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{{short description|NZ & Tonga international rugby league footballer}}{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

factoids

198604|df=yes}}|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand189ftin|abbr=on}}112stlb|abbr=on}}New Zealand Warriors}}|year1start = 2004|year1end = 17|appearances1 = 226|tries1 = 152|goals1 = 0|fieldgoals1 = 0|points1 = 608|club2 = Salford Red Devils|year2start = 2017|year2end = 18|appearances2 = 8|tries2 = 5|goals2 = 0|fieldgoals2 = 0|points2 = 20New Zealand national rugby league team>New Zealand|yearAstart = 2005|yearAend = 15|appearancesA = 29|triesA = 22|goalsA = 0|fieldgoalsA = 0|pointsA = 88All Stars Match>NRL All Stars|yearBstart = 2010|yearBend = 15|appearancesB = 3|triesB = 1|goalsB = 0|fieldgoalsB = 0|pointsB = 4Tonga national rugby league team>Tonga|yearCstart = 2017|yearCend = |appearancesC = 2|triesC = 1|goalsC = 0|fieldgoalsC = 0|pointsC = 4|retired = yesWEBSITE=LOVERUGBYLEAGUE, HTTP://WWW.RUGBYLEAGUEPROJECT.ORG/PLAYERS/MANU-VATUVEI/SUMMARY.HTML>TITLE=STATISTICS AT RUGBYLEAGUEPROJECT.ORGDATE=31 DECEMBER 2017, 1 January 2018, |updated = 18 July 2018}}Manu Mapuhola Mafi-Vatuvei (born 4 March 1986), also known by the nickname "The Beast",WEB, Lawton, Aaron,weblink 'The Beast' Manu on NFL radar, Stuff (website), Stuff, 16 May 2010, 29 January 2011, is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who was both a Tonga and New Zealand international representative {{rlp|wg}}er. He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL and for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League. Vatuvei was a member of the New Zealand national team that won the 2008 World Cup. He became the Warriors' top try scorer, and the first player in NRL history to score at least 10 tries in 10 consecutive seasons.WEB,weblink Warriors star's heartbreak: I nearly quit for my family, nzherald.co.nz, 28 May 2016, 1 January 2017,

Early years

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 4 March 1986, Vatuvei is of Tongan descent. He grew up in the same ÅŒtara neighbourhood as Ruben Wiki and attended Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate. His cousin is Tongan-Japanese rugby union player Ruatangi Vatuvei. Vatuvei played for the Otara Scorpions and Otahuhu Leopards in Auckland Rugby League competitions before playing for the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards in the Bartercard Cup. When he was only 16 he joined the New Zealand Warriors development squad.NEWS,weblink Michele Hewitson Interview: Manu Vatuvei, Hewitson, Michele, 27 March 2010, The New Zealand Herald, 19 October 2011,

NRL career

2004–2009

Vatuvei made his NRL debut for the New Zealand Warriors in Round 11 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on the wing in the Warriors 26–12 win at Sydney Football Stadium.NEWS,weblink Warriors win battle of cellar dwellers, ABC News, Joel Zander, 23 May 2004, 14 March 2016, He played in 5 matches in his debut year.In Round 4 of the 2005 season, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Mt Smart Stadium. Vatuvei scored his first NRL career try in the Warriors' 46–14 win.WEB,weblink Jones leads Warriors to big win over bunnies, Sydney Morning Herald, 3 April 2005, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei finished the year with him playing in 12 matches and scoring 9 tries for the Warriors. In the post season, Vatuvei made his international debut for New Zealand against Australia on 16 October 2005. It was the opening game of the Tri-Nations, where the Kiwis beat the Kangaroos 38–28 at ANZ Stadium.WEB,weblink Vagana to stay alive in series thanks to international rules, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 October 2005, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei later went on to play in the 2005 Tri-Nations final, scoring two tries on the way to a 24–0 victory over Australia at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds.WEB,weblink Rugby league: Australia 0–24 New Zealand, David Lawrenson, the Guardian, 27 November 2005, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei played 5 matches and scored 3 tries in the series.Vatuvei finished the 2006 NRL season with 10 tries from 18 matches. In the post season, he was selected for the New Zealand Tri-Nations squad playing in 5 matches and scoring 2 tries, including playing in the Kiwis 16–12 golden point extra time loss to Australia in the final.WEB,weblink Rugby league: Tri-Nations final: Australia 16–12 New Zealand, Gareth Walker, the Guardian, 27 November 2006, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei was selected to play for the New Zealand on the wing in the 2007 Anzac Test match against Australia, scoring a try in the Kiwis 6–30 loss.WEB,weblink Australia win Anzac Test in late blitz, Steven Williams, League Unlimited, 14 March 2016, After playing in 23 matches, Vatuvei was joint top try scorer for the Warriors alongside Jerome Ropati and Michael Witt with 10 tries in the 2007 NRL season.In the 2008 season, Vatuvei suffered a broken leg in Round 7 against the Gold Coast Titans,Manu Vatuvei breaks leg The Herald Sun, 27 April 2008 Vatuvei returned from injury to help the Warriors push for the playoffs. Needing to beat the Eels in the last round of the regular season, Vatuvei scored a hat-trick of tries, as the Warriors convincingly won 28–6 to qualify in 8th spot and book a match against minor premiers Melbourne Storm. In the finals series, The Warriors won 18–15 at Olympic Park, where the Storm had only lost twice in three seasons. Vatuvei scored one of the Warriors three tries and was denied another by a forward pass ruling. With the Warriors trailing 15–14 in the 78th minute, he received an offload from Jerome Ropati and busted several tackles over a run of 40m before passing to Michael Witt who sprinted 20m to score the match-winning try.WEB,weblink Warriors upset Storm in thriller, Melissa Woods, 14 March 2016, Fox Sports, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei scored another try in the Warriors 30–13 elimination semi-final victory over the Sydney Roosters at Mt Smart Stadium,WEB,weblink Warriors demolish Roosters to continue dream run, Tim Costello, League Unlimited, 14 March 2016, the game that qualified the Warriors for the preliminary final against the Manly Sea Eagles, which they later lost 32–6 at SFS.NEWS, Courier Mail, Matt Marshall, Sea Eagles prepare for Melbourne Storm in grand final,weblink Vatuvei was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2008 World Cup. He went on to star in the tournament, breaking New Zealand's World Cup record for most tries in a match with four against England. (File:Manu Vatuvei holding up the World Cup.jpg|thumb|right|Vatuvei lifting the World Cup in 2008)Vatuvei went on to play in the first New Zealand team to win the World Cup, defeating Australia in the final.NEWS,weblink Kiwis to wait on Webb and Matai, BBC, 7 October 2008, 7 October 2008, WEB,weblink New Zealand ride their luck for shock World Cup final victory over Australia, David Burke, 23 November 2008, Telegraph.co.uk, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei played in 5 matches and scored 4 tries in the tournament. He was named International Winger of the year in 2008.NEWS,weblink Vatuvei international winger of the year, 18 November 2008, NZPA, Television New Zealand, 19 October 2011, Vatuvei was selected to play for New Zealand on the wing in the 2009 Anzac Test match against Australia, scoring a try in the 38–10 loss.WEB, Courier Mail, Australia beats New Zealand 38–10 in Anzac Test in Brisbane, Andrew Webster,weblink (File:MANU VATUVEI.jpg|thumb|right|Vatuvei playing for the Warriors in 2009)The Warriors failed to make the finals, but Vatuvei finished the season as the club's top try-scorer with 13 tries in 19 matches in the 2009 NRL season.

2010–2017

On 13 February, Vatuvei played for the NRL All Stars in the inaugural All Stars match at Skilled Park.NEWS, Daily Telegraph, Indigenous All Stars win historic victory,weblink In Round 13 against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Mt Smart Stadium, Vatuvei played his 100th NRL career match as the Warriors lost 20–22.WEB,weblink Dragons edge out Warriors 22–20, NRL.com, 14 March 2016, On 24 August, Vatuvei announced that he had extended his Warriors contract until the end of the 2013 season.WEB,weblink Vatuvei re-signs with Warriors, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 August 2010, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei surpassed Stacey Jones' club record of 77 tries in the first week of play-off matches against the Gold Coast Titans; the Warriors lost the match 28–16 at Skilled Park.WEB,weblink Titans V Warriors: Minute-by-minute, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 September 2010, 14 March 2016, He was the Warriors highest tryscorer for the 4th year in a row with 20 tries in 19 matches. In the post season, Vatuvei was selected for the New Zealand Four Nations squad.WEB,weblink Kiwi squad for Four Nations announced, Stuff, 5 October 2010, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei scored his 90th NRL try for the Warriors in the 2011 NRL Grand Final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the Warriors 24–10 losing effort, Vatuvei's first and only Grand Final appearance to date.NEWS, Daily Telegraph, 2011 NRL Grand Final,weblink WEB,weblink Manly too strong for the Warriors as they win 2011 NRL grand final 24–10 at ANZ Stadium, David Beniuk, 14 March 2016, Fox Sports, 14 March 2016, He was the Warriors highest tryscorer for the 5th year in a row with 12 tries in 19 matches. Vatuvei missed the 2011 Four Nations series after failing medical tests.NEWS, Daily Telegraph, New Zealand rugby league team lose Shaun Johnson, Manu Vatuvei and Steve Matai for Australian test and Four Nations tour,weblink On 4 February, Vatuvei played for the NRL All Stars in the 2012 All Stars match, scoring a try in the All Stars' 36–28 win.WEB,weblink NRL All Stars win Arthur Beetson Trophy in thriller, The Australian, 14 March 2016, He played for New Zealand in the 2012 Anzac Test match as the Kiwis lost 12–20.NEWS, Daily Telegraph, Lowdown on test blockbuster,weblink Due to an injury to captain Simon Mannering, Vatuvei captained the side for several games between Rounds 21 and 25. In Round 24 against the Penrith Panthers at Mt Smart Stadium, Vatuvei played his 150th NRL career match in the Warriors 18–16 loss.WEB,weblink The Lowdown Warriors v Panthers, The Australian, 14 March 2016, In Round 23 against the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium, Vatuvei became the first player to score 100 tries for the club, in the Warriors shellacking 52–12 loss.WEB, Sun Herald, Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan lead Cowboys in rout of Warriors, Peter Badel,weblink Along with Shaun Johnson and Konrad Hurrell, Vatuvei was the New Zealand Warriors season's top try-scorer with 12 tries in 20 matches in the 2012 NRL season. Vatuvei, usually the Kiwis winger, was not picked for the October test against Australia.(File:Manu Vatuvei.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Vatuvei playing for the New Zealand Warriors in 2013)On 8 May 2013, Vatuvei extended his contract with the Warriors to the end of the 2015 season.WEB,weblink Warriors re-sign in-demand winger Manu Vatuvei for further two years, tie him to club until 2015, 14 March 2016, Fox Sports, 14 March 2016, He was the Warriors highest tryscorer for the 7th year in a row with 16 tries in 19 matches. Vatuvei was selected for the New Zealand World Cup squad. In the Kiwis opening game, a 42–24 victory over Samoa at Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, Vatuvei scored a hat-trick.WEB,weblink Rugby League World Cup: New Zealand survive Samoan fightback, The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 October 2013, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei played in the Kiwis 34–2 World Cup final loss against Australia at Old Trafford.NEWS,weblink New Zealand 2–34 Australia, BBC Sport, He played in 4 matches and scored 4 tries in the series.Vatuvei finished off the Warriors 2014 NRL season as the Warriors highest tryscorer for the year with 17 tries in 23 matches. On 7 October 2014, Vatuvei was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis' final 24-man squad for the 2014 Four Nations series.WEB,weblink Four rookies in Kiwis Four Nations squad, NRL.com, 14 March 2016, 23 September 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150923193201weblink">weblink dead, In the Four Nations final against Australia, Vatuvei scored two tries. With his second he became the new all-time top try scorer for the Kiwis, breaking Nigel Vagana's record of 19, a record held since 2006.NEWS, Daily Telegraph, New Zealand champions after defeating Australia 22–18 in Wellington,weblink In the pre-season, Vatuvei played in the Warriors' Auckland Nines.WEB,weblink WARRIORS NAME 2015 NINES SQUAD, Rugby League Week, 14 March 2016, On 13 February, Vatuvei was played for the NRL All Stars in the 2015 All Stars match, a 20–6 loss to the Indigenous All Stars.WEB,weblink Indigenous All Stars leave it late, NRL.com, 13 February 2015, 14 March 2016, In Round 6, against the Wests Tigers, Vatuvei played his 200th NRL game, scoring twice in the Warriors 32–22 win at Mt Smart Stadium.WEB,weblink Wests Tigers overpowered by New Zealand Warriors milestone man Manu Vatuvei, The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 April 2015, 14 March 2016, In the following week against the North Queensland Cowboys, Vatuvei overtook Nigel Vagana as the most prolific New Zealand try scorer when he touched down for his 141st career try in the Warriors 28–24 loss at 1300SMILES Stadium.WEB,weblink Video: Cowboys pip Warriors at the death 28 24, Newshub, 14 March 2016, Vatuvei was selected for New Zealand in the 2015 Anzac Test, scoring a try in the Kiwis' 26–12 win.WEB,weblink New Zealand Kiwis claim third straight win over Australian Kangaroos for first time since 1953, The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 May 2015, 14 March 2016, In Round 14 against the Sydney Roosters, Vatuvei became the first player in NRL history to score at least 10 tries in 10 consecutive seasons.WEB,weblink Vatuvei credits teammates for try record, NRL.com, 14 March 2016, He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in round 22,.WEB,weblink Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei out for five months, will miss Kiwis tour to England, DAVID LONG, 19 August 2015, Stuff, 14 March 2016, Finishing the season with 16 matches and 11 tries for the Warriors.In 2016, Vatuvei scored his 150th first grade try, the 11th player to do so and the first New Zealander.NEWS, NRL: Vatuvei to join list of try-scoring legends,weblink The New Zealand Herald, 15 July 2016, en-NZ, On 6 May 2017, Vatuvei made his debut for Mate Ma'a TongaWEB, Vatuvei embraces Tongan debut,weblink National Rugby League, en, 2 May 2017, and scored a try in the 6th minute of the match in Tonga's 26–24 victory over Fiji at Campbelltown in the 2017 Pacific Test Triple Header.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} On 10 July, Vatuvei was released from his contract with the New Zealand Warriors and signed a deal with Salford Red Devils.WEB, Vatuvei released,weblink Warriors,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170812221603weblink">weblink 12 August 2017, dead, His last appearance for the Warriors was on 14 July 2017, in an emotional farewell at Mt Smart Stadium, temporarily renamed Manu Vatuvei Stadium for the match. His time with Salford didn't last long, being released after only eight games due to picking up a injury in the following preseason.WEB, Darbyshire, Drew, Salford release Manu Vatuvei,weblink LoveRugbyLeague, 5 June 2018, Vatuvei announced his well rumoured retirement on social media on 15 July 2019; explaining the delay in his decision was due to being unable to accept that his time was up.NEWS, Rugby league: Warriors great Manu Vatuvei officially retires from rugby league,weblink The New Zealand Herald, 15 July 2019, en-NZ,

Boxing career

factoids

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand| stance = | total = 1| wins = 1| KO = 1| losses = 0| draws = 0| no_contests = | website = | medaltemplates = | show-medals = | embed = }}Vatuvei made his boxing debut in the corporate division to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ on 15 December 2012. He took on Olympic Gold medalist Eric Murray.WEB,weblink Manu Vatuvei serious about pro boxing career as he eyes options for league return, 13 November 2018, Stuff News, 15 December 2018, Vatuvei won the bout by unanimous decision.WEB,weblinkweblink 21 December 2021, live, Manu Vatuvei v Eric Murray Fight for Life 2012, Youtube, 15 December 2018, {{cbignore}} In November 2018, it was announced that Vatuvei would make his pro boxing debut against Brown Buttabean David Letele. This fight happened exactly six years after his corporate bout.WEB,weblink Boxing: Warriors legend Manu Vatuvei set to fight on Joseph Parker's undercard, The New Zealand Herald, 15 December 2018, Vatuvei won the bout by Knockout in the first round. Letele announced his retirement after the bout.WEB,weblink Ex-Warrior Manu Vatuvei knocks out Dave Letele on pro debut, 15 December 2018, Stuff News, 15 December 2018, It was later announced that during prescreening health checks for the match, Vatuvei discovered he had a cyst on the brain, so cancelled all future bouts.NEWS, Manu Vatuvei 'still in denial' after discovering brain cyst,weblink Otago Daily Times, 19 June 2019, en, For the majority of his boxing bouts, Vatuvei was trained by Monty Betham at Boxing Alley in Auckland, New Zealand.NEWS,weblink Boxing: You have to destroy the other person: warning for the Beast, 9 December 2012, The New Zealand Herald,

Professional boxing record

{{BoxingRecordSummary|draws=0|nc=|ko-wins=1|ko-losses=0|dec-wins=0|dec-losses=0|dq-wins=|dq-losses=}}WEB,weblink Manu Vatuvei, BoxRec, 15 December 2018, {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"!{{abbr|No.|Number}}!Result!Record!Opponent!Type!Round, time!Date!Location!Notes|1|{{yes2}}Win|1–0{{flagicon|NZL}} David LeteleKO|Knockout}}|1 (4), 0:28|15 December 2018{{flagiconHorncastle Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand}}professional debut

Importation of methamphetamine

In late 2020, media were reporting that a sportsman was facing a number of charges methamphetamine-related charges, but had ongoing name suppression. On 2 May 2021, Vatuvei announced through his social media that he was the sportsman in the case, and that he had been charged with possessing methamphetamine for supply and importing the Class A drug in December 2019.NEWS, 2 May 2021, Manu Vatuvei reveals himself as sportsman facing drug charges, en-nz, Radio New Zealand,weblink 2 May 2021, NEWS, Owen, Catrin, Thomas, Jackson, Block, Block, 2 May 2021, Manu Vatuvei reveals himself as sportsman charged with importing methamphetamine, en, Stuff (website), Stuff,weblink 2 May 2021, NEWS, Rugby league legend Manu Vatuvei reveals meth charges after long-running suppression fight, en-NZ, The New Zealand Herald,weblink 2 May 2021, On 6 October 2021, Vatuvei pleaded guilty to importing methamphetamine into New Zealand and in March 2022 he was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.NEWS, Kapitan, Craig, 6 October 2021, Rugby league great facing life in prison, news.com.au,weblink 6 October 2021, NEWS, Owen, Catrin, Former Warriors player Manu Vatuvei sent to jail for importing methamphetamine,weblink Stuff (website), Stuff, 1 March 2022, en, Vatuvei's brother was also sentenced on the same charges, and received seven years and two months in prison.WEB, Manu Vatuvei meth case: Judge orders prison sentence for Warriors legend,weblink 2 March 2022, New Zealand Herald, en-NZ, In May 2023, Vatuvei was granted early parole. It was announced that he would take a volunteer role with the Warriors, counseling young players on career decisions and making good choices.Manu Vatuvei to be released from prison, take up mentor role with Warriors, RNZ, 18 May 2023

Personal life

Vatuvei married his wife in 2009, and together they have five daughters.WEB, Willetts, Cloe, Dancing With the Stars' Manu Vatuvei's Biggest Fear When It Comes to the Dance Floor.,weblink 2 March 2022, Now To Love, en,

Television

In 2019 Vatuvei won Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand series 8).NEWS, 17 June 2019, Rugby League: Dancing With the Stars winner Manu Vatuvei's fire still burns for professional career, en, Newshub,weblink

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

• Salford Red Devils profile
• 2015 New Zealand Warriors profile
• NRL profile
• SL profile
• 2017 RLWC profile
• Boxrec Profile

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