Tongan wrecking ball to leave NRL for Japanese division two side

North Queensland Cowboys centre Viliami Vailea is set to join League One division two side Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, according to Australian outlet The Daily Telegraph.

Tongan Vailea, 23, a former rugby union standout at Aorere College in Auckland, New Zealand, made his National Rugby League (NRL) bow with New Zealand Warriors at the age of 18 in 2021.

The 6ft 1in, 15st 6lb outside back scored eight tries in 17 appearances for The Warriors before joining Australian team North Queensland Cowboys in 2024.

Vailea, who was regarded as one of the best schoolboy rugby union talents in New Zealand before switching codes to the 13-man game, has scored four tries in 32 appearances for the Cowboys.

The Tongatapu native, who can also play on the wing, will be expected to form a potent midfield partnership with Liners captain and recent Samoa debutant Peter Umaga-Jensen.

© North Queensland Cowboys

Osaka-based Kintetsu suffered last-day heartbreak last season as they lost to division two champions Toyota Shuttles Aichi in the final round and were pipped to second place and a promotion play-off by surprise package Koto Shimizu Blue Sharks.

The club’s latest addition will join the likes of Springboks star Manie Libbok and ex-All Black Akira Ioane in Japan’s second tier.

Vailea can look forward to working with Wallabies legend Quade Cooper who is about to embark on his second season as the club’s attack coach after calling time on his illustrious career in 2025.

Ex-Wallabies centre Ben Tapuai, who concluded his playing contract at Pro D2 side Brive in May, has made the move from France to Osaka to replace his former Australia teammate Will Genia, who has moved home to Papua New Guinea, as Kintetsu’s skills coach.

Brisbane native Tapuai, 37, enjoyed stints with Bath and the Harlequins in England before spending two seasons with South African URC side the Sharks and will work closely with Vailea.

© The Warriors - Vailea started his NRL career at the Wahs

Haruki Ota’s promotion hopefuls will feature in the second instalment of the JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE RISING pre-season series which is aimed at developing homegrown Japanese players.

Kintetsu will host Frans Ludeke’s League One runners-up Kubota Spears at Hanazono Rugby Stadium on Saturday 3 October before entertaining local rivals and fellow division two side Red Hurricanes Osaka seven days later.

Stay tuned to RugbyJP.com for on-site build-up to the 2026-2027 League One season