Vailea will leave One New Zealand Warriors at the end of the season. Viliami Vailea will leave the One New Zealand Warriors at the end of the 2023 season to pursue a career with another NRL club.
The 20-year-old has made five appearances for the NRL side this season, bringing his career total to 17 since his debut in 2021.
“It was a very difficult decision to release Vili,” said Andrew McFadden, One New Zealand Warriors’ general manager of recruitment, development, and pathways.
“We appreciate his contribution during his time with our club and wish him the best of luck with his move, but first he has a job to do for us for the rest of the season.”
Vailea, who came from a rugby union background, was signed by the One New Zealand Warriors and played for them in the SG Ball Cup (under-18) in 2020 before making his NRL debut against the Wests Tigers in round 20 of 2021.
READ MORE: NRL: Josh Curran poised for off-season departure from NZ Warriors
NZ Warriors seem likely to part ways with forward Josh Curran, after giving the forward permission to talk to rival NRL clubs.
Newshub understands Curran, 24, has garnered interest from other teams and seems poised for an off-season relocation.
The Australian still has a season remaining on the two-year extension he inked in 2022.
Since joining the club in 2019, the Australian has become somewhat of a cult figure at Mt Smart and was one of the Warriors’ best players during the first three seasons of his tenure.
But Curran struggled to reach those same height this past season, struggling to earn consistent minutes under new coach Andrew Webster and consigned to the bench in favour of new recruits Marata Niukore and Jackson Ford.
While he played 24 games during the Warriors’ run to the final four, Curran only started in six of those contests.
Speaking before the Warriors’ regular season showdown with Manly Sea Eagles in August, Curran admitted he’s been disappointed with his form – describing his campaign as a “letdown season.”
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