Junior Paulo (rugby league, born 1983)

Junior Paulo
Personal information
Full name	Aukuso Junior Paulo
Born	8 September 1983 (age 41); Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	120 kg (18 st 13 lb)
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club
Representative
	Source:
Relatives	Joseph Paulo (brother)

Last updated December 15, 2024

Aukuso Junior Paulo (born 8 September 1983) is a New Zealand former United States national rugby league team player and a prop and second-row forward for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League. He is currently a serving a prison sentence in Australia after attempting to sell a large amount of cocaine.

Background

Paulo was born in Auckland, New Zealand, of American Samoan descent.^[2] He was one of the Australian Schoolboys.^[3]

Playing career

After spending time in the semi-professional and professional reserve grade competitions in New South Wales, Paulo signed with the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the 2007 season. He made his first grade debut for Parramatta in round 10 of the 2007 NRL season against North Queensland which ended in a 44–14 victory at Parramatta Stadium.

In the same year, he played in Parramatta's reserve grade premiership winning team as they defeated North Sydney 20–15 at Telstra Stadium.^[4]

He was named to the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[5] He signed with the St George Illawarra Dragons for the 2010 NRL season, and with the Penrith Panthers for the 2011 NRL season. In 2011 he was named in the United States national team for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers.^[6]

Crime

In December 2017, Paulo and fellow former Eels player Royce Hura were arrested.^[7] In Waverley Local Court, they faced five charges, including possession of two unauthorised semiautomatic pistols, $649,990 in cash proceeds from crime and participation in a criminal group.^{[ clarification needed ]}^{[ citation needed ]}

On 10 August 2020, Paulo was sentenced to a minimum of eleven years in prison after attempting to supply Sydney with $180 million of cocaine.^[8]

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References

↑ Rugby League Project
↑ "Uncle Sam Wants …. Matthew Elliott". Stevemascord.com. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
↑ "Australian Schoolboys". Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
↑ "Eels break Peachey's heart". Herald Sun.
↑ "Samoa name World Cup Squad". League Unlimited. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
↑ "2013 World Cup Atlantic Qualifier Squads Announced". Rugby League International Scores. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
↑ "Former NRL players among those arrested at gunpoint in Centennial Park". 14 December 2017.
↑ "Former NRL player Aukuso Junior Paulo jailed over $180m cocaine bust". 7news.com.au. 10 August 2020.

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[1] Rugby League Project

[2] "Uncle Sam Wants …. Matthew Elliott". Stevemascord.com. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2017.

[Australian_Schoolboys-3] "Australian Schoolboys". Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2008.

[4] "Eels break Peachey's heart". Herald Sun.

[Samoa_name_World_Cup_Squad-5] "Samoa name World Cup Squad". League Unlimited. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2008.

[6] "2013 World Cup Atlantic Qualifier Squads Announced". Rugby League International Scores. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2017.

[7] "Former NRL players among those arrested at gunpoint in Centennial Park". 14 December 2017.

[8] "Former NRL player Aukuso Junior Paulo jailed over $180m cocaine bust". 7news.com.au. 10 August 2020.

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