Junior Paulo (rugby league, born 1983)


Junior Paulo is a former United States international rugby league footballer. He played for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.
He played as a prop, though he also played in the.

Background

Paulo was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of American Samoan descent. He is an Australian Schoolboys rugby league international.

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 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.
He was named to the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, 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.

Controversy

In December 2017 Paulo was arrested and, together with fellow former Eels player Royce Hura, faced Waverley Local Court on five charges. These included the possession of two unauthorised semi-automatic pistols, $649,990 in cash alleged to have been the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.