Vainikolo quits league for union

Dmac

Vainikolo quits league for union



Bradford Bulls have said that Lesley Vainikolo will leave the club at the end of June to take up a contract with rugby union side Gloucester.

The Tongan, 28, is under contract to the Bulls until the end of the 2009 season but asked for a release in order to try his hand at the 15-man game.

The winger has scored 143 tries in his 146 appearances to date with the Bulls.

Bradford agreed to release him after completing the signing of Brisbane Broncos winger Tame Tupou.

Vainikolo could line up alongside Tupou against Harlequins at Odsal on Sunday week and, because Bradford will retain his registration, could return to play for them in the Cup semi-finals and final if they get that far.

He was officially unveiled as a Gloucester player on Wednesday, signing a three-year deal to join former Bradford team-mate Karl Pryce.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone connected with Bradford Bulls for making the last five years so memorable," said Vainikolo, who joined the club from the Canberra Raiders in 2002.

"Bradford is my home and I know I'll be back. I'm determined to go out on a high and want to contribute as much as possible over the next six weeks before I make the switch."

Bradford chairman Peter Hood added: "Lesley came to see me and said that he still had a burning desire to see if he could replicate his success in rugby league in union.

"There aren't many players who have achieved as much as Lesley has with Bradford or who have given fans so much pleasure with their performances, which I'm not sure we will ever see beaten in Super League.

"In view of this and his five years of unflinching commitment and service to the Bulls, we agreed that, should we be able to secure a world-class replacement, we would not stand in the way of his dream.

"Lesley knows he is welcome back at Bradford at any time and we genuinely wish him every success with this move."

Credit - BBC Sport

As much as I like the fact that he wont be playing against Wigan again any time soon, this is just another defeat for Rugby league, Lesley is an amazing player and the Bulls will find it very difficult to duplicate his talent.

Tyler Durden

No surprise that Gloucester want this player type following their defeat against Leicester in the Prem Play Off Final. They were seriously out muscled.

Dmac

There isn't much chance of Vainikolo getting out muscled I can tell you that.

Invictus

Wow a Rugby League thread.

Big Les will do well in Yawnion and the Bulls have made a shrewd move because his knees are shot to shit and he won't last more than 2 more seasons in League. Now he can earth some more cash before the end of his career playing the soft Rugby.

I loved the Yawnion boys cooing over his power and pace, yeah guys, its what Super League is all about rather than Kick-Chase, Kick, run into tackle, run into tackle, kick chase, kick, lineout, run into tackle and so on until the players die of boredom.

Tame Tupou is gonna shred some defences this year too. C'Mon Bulls.

The Phantom

He'll only do well if they allow him time to learn the game. Jason Robinson was allowed the time and he was a huge hit. Others like Iestyn Harris, Henry Paul and what's his name who played at center for England this season have been flops. (ah Farrel!, lol)

Dmac

I love Rugby League, I posts threads when I can.

and Phantom... Robinson and Farrel and both Wigan emerged talent.

Tyler Durden

I like both codes, though am of the opinion that with League you are pretty much guaranted to get a six/seven out of ten game near enough always. Whereas in Union you may get a four star game, but similarly you may get a nine star game. League is pretty much always good value, Union not so much, but when Union is good it is better.

In terms of players being succesful at both codes, in my lifetime I can only think of Jonathan Davies who excelled at both in decision making roles. When league players convert to Union in roles where they are expected to call the plays and make the decisions, they don't tend to excel. The more succesful converts have been wings/full backs where (aside from being turned by the opposition repeatedly kicking behind them) the roles have a lot of similarities.

I just wish either code had an exceptional national team!!

Dmac

Well this years league team could be promising with players coming through such as Burrows and Briers.

Invictus

Briers is not a GB half back and this weekends display at Quins should put that to bed for the rest of his career. Burrows is good in Super League because he's allowed to run across the line, he does that against the Aussies he'll die. GB has a serious lack of good half backs at the moment.

As for Phantoms point I have to disagree, Robinson excelled at Union because he could run like a fish and nobody could match his speed. Union's biggest attraction to league players is powerful and fast centres and wingers. When Robinson was on the pitch there was no one who could stop him, simple as. If Lesley's knees hold out then he'll be good but no great, if his knees go like they did every year at the Bulls then the Bulls have made a tremendous move by shifting him off the salary cap at £170,000 a year bringing in Tupou at 70,000 a year leaving us with the money to get either Matt King or Brett Kimmorley at the end of the season.