Vai Toutai
{{short description|Tonga international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Vai Toutai
|fullname = Vai Afu Toutai
|image = vaitoutai.jpg
|imagesize = 200px
|caption = Toutai playing for the Wentworthville Magpies in 2012.
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|1|28}}
|birth_place = Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|186|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|103|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|WG|CE}}
|club1 = Parramatta Eels
|year1start = 2013
|year1end = 16
|appearances1 = 33
|tries1 = 15
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 60
|teamA = Tonga
|yearAstart = 2014
|yearAend = 16
|appearancesA = 2
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|retired = yes
|updated = 6 December 2023
}}
Vai Toutai (born 28 January 1993) is a former professional Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a {{rlp|ce}} and on the {{rlp|wg}} for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW.
Background
Born in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Toutai is of Tongan descent and attended Eagle Vale High School. He played his junior rugby league for Campbelltown City Kangaroos and Fairfield United before being signed by the Parramatta Eels.{{cite web|url=http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/archive/index.php/t-352155.html|title=2010 Parramatta Eels SG Ball Squad [Archive] – The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League|website=Forums.leagueunlimited.com|date=2012-03-15|access-date=2015-12-25}}
Playing career
=2013=
Toutai played for Parramatta's NYC team in 2011 and 2012, scoring 12 tries in 29 games.[http://www.rleague.com//db/player/t/toutai_vai/index.php] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618105729/http://www.rleague.com/|date=18 June 2012 }}
In round 2 of the 2013 NRL season, Toutai made his NRL debut for the Eels against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, replacing injured winger Ken Sio in the Eels 20–16 loss at ANZ Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/live-coverage-as-the-parramatta-eels-take-on-the-canterbury-bulldogs-in-nrl-round-2/story-e6frexnr-1226597485268|title=Parramatta Eels Take on the Cantebury Bulldogs in NRL Round 2|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=2015-12-25}} In his next match in round 3 against the Wests Tigers, Toutai scored his NRL first try in the Eels 31–18 loss at Leichhardt Oval.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/live-rolling-coverage-of-wests-tigers-v-parramatta-eels/story-e6frexnr-1226603622802|title=Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=2015-12-25}} Toutai finished off his debut year with him playing in 15 matches and scoring 4 tries (16p) as the club finished last on the table for a second consecutive year.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-work-to-erase-bitter-memories-of-2013s-wooden-spoon-season/news-story/53c0bcf5d4870490a3ab9c448bfae244/|title=Parramatta Eels work to erase bitter memories of 2013's wooden spoon season|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=7 December 2013}}
=2014=
On 14 February 2014, Toutai was selected in the Eels inaugural 2014 NRL Auckland Nines squad.{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/squads-auckland-nines/|title=Squads For Auckland Nines|publisher=Rugby League Week|date=2014-02-14|access-date=2015-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115214258/http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/squads-auckland-nines/|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=dead}} In round 1 against the New Zealand Warriors, Toutai scored a hat-trick in the Eels 36–16 win at Parramatta Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/hattrick-heroes-semi-radradra-vai-toutai-inspire-electric-eels-to-win-over-warriors/story-fni3fbgz-1226849494193|title=Hat Trick Heroes Semi Radradra, Vai Toutai Inspire Electric Eels to Win over Warriors|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=2015-12-25}} On 5 June 2014, Toutai extended his contract with the Eels for a further 3 years till the end of the 2017 NRL season.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-safeguard-their-future-after-resigning-manu-mau-kenny-edwards-and-vai-toutai/story-fni3ga7r-1226944524182|title=Parramatta Eels Safeguard Their Future After Re-Signing Manu Mau, Kenny Edwards and Vai Toutai|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=2015-12-25}} On 19 July 2014, Toutai dropped the ball over the line twice in a 32–12 defeat by South Sydney.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-18/rabbitohs-beat-eels-32-12-in-parramatta/5608682|title = Rabbitohs beat Eels 32-12 in Parramatta|publisher = ABC News|date = 18 July 2014}} In round 23 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Toutai was the centre of the Eels controversial 18–16 loss after Toutai received a pass from the Eels ball boy after halfback Chris Sandow kicked a 40/20 then Toutai passing the ball to Sandow to race over to score the winning try for the Eels but was disallowed after the ball boy didn't place the ball on the ground.{{cite web|author=Adam Pengilly|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/parramatta-coach-brad-arthur-rages-at-referees-handling-of-ballboy-pass-to-vai-toutai-20140815-104rvm.html|title=Parramatta coach Brad Arthur rages at referees' handling of ballboy pass to Vai Toutai|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2014-08-15|access-date=2015-12-25}} Toutai finished off the Eels 2014 season having played in 10 matches and scoring 8 tries. On 16 October 2014, he was named in the Tonga squad to play against the Papua New Guinea national rugby league team in Lae.{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/png-tonga-squads-named-test-match/|title=Png & Tonga Squads Named For Test Match|publisher=Rugby League Week|date=2014-10-16|access-date=2015-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220156/http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/png-tonga-squads-named-test-match/|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} He played on the wing in Tonga's 32–18 loss.{{cite web|url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_16551-png-beat-tonga-in-lae.html|title=PNG beat Tonga in Lae|website=Loverugbyleague.com|date=2014-10-19|access-date=2015-12-25}}
=2015=
Toutai appeared in two matches for the Parramatta club in the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/Ny0xNjYwLTQtLS0tLS0yMDI4OS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0=|title=Custom Match List|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=2015-12-14|access-date=2015-12-25}}
=2016=
On 1 February, Toutai was named in the Eels' 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/eels-name-2016-nines-squad/|title=Eels name 2016 Nines squad|publisher=Rugby League Week|access-date=2016-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204104458/http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/eels-name-2016-nines-squad/|archive-date=4 February 2016|url-status=dead}} On 7 May, he played for Tonga against Samoa in the 2016 Polynesian Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/samoa-holds-on-in-pulsating-pacific-test/tabid/10874/newsid/95681/default.aspx|title=Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test|date=7 May 2016|publisher=National Rugby League|access-date=7 May 2016}} In December 2016, Toutai's contract with Parramatta was terminated after it was revealed he was involved in a brawl with Outlaw Bikie member in which he glassed them with a bottle. The Bikie reportedly vowed to exact revenge on Toutai.{{cite web|url=http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/01/01/09/54/eels-toutai-part-ways-after-alleged-bikie-glassing/|title=Eels Toutai part ways after alleged bikie glassing|website=WWOS}}
=2018=
After a year out of the game, Toutai signed a contract to join Intrust Super Premiership NSW side the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-premiership-nsw/blacktown-workers-sea-eagles/vai-toutai/|title=Intrust Super Premiership NSW Vai Toutai|website=NSWRL}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/story/5119240/john-folau-returns-to-enjoy-his-football-with-blacktown-workers/|title=John Folau returns to enjoy his football with Blacktown Workers|website=hawkesburygazette.com.au}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.parraeels.com.au/team/profiles/vai-toutai.html 2016 Parramatta Eels profile]
{{Parramatta Eels 2016 Auckland Nines Champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toutai, Vai}}
Category:Australian sportspeople of Tongan descent
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Blacktown Workers players
Category:Junior Kangaroos players
Category:Parramatta Eels players
Category:Rugby league players from Sydney
Category:Tonga national rugby league team players
Category:Tongan rugby league players