Junior Paulo (born 20 November 1993) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the Canberra Raiders and Parramatta in the NRL. Paulo has also represented New South Wales in the State of Origin series.
Background
Paulo was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Samoan descent, with family links to Safotu.
He played his junior football for the Ashcroft Stallions and the Cabramatta Two Blues, and attended renowned rugby league school Ashcroft High School before being signed by the Parramatta Eels. Paulo played for the Eels NYC team in 2012 and 2013. In 2011, Paulo played for the Australian Schoolboys. On 20 April 2013, Paulo played for the New South Wales U20's team off the interchange bench in the 36–12 win over Queensland at Penrith Stadium.
Playing career
2013
In Round 10 of the 2013 NRL season, Paulo made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels against the St. George Illawarra Dragons off the interchange bench in the Eels 32–12 loss at WIN Stadium. On 5 July 2013, Paulo extended his contract with the Parramatta club for a further three-years until the end of the 2016 season. In round 22 against the Wests Tigers, Paulo scored his first NRL career try in the Eels 26–22 win at Parramatta Stadium. Paulo finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 11 matches and scoring a try for the Parramatta Eels in the 2013 NRL season.
2014
In May 2014, Paulo was selected for the Samoa national rugby league team to play against Fiji in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International but was replaced by Carlos Tuimavave.
Paulo finished off the 2014 NRL season with him playing in 16 matches and scoring a try for the Parramatta Eels.
On 8 September 2014, Paulo was named in the Samoa train-on squad for the 2014 Four Nations, but later didn't make the final 24-man squad.
2015
On 31 January and 1 February, Paulo played for Parramatta in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines.
In round 1 against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, he received a nine-week suspension for his high tackle on Sea Eagles hooker Matt Ballin in the Eels' 42–12 win at Parramatta Stadium. Paulo made his return to the Eels team in round 11 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Parramatta's 14–12 loss at ANZ Stadium. He finished off the 2015 season having played in 15 matches and scoring two tries for Parramatta.
On 29 September, he was involved in a road rage incident with a 28-year-old man on the M4 Western Motorway, Paulo was accused of tailgating the other driver before punching him in the face and driving away from the scene after the pair pulled over after both of their vehicles collided with each other. Paulo was later charged with common assault, recklessly damaging property and menacing driving. Paulo will plead not guilty to the charges in court in October 2016.
2016
In February 2016, Paulo played for Parramatta in their 2016 NRL Auckland Nines winning tournament.
On 14 March 2016, Paulo signed a two-year contract with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2017.
On 7 May 2016, Paulo made his international debut for Samoa against Tonga in the 2016 Polynesian Cup.
May 2016 was a turbulent month for Paulo, first he made a cameo for a third-grade Rugby Union team, Oatley, saying that his brother-in-law who is the coach of team wanted him to fill in the team and Paulo did as a favour, signing under a fake name and worn headgear in an attempt to hope that nobody would recognise him. After the bizarre Rugby cameo, Paulo alongside Corey Norman, and Panthers hooker James Segeyaro were issued with warnings from NSW police for consorting with convicted criminals. On 29 May 2016, he was released effectively immediately from his Parramatta contract to join Canberra early.
In Round 13, Paulo made his club debut for Canberra against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, where he started at prop in the 30–18 win at Canberra Stadium. Paulo would go on to play in 13 matches for the Raiders for the rest of the 2016 NRL season. On 26 September 2016, Paulo was named in the 2016 Australia Kangaroos train-on squad for the 2016 Four Nations but later didn't make the final 24-man squad.
On 8 October 2016, Paulo played for Samoa against Fiji, starting at prop in the 20–18 loss in Apia, Samoa.
On 8 December 2016, Paulo participated in the Ladbrokes Star of the Ring Charity Fight Night at the Hordern Pavilion, where he went up against Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks captain Paul Gallen but lost in a unanimous decision.