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]

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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
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