As the Vodafone Junior Warriors head into the second match of their 2015 NYC finals programme, their pedigree in the competition again commands attention.
Tomorrow's sudden-death semi-final against the Brisbane Broncos in Townsville (5.00pm kick-off local time; 7.00pm NZT) will be their 22nd finals appearance, easily a record since the competition began in 2008.
Last week’s victory over the Sydney Roosters was the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 16th in an era in which they have reached the finals every season, made the grand final four times, won in three times and also won the minor premiership. Last year they created more history by winning the grand final from eighth spot.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors’ success in the competition has translated into other records their rivals can't match, not least the number of NYC graduates who have gone on to play in the NRL.
When Mason Lino made his debut as Vodafone Warrior #202 last month he became the 48th NYC graduate to play for the club at NRL level, again clearly ahead of the rest of the clubs.
In all six Vodafone Warriors NYC graduates made their NRL debuts for the club this year, four of them in their first year out of the competition after finishing as NYC grand final winners last season. A seventh NYC product Tuimoala Lolohea was still an NRL rookie as well and also played in the 2014 NYC finale.
The benefits derived by the Vodafone Warriors from the NYC were also underlined by the make-up of this year’s wider NRL squad with 22 of the 36 players coming through the club’s under-20 system.
Of the 2015 NYC squad as many as 11 players were promoted to debut for the club’s New South Wales Cup side – Bunty Afoa, Tomas Aoake, Ata Hingano, Marata Niukore, Nathaniel Roache, Toafofoa Sipley, Wesley Tauti, Jazz Tevaga, Paul Tuli, Semisi Tyrell and Paul Ulberg.
VODAFONE WARRIORS | NYC GRADUATES TO NRL
Vodafone Warriors (36)
Sonny Fai #138 | 2008, 15 games
Russell Packer #141 | 2008-2013, 110 games
Ben Matulino #142 | 2008-2015, 173 games
Leeson Ah Mau #147 | 2009, 2 games (North Queensland | 2010-2011, 33 games; St George Illawarra 2012-2015, 74 games)
Daniel O’Regan #150 | 2009, 1 game
Kevin Locke #152 | 2009-2014, 89 games
Isaac John #154 | 2009-2011, 9 games (Penrith | 2013-2015, 26 games)
Siuatonga Likiliki #155 | 2009, 1 game (Newcastle | 2011, 2 games)
Sione Lousi #159 | 2010-2015, 49 games
Bill Tupou #160 | 2010-2013, 62 games (Canberra | 2013-2015, 14 games)
Upu Poching #161 | 2010, 1 game
Alehana Mara #162 | 2010-2012, 16 games
Glen Fisiiahi #163 | 2011-2015, 25 games
Elijah Taylor #167 | 2011-2013, 67 games (Penrith | 2014-2015, 37 games)
Shaun Johnson #168 | 2011-2015, 101 games
Steve Rapira #169 | 2011-2013, 14 games (North Queensland | 2009-2010, 26 games)
Konrad Hurrell #172 | 2012-2015, 68 games
Ben Henry #173 | 2012-2015, 51 games
Omar Slaimankhel #174 | 2012, 5 games
Sam Lousi #175 | 2012 & 2014, 3 games
Sebastine Ikahihifo #176 | 2012-2015, 39 games
Carlos Tuimavave #177 | 2012-2014, 9 games (Newcastle | 2015, 5 games)
Ngani Laumape #180 | 2013-2015, 30 games
Charlie Gubb #183 | 2013-2015, 15 games
Siosiua Taukeiaho #184 | 2013, 1 game (Sydney Roosters | 2015, 25 games)
John Palavi #188 | 2014, 2 games
David Fusitu’a #189 | 2014-2015, 15 games
Siliva Havili #190 | 2014-2015, 14 games
Agnatius Paasi #191 | 2014, 1 game (Gold Coast | 2015, 18 games)
Tuimoala Lolohea #192 | 2014-2015, 26 games
Solomone Kata #193 | 2015, 24 games
Sam Lisone #196 | 2015, 19 games
Albert Vete #197 | 2015, 21 games
Raymond Faitala-Mariner #200 | 2015, 11 games
Ken Maumalo #201 | 2015, 8 games
Mason Lino #202 | 2015, 3 games
Other clubs:
Neccrom Areaiiti | South Sydney | 2012, 1 game
Sosaia Feki | Cronulla | 2013-2015, 61 games
James Gavet | Canterbury-Bankstown | 2012, 1 game; Wests Tigers | 2014, 12 games;
Brisbane | 2015, 1 games
Adam Henry | Sydney Roosters | 2012, 4 games
Peta Hiku | Manly | 2013-2015, 60 games
Mark Ioane |Gold Coast | 2013-2015, 24 games; St George Illawarra | 2015, 4 games
Constantine Mika | Newcastle | 2009-2011, 14 games
Nathaniel Neale |South Sydney | 2014, 1 game
Nathaniel Peteru | Gold Coast | 2015, 5 games
Matt Robinson | Penrith | 2012-2014, 32 games; Gold Coast | 2015, 6 games
Ligi Sao | Manly | 2013 & 2015, 21 games
Nafe Seluini | Penrith | 2011-2012, 19 games; Sydney Roosters | 2012-2013, 8 games
