Brayden Wiliame (born 17 December 1992) is a former rugby league footballer who last played as a centre, winger and second-row forward for New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Brayden Wiliame
Personal information
Full nameBrayden Joji Wiliame
Born (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 (age 32)
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight97 kg (15 st 4 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionCentre, Wing, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013 Parramatta Eels 6 3 0 0 12
2015–16 Manly Sea Eagles 23 7 0 0 28
2017–19 Catalans Dragons 77 35 0 0 140
2020–21 St. George Illawarra 17 6 0 0 24
2023 New Zealand Warriors 2 0 0 0 0
Total 125 51 0 0 204
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–19 Fiji 9 4 0 0 16
2019 Fiji 9s 3 0 0 0 0
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 USA Perpignan 2 4 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]
As of 3 March 2023

He has previously played for the Parramatta Eels, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra Dragons in the (NRL), and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.

Background

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Wiliame was born in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia and is of Fijian descent.

He played his junior football for the Woy Woy Roosters, Umina Bunnies and Central Coast Harold Matthews Cup and S. G. Ball Cup squads, before signing a 3-year contract with the Melbourne Storm.

Playing career

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2010-2012

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From 2010 to 2012, Wiliame played for the Melbourne Storm's NYC team.[3]

In June 2010, Wiliame played for the New South Wales Under-18s team.[4]

In October 2010, Wiliame played for the junior Fiji team.[5]

2013

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In 2013, Wiliame joined the Parramatta Eels. In round 13 of the 2013 NRL season, Wiliame made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels against the Sydney Roosters.[6][7] He played six games for Parramatta in the 2013 NRL season as the club finished last on the table for a second consecutive year. At the end of 2013, Wiliame was released by the Parramatta Eels and joined the Newcastle Knights for the 2014 NRL season.[8]

2014

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On 1 October 2014, Wiliame signed a two-year contract with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles starting in 2015.[9]

2015

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He made his debut for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in round 3 of the 2015 NRL season against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[10]

2016

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After playing on the wing in the opening two rounds of the 2016 NRL season, Wiliame was demoted to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles' New South Wales Cup team to allow for the return from injury of fullback Brett Stewart. He was recalled to the side for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles' Anzac Day match against the Newcastle Knights in Newcastle following a broken collar bone suffered by winger Jorge Taufua a week earlier against Parramatta. Wiliame crossed for his first NRL try of the season. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles ran out 26-10 winners over the bottom placed Newcastle.[11][12]

After 23 first grade games with Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Wiliame was granted a release from his contract with the club on 9 November 2016 in order to take up a two-year deal with the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.[13]

2018

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He played in the 2018 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.[14]

2019

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On 17 December 2019, Wiliame signed a two-year deal to join St. George Illawarra starting in the 2020 NRL season.[15]

2020-2021

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On 16 September 2021, it was announced that Williame had been released by St. George Illawarra.[16]

2022

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On 11 November, Wiliame signed a two-year deal to join the New Zealand Warriors starting in 2023.[17]

2023

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Wiliame was limited to only two matches for the New Zealand Warriors in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals.[18]

On 11 Oct 2023 he announced his retirement from professional rugby league.[19]

International career

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On 2 May 2015, Wiliame played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in the 2015 Melanesian Cup.[20]

On 7 May 2016, Wiliame played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in the 2016 Melanesian Cup.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Brayden Williame". Love Rugby League. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Brayden Williame – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Brayden Williame – Player". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  4. ^ "NSWRL Under 18's Team Announcement". Western Sydney Academy. leaguenet.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  5. ^ Tokalau, Torika (10 October 2010). "Junior Bati initiative to boost 2013 WC". Fijilive. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Round 13: NRL Late Mail". Parramatta Eels. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Brayden Willieme – Player". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  8. ^ Riccio, David (8 December 2013). "Parramatta Eels work to erase bitter memories of 2013's wooden spoon season". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Promising trio added to Sea Eagles roster". Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. 1 October 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  10. ^ "LATE MAIL: Leary out, Horo in". Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  11. ^ Brady, Jack (25 April 2016). "Injuries strike as Manly down Newcastle". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016.
  12. ^ "The Lurker: Revealed – You won't believe who Manly want to re-sign". sportingnews.com.
  13. ^ "Catalans sign Brayden Wiliame". Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. 9 November 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016.
  14. ^ Bower, Aaron (25 August 2018). "Catalans Dragons beat Warrington in Challenge Cup final to make history". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  15. ^ Chisholm, Ed (17 December 2019). "St. George Illawarra confirms signing of centre Brayden Williame on two-year deal". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Bulldogs' backline boost as rising star re-signs; Eels hooker seals UK exit: Transfer Centre". Australia: Fox Sports. 16 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Former Catalans outside-back Brayden Wiliame joins NRL club". uk.sports.yahoo.com.
  18. ^ "NRL 2023: New Zealand Warriors season review". sportingnews.com.
  19. ^ "Former Catalans Dragons ace calls time on career: 'Rugby league, it's been an absolute pleasure'". Love Rugby League. 11 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Representative Round team lists". National Rugby League. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  21. ^ Gabor, Martin (7 May 2016). "PNG stuns Fiji in a thriller". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
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