Semi Valemei

Semi Valemei (born 20 January 1999) is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger and centre for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Fiji at international level.

Semi Valemei
Personal information
Born (1999-01-20) 20 January 1999
Labasa, Fiji
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2020–22 Canberra Raiders 29 9 0 0 36
2023– Nth Qld Cowboys 9 9 0 0 36
Total 38 18 0 0 72
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019 Fiji 9s 2 0 0 0 0
2022– Fiji 5 1 0 0 4
Source: [1]
As of 17 August 2023

He previously played for the Canberra Raiders.

Background

Born in Labasa, Fiji, Valemei attended Seaqaqa Central College and Natabua High School, where he played rugby union.

In 2017, he was scouted by former NRL player Wise Kativerata and moved to Australia to play rugby league. He moved to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, playing for the Caloundra Sharks before being signed by the Canberra Raiders.[2][3]

Playing career

In 2018, Valemei played for the Raiders' Jersey Flegg Cup feeder side, Mounties.[4] In 2019, he played for Mounties in the New South Wales Cup and for the Raiders in the Jersey Flegg Cup, scoring a hat-trick in their Grand Final loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[5] In October 2019, he represented Fiji at the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[6]

2020

In Round 10 of the 2020 NRL season, Valemei was named to make his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters.[7]

He played in all three of Canberra's finals matches including the preliminary final defeat to Melbourne. He played a total of ten games in his debut season.[8]

2021

Valemei made 11 appearances for Canberra in the 2021 NRL season which saw the club finish 10th on the table and miss out on the finals.[9][10]

2023

On 12 May, Valemei was granted a release from his Raiders contract and joined the North Queensland Cowboys on a one-and-a-half year contract.[11] Valemei made his club debut for the North Queensland side in their 45-20 win over the Melbourne Storm during Round 14 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, scoring a hat-trick.[12] He played nine matches for North Queensland in the 2023 NRL season and scored nine tries as the club finished 11th on the table.[13]

References
  1. Rugby League Project
  2. "Semi ready for Raiders". Fiji Times. 23 May 2020.
  3. "Results - Sunshine Coast". Sunshine Coast Daily. 12 June 2017.
  4. "Team Lists: Mounties". Canberra Raiders. 17 July 2018.
  5. "South Sydney crowned 2019 Jersey Flegg Cup champions". NSWRL. 29 September 2019.
  6. "Nines World Cup squads announced". Fox Sports. 17 October 2019.
  7. "Semi Valemei to make NRL debut". Canberra Raiders. 15 July 2020.
  8. "Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart storms out of press conference after one question". wwos.nine.com.au.
  9. "Roosters' 'Mr Fix It' stuns with hat-trick, Sloppy Raiders' final fade out ends season: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 2 September 2021.
  10. "Tough conversations coming for senior Canberra stars as interest grows in Parramatta young gun Dylan Brown". www.theaustralian.com.au.
  11. "Cowboys sign Valemei". NQ Cowboys. 12 May 2023.
  12. "Bellamy calls out 'putrid' Storm after 20-year low as new Cowboys signing explodes — Big Hits". www.foxsports.au.
  13. "NRL 2023: North Queensland Cowboys season review". www.sportingnews.com.
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