League: Vagana looking forward to life as Rabbitoh

Nigel Vagana

Nigel Vagana says he'll buy Sean Hoppe a beer next time they meet.

It's a fair bet he won't be doing the same if he bumps into axed Cronulla coach Stuart Raper on a Sydney street.

Vagana put the icing on a 34-test career, spanning eight years, when the video referee awarded him his 18th test try in a rare high point for the Kiwis during their 30-18 loss to the Kangaroos in Auckland last Saturday.

It nudged him ahead of his former Warriors and test teammate Hoppe as the Kiwis' leading tryscorer.

Vagana claimed he didn't even know about the record when he brushed the ball on the Mt Smart Stadium turf. He later said individual records weren't his thing, but it was "humbling" to have the honour.

Vagana's not quite sure where Hoppe is in the world - he divides his time between Australia and England - but is sure he'll get a congratulatory message at some stage.

"I'll probably owe him a couple of beers next time. He's a good bloke and it's an honour to be mentioned at the same level. He was a great player for the Kiwis."

Rewind to August, and Vagana couldn't have been further from the joy of bursting a new Kiwis jersey from its packaging.

After 200-plus NRL first grade games and three seasons with Cronulla, Raper axed Vagana to reserve grade as the Sharks' losing streak dumped them out of top-eight contention.

The end of the season couldn't arrive fast enough as Raper indirectly accused Vagana of going missing in action on the field, soon after signing a two-year deal with actor Russell Crowe's South Sydney club in June.

"We've got noted tryscorers who aren't scoring tries," Raper said at the time.

Vagana said the news came as a hammer blow.

"Everyone gets knocked down at some stage in their life. It's a measure of a man how well he gets up.

"It wasn't the best of years, but being a professional player for as long as I have you have your low points. I probably had a few more bad days this year than in the last few years."

Raper paid the price at season's end, and was sacked in favour of Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart.

Vagana insists he'd still say hello to Raper if he sees him in the street. But would they bury the hatchet and chew the fat over a coffee?

"He's out of a job so he might not be able to afford one," Vagana chuckled.

Safely through the Tri-Nations and an extended break with his wife and two children, Vagana will join the influx of Kiwis at the Rabbitohs next year.

Vagana and test teammates Roy Asotasi and David Kidwell were three big-name signings joining a fourth current Kiwi, David Fa'alogo, at the team who were runaway wooden spooners.

Vagana insists next year will be an exciting time.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing Roy become the best prop in the NRL like he wants to be."

Now 31, Vagana says the move has extended his playing career by at least two seasons. "I've signed for a couple of years ... I'm pretty sure this will be my last roll of the dice."

- NZPA