Joe Vitanza

Last updated

Joe Vitanza
Personal information
Full nameJoseph Vitanza
Born (1963-05-16) 16 May 1963 (age 56)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Position Prop, Second-row
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1984–87 Penrith Panthers 3530012
1988–89 Gold Coast Giants 271004
1990–91 Penrith Panthers 280000
1992 Cronulla Sharks 10000
Total9140016
As of 9 April 2019
Source: [1]

Joe Vitanza (born 16 May 1963) is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played for the Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Giants and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. Vitanza was a foundation player for Gold Coast, playing in the club's first season.

Rugby league Full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field

Rugby league football is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field. One of the two codes of rugby, it originated in Northern England in 1895 as a split from the Rugby Football Union over the issue of payments to players. Its rules progressively changed with the aim of producing a faster, more entertaining game for spectators.

Penrith Panthers rugby league football club

Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. The team is based 55 km west of the centre of Sydney and at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

Gold Coast Chargers former Australian rugby league team

The Gold Coast Chargers were a professional rugby league club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from 1988 to 1994, the Australian Rugby League premiership from 1995 to 1997, and the National Rugby League premiership in 1998. They first played under the name Gold Coast-Tweed Giants, then Gold Coast Seagulls, later Gold Coast Gladiators and finally Gold Coast Chargers.

Contents

Background

Vitanza played his junior rugby league for St Dominic's before being graded by Penrith.

Playing career

Vitanza made his first grade debut for Penrith against St George in Round 1 1984 at Penrith Park. Vitanza missed the entire 1985 season before returning to the first grade team in 1986.

In 1988, Vitanza joined the newly admitted Gold Coast side and was a foundation player for the club making 15 appearances in their inaugural season. Vitanza played one more season with the Gold Coast before returning to Penrith.

In 1990, Vitanza made 21 appearances for Penrith as the club reached their first ever grand final against the Canberra Raiders. Vitanza played from the bench as Penrith were defeated 18-14. The following year, Vitanza only managed to make 7 appearances and was not selected in the clubs maiden premiership victory against Canberra.

Canberra Raiders rugby league football club

The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership since 1982. Over this period the club has won 3 premierships,, received 1 wooden spoon and had a total of 15 of its players selected to don the green and gold for Australia national rugby league team. The Raiders' current home ground is Canberra Stadium in Bruce, Australian Capital Territory. Previously, the team played home matches at Seiffert Oval in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, with the move to the AIS Stadium in Bruce taking place in 1990. The official symbol for the Canberra Raiders is the Viking. The Viking, also a mascot at Raiders' games, is known as Victor the Viking.

In 1992, Vitanza joined Cronulla-Sutherland and ironically only made one appearance which was against his former club Penrith in Round 21 1992. [2] [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks rugby league football club

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL), Australasia's premier rugby league competition. The Sharks, as they are commonly known, were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, predecessor of the Australian Rugby League and the current National Rugby League competition, in January 1967. The club competed in every premiership season since then and, during the Super League war, joined the rebel competition before continuing on in the re-united NRL Premiership. The Sharks have been in competition for 50 years, appearing in four grand finals, winning their first premiership in 2016 after defeating the Melbourne Storm at ANZ Stadium.

Kevin Kingston Australian rugby league player

Kevin Kingston is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League competition. He has previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Parramatta Eels. Kingston primarily played at hooker.

Colin Best Australian rugby league player

Colin Best is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played primarily in the National Rugby League as a wing or centre for Australian clubs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Canberra Raiders and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Best also played in the Super League for English club, Hull FC.

Matt Bickerstaff is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in the National Rugby League competition for the South Queensland Crushers, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St George Illawarra Dragons and the Canberra Raiders primarily played as a second-row forward.

Paul Franze Italian-Australian rugby league player

Paul Franze is an Australian former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. He played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Penrith Panthers in the NRL, and for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League, Gateshead Thunder in the Championship and Pia Donkeys in the Elite One Championship as well as a stint as a rugby union player for the London Irish in the Guinness Premiership. In both codes, Franze primarily played as a centre.

William Zillman Australian rugby league player

William Gary Zillman is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League. His usual position is at fullback but can also play five-eighth. Zillman has previously played for the Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans.

Luke Lewis Australian rugby league player

Luke Lewis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative utility player, he previously played for the Penrith Panthers between 2001 and 2012, winning the 2003 NRL Premiership with them. A versatile player, Lewis played in every position in first grade football. Lewis also played representative football as a winger, centre, lock and second row, and won first grade Man of the Match awards as a centre, lock, second row, five-eighth and halfback.

Adam Peek Australian rugby league player

Adam Peek is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. Somewhat of a journeyman, Peek played first grade for the Adelaide Rams, Canterbury Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Parramatta Eels, St George Illawarra, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, and the Celtic Crusaders. His position of choice is prop.

Michael Gordon (rugby league) Australian rugby league player

Michael Gordon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback and on the wing for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and NSW Country representative, he previously played for the Penrith Panthers between 2006 and 2012, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks between 2013 and 2015, the Parramatta Eels in 2016 and the Sydney Roosters in 2017.

Wade Graham Australian rugby league player

Wade Graham is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row, five-eighth and lock for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. Graham previously played for the Penrith Panthers between 2008 and 2010. Graham has represented both Australia and Portugal, and is a New South Wales State of Origin, City Origin and Indigenous All Stars representative.

Brad Takairangi Cook Islands-Australian rugby league player

Brad Takairangi is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or second-row forward for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. A Cook Islands and New Zealand international representative, Takairangi previously played for the Sydney Roosters between 2010 and 2012 and the Gold Coast Titans in 2013 and 2014.

Mitch Rein Australian rugby league player

Mitch Rein is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. Rein previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Penrith Panthers.

Edrick Lee rugby player

Edrick Lee is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger and centre for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. He is an Indigenous All Stars representative. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Travis Robinson rugby player

Travis Robinson is a Lebanon international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and wing for the Newtown Jets in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW. He previously played for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He is the twin brother of New South Wales Waratahs player and fellow Lebanese international Reece Robinson.

James Fisher-Harris New Zealand professional rugby league player

James Fisher-Harris is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock and second-row forward for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He is a New Zealand international representative.

Chris Montgomery is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. Montgomery was a foundation player for Illawarra playing in the club's first game.

Michael Twigg is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in 1980s and 1990s. He played for the Canberra Raiders in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

Ron Quinn is an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played for the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla-Sutherland in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. Quinn is the cousin of Parramatta legend Mick Cronin.

Mark Robinson is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs.

References

  1. "Joe Vitanza - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. "Joe Vitanza". themightypanthers.
  3. "www.penrithpanthers.com.au". penrithpanthers.
  4. Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. (1995 edition) ISBN   1875169571