Junior Vaivai pens new Hull KR deal

USA star Junior Vaivai has signed a new two-year deal with Hull KR, keeping him at the club until the end of 2020.

The 28-year-old centre or winger has become a fan favourite since joining Rovers earlier in the season, scoring seven tries in 11 appearances in all competitions.

Vaivai spent three seasons in the NRL between 2009 and 2011 with South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers, making a total of 12 appearances.

And he is delighted to extend his stay at the KCOM Craven Park.

Vaivai said: “We had the option for 2019 already and I wanted to concentrate on coming and playing my best footy.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do that and I’m grateful to everybody. The Hull KR fans have been very welcoming, no doubt about it, and I think I owed it to the club for giving me an opportunity to start with.

“My family are also happy here, my son’s crazy for Rovers. We were talking contracts a couple of months ago and he said ‘Dad, I’ve just gotten into Hull KR so you can’t leave!’ That played a big part in my decision because when my family is happy, I’m happy.

“I always knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to stay at Hull KR and I think my family are witnesses that I prefer to remain a one-club man rather than jump ships.

“I work by principle. If people look after me then I always return the favour and I think that the club have really looked after me and I’m grateful. They’ve thrown me a lifeline and I’ve taken it with both hands. This is another way of me thanking the club for that. It wasn’t a hard decision, I always knew I wanted to stay.”

Vaivai, who is the cousin of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, has earned eight caps for USA, scoring seven international tries.