League: Valued Kiwi looks to assess future

Nigel Vagana has passed Sean Hoppe as top Kiwi try scorer. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

There comes a time when every top sportsman has to consider the end of the line. It seems that time is upon Nigel Vagana.

Last week the 31-year-old passed Sean Hoppe as New Zealand's most prolific try scorer, but how much he can extend that record is not certain with the makeshift five-eighth considering international retirement.

Vagana has been a fixture in the Kiwis since 1998 and, before last night, had scored 18 tries in 34 tests.

His club career is mapped out - he joins the Souths "revolution" in 2007 and expects to hang up his boots at the end of his two-year contract - but his international future is less sure.

"When this campaign finishes I will sit down, have a think and see where I go from there," Vagana said before last night's test with Australia.

"We have still got a lot of good players who haven't come into the squad because of injuries or other reasons and it might be time for me to step aside and give these young boys a go. They are the future, so I guess we will see how we go in the next six to eight weeks."

Vagana is a highly valued member of Brian McClennan's Kiwis squad, especially as Benji Marshall's shoulders have yet to show they have a long-term future, and with Jerome Ropati still evolving as a No 6.

Although he might not be in top form, and some like Phil Gould think Vagana's past his best, he provides a cool head in a key position and rarely lets a team down. And he has a knack of crossing the white stripe.

Vagana also holds the top two places at the Bulldogs for most tries in a season (23 in 2002 and 22 in 2003) and was the Super League's top try scorer in 1997 with Warrington.

Incredibly, he has scored 130 tries in 208 NRL games.

It's a statistic Vagana pays little heed to. He had a vague idea he had broken Sean Hoppe's record when he burrowed over the tryline in last weekend's 30-18 loss to Australia.

His memory is a little hazy about his first touchdown for the Kiwis ("I think it was in the Tri Nations in 1999 against Australia," he says) and he struggles to identify his best in a black and white jersey, "I guess it was the one last weekend because it was the most recent".

"I don't get too carried away by records," he says. "Maybe when I finish playing I might look back on it and enjoy it more."

Enjoyment is not a word Vagana could use to describe this season. The centre was relegated to the Cronulla reserves soon after signing with Souths, being singled out by coach Stuart Raper during their alarming slide from top-eight contention. The club ended the season on a 10-game losing streak, after being in the running for a top-four spot.

"It was probably the most frustrating season I've had," Vagana admits, even though he had difficult times at the Warriors and Bulldogs. "I probably had a few more bad days this year than in the last few years."

He still scored eight tries in 18 games, but it clearly hurt to be dropped back to reserve grade.

The future looks brighter with Souths, particularly with the resources of Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court at the club's disposal. Vagana will be joined at the Rabbitohs by fellow Kiwis Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell and David Fa'alogo.

Top NZ tryscorers*

18: Nigel Vagana (1998-)
17: Sean Hoppe (1992-2002)
16: Hugh McGahan (1982-90, Kevin Iro (1987-98)
15: Richie Blackmore (1991-2000), Tom Hadfield (1956-61), Stacey Jones (1995-), Phil Orchard (1969-75)

* Before last night's test against Australia