1. Joe Vagana is the cousin of fellow rugby league international Nigel Vagana, and the New Zealand netballer Linda Vagana.
23 Facts About Joe Vagana
1. 2.
Whilst a student at St Pauls College, Joe Vagana played rugby league for the Richmond Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League competition.
3.
Joe Vagana then played for the successful North Harbour Sea Eagles in the 1994 Lion Red Cup.
4.
Joe Vagana played for the Junior Kiwis for three seasons, between 1992 and 1994.
5.
In 1995 Joe Vagana was signed by the Auckland Warriors as they prepared for their debut season in the Australian Rugby League.
6.
Joe Vagana made his debut for the club on 18 March 1995 in the Warriors second ever premiership match.
7.
In 1995 Joe Vagana represented Western Samoa in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
8.
Joe Vagana was selected for the New Zealand team to compete in the end of season 1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament.
9.
Joe Vagana went on to play 116 games for the Warriors, leaving the club when Eric Watson bought the franchise, but not the player contracts, in 2000.
10.
Joe Vagana played 25 times for the New Zealand national rugby league team, including playing in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
11.
Joe Vagana became one part of the Bradford Bulls' Awesome Foursome, a phrase coined by the media, alongside Stuart Fielden, Brian McDermott and Paul Anderson.
12.
Joe Vagana played for the Bradford Bulls at prop forward in their 2001 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors.
13.
Joe Vagana played for Bradford at prop forward in their 2002 Super League Grand Final loss against St Helens.
14.
Joe Vagana played for the Bradford Bulls at prop forward in their 2003 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors.
15.
Joe Vagana played for Bradford at prop forward in their 2004 Super League Grand Final loss against the Leeds Rhinos.
16.
Joe Vagana played for the Bradford Bulls from the interchange bench in their 2005 Super League Grand Final victory against the Leeds Rhinos.
17.
Joe Vagana wrote a weekly column for several Bradford newspapers and the Bradford Bulls' website.
18.
In 2006 Joe Vagana was awarded the Bradford Bulls' Clubman of the Year Award.
19.
Joe Vagana signed a one-year extension on 18 August 2006 to keep him at the Bradford Bulls for the 2007 season.
20.
In June 2007 Joe Vagana signed another one-year contract with Bradford, signalling his intent to play out the 2008 season.
21.
Joe Vagana was sent off for the first time in his Bulls career against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on 5 August 2007.
22.
In 2008 whilst playing for Bradford against Wigan Joe Vagana broke his arm attempting to tackle Stuart Fielden.
23.
Joe Vagana retired at the end of the 2008 season after 8 years with the Bradford Bulls.