Bull Masters - Joe Vagana
Joe Vagana arrived from Auckland Warriors in 2001 and within a few months had not only won over the Bulls fans but found himself playing at Rugby Union head quarters, Twickenham, in a Challenge Cup final defeat to club nemeses St Helens. By the end of his first season in Bradford colours ‘Big Joe' had contributed to the Bulls finishing Minor Premiers and was part of a crushing Grand final victory over Wigan at Old Trafford to be crowned Super League Champions.
Joe's first visit to Britain was with the Junior Kiwis in 1993 accompanied by family friend and future Bulls team mate Henry Paul and a host of up and coming Super League and NRL players. Seven years later Joe returned with the Kiwi's world cup team that were beaten by Australia in the final. On their way to that final New Zealand thrashed England at Bolton. Joe came to prominence with a block busting performance that left their English counterparts wondering what had happened. One of the talking points of the match being an altercation between Joe and English centre Keith Senior. No prizes for guessing who came out on top!
Joe's fearsome presence on the field belied the fact that he possessed an amazing level of skill with his ability to off load the ball in the tackle. Always tactically aware of what was happening on the field and both devastating in attack and defence, Joe played a major role in the club success collecting three World Club Championships, three Super League titles, and a Challenge Cup winner's medal. Signed at the beginning of Brian Noble's reign as coach, Joe, like all modern day big forwards, was utilised in spells to capitalise on his impact value. In a nine season career at Odsal, amassing 242 appearances including 52 from the bench, Joe had the distinction of scoring at least one try ever season. In the Bulls treble winning season of 2003 and in the Centenary Season of 2007, whilst not exactly being prolific, Big Joe went over for five tries. He was so popular that every try was greeted by cheers normally reserved for match winning scores in finals although, the loudest cheer was when he kicked a goal converting one of the fourteen tries scored against Featherstone in a Challenge Cup tie in 2005. Such was his appearance record for the club that until a broken arm kept him out for two months in his final season he missed only ten games in his first seven years with the club; a remarkable achievement.
Along with Brian McDermott, Stuart Fielden and, Paul Anderson, he was a member of the Bulls ‘Awesome Foursome' which terrorised and dominated Super League and his combination with James Lowes at Hooker proved a big success for the Bulls. His performances earned him not only International recognition for both New Zealand and Samoa but the highest respect from the fans when in 2007 he was voted into the ‘Team of the Century' against some very tough competition.
Joe's positive personality both on and off the field paid great dividends for the Bulls always encouraging his team mates either in the heat of battle or on the training pitch. Becoming a ‘father figure' and example to aspiring players, assisting in the development of exciting youngsters Matt Cook, Sam Burgess Craig Kopczak and his friendly demeanour made him an ideal ambassador for both the club and also the game. He often assisted the community section of the club by appearing at various functions, always mingling with supporters of all ages often accompanied by his wife and children. Joe had a great relationship with the fans and when it came to renewing his contract from time to time, despite interest from other clubs he remained loyal to the Bulls. He claimed it would have destroyed his children to if he was to leave Bradford, who are 100% Bulls fans and one day want to play for the club!
Unfortunately by the end of the 2008 season Joe's robust style of play which had seen him always in the thick of battle was beginning to take its toll. Joe probably only managed to play the last couple of seasons due to the skills of the club's medial staff and his selfless determination and courage. Eventually he called it a day and retired from the game and headed for home, leaving us with fond memories and Coach Steve MacNamara with a massive hole to fill in the squad.
by Martin Bass