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Post by Electric Eel on Jun 7, 2020 17:02:22 GMT 10
 Michael Vella Born - 1978 Parramatta 1998 - 2006 Games - 159 Wikipedia |
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Post by Electric Eel on Jun 7, 2020 17:02:39 GMT 10
Big-hitting forward, a Parramatta junior, represented NSW and Australia during a marvellous 1999 season. Vella made his Test debut when called in as a late replacement for the injured Gorden Tallis in Australia's Tri-series win against NZ and Great Britain in October. After a slow start to the 2000 season, Vella was recalled into NSW's victorious State of Origin team as a replacement for the suspended Rodney Howe, before again playing for Australia against NZ Residents in a World Cup warm-up. Vella appeared in three matches in the World Cup competition, including the semi-final win over Wales, but did not play in the final. In 2001, he put aside the disappointment of a grand final loss to Newcastle with selection on the shortened Kangaroo Tour. A member of NSW's State of Origin squad in 2002 (interestingly, the Parramatta prop has come off the interchange bench in all ten State of Origin matches and in his five Test appearances to date), subsequent seasons with the Eels have not seen him return to the representative arena.
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Post by Electric Eel on Jun 7, 2020 17:02:58 GMT 10
Michael Vella is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he played his club football in the NRL for the Parramatta Eels, and in the Super League for Hull Kingston Rovers, who he also captained. In addition to representing Australia internationally, he has played for the Malta Knights as he is of Maltese descent.
Playing career
Vella made his first grade debut for Parramatta against North Queensland in Round 11 1998 at Willows Sports Complex.
Vella was selected to play from the interchange bench for New South Wales in Game II of the 1999 State of Origin series.
At club level, Vella was selected as the Dally M rookie of the year in 1999 and played 24 games for Parramatta as the club reached the preliminary final against Melbourne. Parramatta went into the break leading 16-0 but lost the match 18-16 at full time. At the end of the season he helped the Australian national team to victory in the final of the 1999 Tri-nations tournament. After that he represented Australia during their successful 2000 World Cup campaign and the following year went on the 2001 Kangaroo Tour.
Vella played for the Parramatta Eels at prop forward in their 2001 NRL grand final loss to the Newcastle Knights.
In 2005, the rugby league world was shocked to learn Vella was fighting thyroid cancer. Vella returned to the field midway through the 2005 season and was part of the Parramatta side which won the minor premiership that year. Parramatta went into the 2005 finals series as one of the favourites to take out the premiership but suffered a shock 29-0 loss against North Queensland in the preliminary final. Vella played in the match from the bench.
After time out of the game, he returned to the field for the Eels in 2006. Vella's final game for Parramatta was the 12-6 qualifying final loss against Melbourne. Vella then headed to England to play in the Super League for English club Hull Kingston Rovers where he was voted Players' Player of the Year in 2007. He also captained the club in his final year, 2011.
Wikipedia
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1981 1982 1983 1986 