Lesley Vainikolo

Powerhouse Junior Kiwi (and a schoolboy sprint champion) played for Auckland Warriors’ lower grades before giving good service to the Raiders during his four seasons with the club. A powerful winger, one of NZ’s best players during the 2000 World Cup, Vainikolo joined the exodus of Australian club players bound for England at the end of 2001. ‘The Volcano’ debuted for Super League premiers Bradford in the World Club Challenge win against Newcastle in January 2002. Vainikolo was a try-scorer for the Bulls when the club won the English Challenge Cup in 2003 and was also a member of the team which captured the double – the Super League grand final – the same year. Vanikolo was also on the wing for Bradford in the club’s 2005 success and the 30-10 victory over the W’Tigers in the World Club Challenge in 2006.