Michael Vella
{{short description|Australia and Malta international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Michael Vella
|fullname = Michael Vella
|image = Michael Vella (23 April 2005).jpg
|image_size = 200px
|caption = Vella in 2005
|position = {{rlp|PR}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|2|19}}
|birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
|retired = yes
|height = {{convert|191|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url= http://hullkr.co.uk/mick-vella-22|title= Hull KR The Official Site of the Robins|work= web page|publisher= Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC|access-date= 13 August 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110814075921/http://hullkr.co.uk/mick-vella-22|archive-date= 14 August 2011}}
|club1 = Parramatta Eels
|year1start = 1998
|year1end = 06
|appearances1 = 159
|tries1 = 13
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 52
|club2 = {{nowrap|Hull Kingston Rovers}}
|year2start = 2007
|year2end = 11
|appearances2 = 121
|tries2 = 14
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 56
|teamA = New South Wales
|yearAstart = 1999
|yearAend = 02
|appearancesA = 10
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = Australia
|yearBstart = 1999
|yearBend = 01
|appearancesB = 8
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
| teamC = Malta
| yearCstart =
| yearCend =
| appearancesC = 0
| triesC = 0
| goalsC = 0
| fieldgoalsC = 0
| pointsC = 0
|updated = 6 June 2019
|source = [https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Michael-Vella/ loverugbyleague][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/michael-vella/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|new = yes
}}
Michael Vella is an Australian 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.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/in_depth/rugby_league/2001/ashes/vella.stm 2001 Ashes profile] at news.bbc.co.uk
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/02/24/1109180047215.html|title=Cancer won't hold me back: Vella|date=25 February 2005}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/about/official-player-numbers/|title=Official Player Numbers|website=Parramatta Eels}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/eels/nathan-hindmarsh-on-parramattas-last-table-topping-team-where-his-former-teammates-are-now/news-story/fea0ebc7740f2dbbf8884bae9db77210/|title=Nathan Hindmarsh on Parramatta's last table topping team, where his former teammates are now|publisher=Fox Sports|date=13 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2015/06/07/eels-on-a-mission-against-homelessness/|title=Eels on a mission against homelessness|publisher=National Rugby League|date=6 June 2015}}
Post playing
Since his retirement, Vella has returned to Australia where he has owned a fitness business,{{Cite web|url=http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/fitness-brings-a-smile-to-former-eel/|title = Hills shire times | Hills Shire Times | Daily Telegraph}} worked in a variety of roles for the NRL, and is currently brand ambassador for the Parramatta Eelshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-vella-43bb4932 {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}
In 2016, Vella became a trainer at his junior club Cherrybrook.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/vella-takes-local-club-through-sessions-that-made-him-a-legend-of-the-game/news-story/c2d0b4933b011442b7d1ff66d08c00e4/|title=Vella takes local club through sessions that made him a legend of the game|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|date=12 February 2016|last1=McCallum|first1=Jake}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150515011117/http://www.hullkr.co.uk/club/captains Hull Kingston Rovers ~ Captains]
{{Australia 2000 Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{2001 Kangaroo Tour squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vella, Michael}}
Category:People educated at Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian people of Maltese descent
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Australia national rugby league team players
Category:Hull Kingston Rovers captains
Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players
Category:Malta national rugby league team players
Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players