aukuso Junior Paulo jailed over $180m cocaine bust. 7news.com.au. 10 August 2020.