Semi Valemei Explained

Semi Valemei
Birth Date:1999 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Labasa, Fiji
Height:186cm (73inches)
Weight:103kg (227lb)
Club1:Canberra Raiders
Year1start:2020
Year1end:22
Appearances1:29
Tries1:9
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:36
Year2start:2023
Year2end:present
Appearances2:13
Tries2:10
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:40
Teama:Fiji 9s
Yearastart:2019
Appearancesa:2
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:Fiji
Yearbstart:2022
Yearbend:present
Appearancesb:5
Triesb:1
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:4
Source:[1]
Updated:12 May 2024

Semi Valemei (born 20 January 1999) is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a er and for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Fiji at international level.

He previously played for the Canberra Raiders.

Background

Born in Labasa, Fiji, Valemei attended Seaqaqa Central College and Natabua High School, where he played rugby union.

In 2017, he was scouted by former NRL player Wise Kativerata and moved to Australia to play rugby league. He moved to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, playing for the Caloundra Sharks before being signed by the Canberra Raiders.[2] [3]

Playing career

In 2018, Valemei played for the Raiders' Jersey Flegg Cup feeder side, Mounties.[4] In 2019, he played for Mounties in the New South Wales Cup and for the Raiders in the Jersey Flegg Cup, scoring a hat-trick in their Grand Final loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[5] In October 2019, he represented Fiji at the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[6]

2020

In Round 10 of the 2020 NRL season, Valemei was named to make his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters.[7]

He played in all three of Canberra's finals matches including the preliminary final defeat to Melbourne. He played a total of ten games in his debut season.[8]

2021

Valemei made 11 appearances for Canberra in the 2021 NRL season which saw the club finish 10th on the table and miss out on the finals.[9] [10]

2023

On 12 May, Valemei was granted a release from his Raiders contract and joined the North Queensland Cowboys on a one-and-a-half-year contract.[11] Valemei made his club debut for the North Queensland side in their 45-20 win over the Melbourne Storm during Round 14 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, scoring a hat-trick.[12] He played nine matches for North Queensland in the 2023 NRL season and scored nine tries as the club finished 11th on the table.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/semi-valemi/summary.html Rugby League Project
  2. Web site: Semi ready for Raiders. 23 May 2020. Fiji Times.
  3. Web site: Results - Sunshine Coast. 12 June 2017. Sunshine Coast Daily.
  4. Web site: Team Lists: Mounties. 17 July 2018. Canberra Raiders.
  5. Web site: South Sydney crowned 2019 Jersey Flegg Cup champions. 29 September 2019. NSWRL.
  6. Web site: Nines World Cup squads announced. 17 October 2019. Fox Sports.
  7. Web site: Semi Valemei to make NRL debut. 15 July 2020. Canberra Raiders.
  8. Web site: Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart storms out of press conference after one question. wwos.nine.com.au.
  9. Web site: Roosters' 'Mr Fix It' stuns with hat-trick, Sloppy Raiders' final fade out ends season: 3 Big Hits. www.foxsports.com.au. 2 September 2021.
  10. Web site: Tough conversations coming for senior Canberra stars as interest grows in Parramatta young gun Dylan Brown. www.theaustralian.com.au.
  11. Web site: Cowboys sign Valemei. 12 May 2023. NQ Cowboys.
  12. Web site: Bellamy calls out ‘putrid’ Storm after 20-year low as new Cowboys signing explodes — Big Hits. www.foxsports.au.
  13. Web site: NRL 2023: North Queensland Cowboys season review. www.sportingnews.com.