Junior Pauga
{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Junior Pauga
|fullname = Fetalaiga Junior Pauga
|image = Junior_Pauga.jpg
|image_size =
|position = {{rlp|WG|CE}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|2|3}}
|birth_place = Ōtāhuhu, New Zealand
|height = {{convert|186|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|93|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Wests Tigers
|year1start = 2021
|year1end = 22
|appearances1 = 4
|tries1 = 1
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 4
|club2 = {{nowrap|Sydney Roosters}}
|year2start = 2023
|year2end = present
|appearances2 = 17
|tries2 = 10
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 40
|teamA = Samoa
|yearAstart = 2024
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 2
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 4
|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/junior-pauga/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 27 October 2024
}}
Fetalaiga Junior Pauga (born 3 February 1996) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays for the Sydney Roosters as a {{rlp|wg}}er.
He previously played for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL) as a {{rlp|ce}}.
Background
Born in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New Zealand,{{cite web| work= weststigers.com.au| title=Junior Pauga| url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/junior-pauga/}} Pauga was a student at Kelston Boys' High School. In 2014, he was named MVP of the national secondary school tournament and chosen in the NZ Secondary Schools team to play New South Wales.{{cite web| work= Canterbury Rugby League| title=Strong schools side for NSW game| url=https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=0-8379-0-0-0&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=31484981}}
Career
=2016–2020=
Between 2016 and 2018, Pauga was a member of the New Zealand Warriors NSW Cup team. From 2019, he joined the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Queensland Cup. In his first season, he played 13 games for 10 wins, 3 tries, 9 goals.{{cite web| work= QRL| title=Junior Pauga| url=https://www.qrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-cup/wynnum-manly-seagulls/junior-pauga/}} and was a member of the team that lost to the Burleigh Bears in the grand final.{{cite web| work= League Unlimited| title=Burleigh claim Intrust Super Cup title, defeating Wynnum Manly|author=Joel Gould| url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/34209-results-2019-intrust-super-cup-grand-final/}}
In 2020, Pauga made one appearance in Wynnum's first grade before the competition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web| work= QRL| title=Four QRL statewide competitions cancelled for 2020|author=Michael Hillier| url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2020/03/27/2020-qrl-statewide-competitions-cancelled/}} One of a handful of players who chose to join the lower-grade team when that competition restarted, Pauga scored a try and kicked 6 goals as Wynnum won the reserve grade grand final. He said, "When COVID hit, we got told that Cup was off; and then I heard that BRL was coming back, so I was like... even though Cup was not on, I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to play footy and have fun with the boys. It was pretty good to be part of the team; I have some mates, we all came from New Zealand and the goal was for them to play Cup this year."{{cite web| work= QRL|author=Colleen Edwards| title=Wynnum Manly claim three-peat with win over Panthers| url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2020/10/17/wynnum-manly-claim-a-three-peat-with-win-over-west-brisbane-panthers/}}
After playing the first four games with Wynnum in 2021, Pauga was released to join the Wests Tigers in the NRL.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
= 2021 =
Pauga made his debut in round 18, for the Wests Tigers against the Brisbane Broncos, scoring a try in a 42-24 victory. Before the game, he said, "It’s been a tough journey over the past three years. After leaving the Warriors, I didn’t have anything and had to go to Queensland to start all over again. When this opportunity came up, I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to take it with both hands and I don’t ever want to take it for granted."{{cite web| work= weststigers.com.au| title=New kid on the block Pauga living childhood dream|author=Michael Blok| url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/07/14/new-kid-on-the-block-living-childhood-dream/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-18/nrl-rabbitohs-beat-bulldogs-as-panthers-wests-tigers-win/100288258/|title=Canterbury's Lachlan Lewis sin-binned in 32-24 NRL loss to South Sydney as Penrith, Wests Tigers triumph|website=www.abc.net.au}}
= 2022 =
In November 2022, Pauga signed for North Sydney ahead of the 2023 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.northsydneybears.com.au/2023-nsw-cup-signings-tracker/|title=2023 NSW CUP SIGNINGS TRACKER|website=www.northsydneybears.com.au}}
=2023=
In round 14 of the 2023 NRL season, Pauga scored a try on his club debut for the Sydney Roosters in their 25-24 victory over Canterbury.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/i-pretty-much-deleted-all-social-media-james-tedesco-bounces-back-from-state-of-origin-criticism-with-roosters-masterclass/news-story/ec7261ff5c81785a560a2f8541f7fef5/|title=‘I pretty much deleted all social media’: James Tedesco bounces back from State of Origin criticism with Roosters masterclass|website=www.news.com.au}}
Pauga played nine matches for the Sydney Roosters as the club finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. He played in both of the clubs finals games as they were eliminated in the second week against Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/sydney-roosters-nrl-2023-season-review/88b2453a9bca06123c73704b#:~:text=While%20their%20late%2Dseason%20heroics,to%20reach%20the%20prelim%20finals./|title=NRL 2023: Sydney Roosters season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}
On 24 September, Pauga played for North Sydney in their 2023 NSW Cup grand final loss against South Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-blake-taaffe-zach-dockarclay-dean-hawkins-south-sydney-rabbitohs-north-sydney-bears-nsw-cup-grand-final-stats-result/news-story/befffd38099aec69314f2ff2171b9376/|title=Taaffe’s statement as Souths end 40-year drought; veteran’s captain’s knock: Reserves Wrap|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
=2024=
In round 11 of the 2024 NRL season, Pauga scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in their 38-30 loss against Cronulla.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-18/nrl-magic-round-titans-knights-sharks-roosters-rabbitohs-cowboys/103865352/|title=Magic Round Saturday: Sharks, Cowboys and Knights record wins on another day of tight NRL contests|website=www.abc.net.au}}
In round 16, Pauga was sent off for a high tackle during the Sydney Roosters victory over Canterbury. Pauga was later suspended for four games. In round 27, Pauga scored a hat-trick for the Sydney Roosters in their 36-28 victory over arch-rivals South Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-junior-pauga-send-off-high-tackle-on-connor-tracey-roosters-vs-bulldogs-news-videos-highlights-suspensions-match-review-committee/news-story/d60815d691579363d6c5ef00a0983726/|title=‘That’s a bad one’: Roosters flyer cops HUGE ban for ugly ‘swinging arm’ send off|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sydney Roosters squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pauga, Junior}}
Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:North Sydney Bears players
Category:Rugby league players from Auckland
Category:Samoa national rugby league team players