The club had lost seven of the opening nine games of the season and coach Daniel Anderson was walking a tightrope. It wasn't an ideal time to be making his debut but Vatuvei had a solid match in a 26-12 win in Sydney. Anderson lasted one more week.
"The club wasn't in a great place but I had the chance to run out with the boys for my first game. It was a blur but I remember they were all telling me to get the first run out of the way and then you'll be OK. The pace of the game was a shock to the system. Afterwards, it was pretty special singing the club [victory] song with Stacey Jones."
April 3, 2005
Warriors v Rabbitohs
In his seventh first-grade game Vatuvei scores his first NRL try in a 46-14 win over South Sydney. He was one of eight try-scorers for the home side, including centre Clinton Toopi, who recorded his 100th NRL touch down.
"Nathan Fien put a bomb up to me and I caught it in the corner. As well as my last try, whenever I finish with this club, that first one is something I'll never forget."
May 28, 2007
Warriors v Eels
Vatuvei's night of misery. The 21-year-old made a string of handling errors, three that led directly to Parramatta tries. He dropped bombs, spilt grubber kicks and, at one stage, made two fumbles of a bouncing ball.
"Every time I have a bad game, I just think of that match and know it wasn't as bad as that game. It's still important to me now ... I know I can always bounce back from things. I always keep the memory of it in my pocket."
September 6, 2008
Warriors v Eels
Vatuvei marks his return to Parramatta Stadium with three tries in a 28-6 win which sealed the Warriors' place in the playoffs. Up against young giant Tony Williams, It was Vatuvei's first NRL hat-trick.
"There was a lot of talk about me going back to Parramatta and how it would go. That was my redemption day and I was happy to play well. I got it over and done with. For me it was done and dusted."
September 14, 2008
Warriors v Storm
The Warriors make history, becoming the first eighth-placed team to defeat the minor premiers in the first week of the finals. Vatuvei helped to create the game-winning try with just minutes remaining, drawing the Melbourne cover defence before setting Michael Witt on a run to the line.
"Jerome [Ropati] did all the hard work to create the opportunity out of nothing and then I was lucky enough to get the off load to Michael. It was huge for the club."
January 4, 2009
Death of Sonny Fai
Promising Warrior Sonny Fai is swept out to sea at Bethells Beach, after going to the aid of his younger brother. The 20-year-old was one of Vatuvei's closest friends at the club.
"It still hits me now whenever his name comes up. He was a good bloke and epitomised a Warrior and what we live up to. I thought it was a dream when I got the phone call. Then I came to training and it hit me even harder when it was real."
March 12, 2011
Warriors v Eels
In the opening game of the season at Eden Park, Vatuvei limps off after 14 minutes with a medial ligament injury. It caps a tough period for the winger, who had just recovered from a broken arm suffered in the 2010 Four Nations.
"That stuffed my knee up for a bit and was hard to come back from. I have to look after my knees now, not train as much. It was my worst injury at the club."
October 2, 2011
Grand Final: Warriors v Manly
Vatuvei scores the first Warriors try in a late, though ultimately unsuccessful, comeback in their second grand final appearance.
"It was good to score a try in front of thousands of people but I would've rather won the game. But it was an amazing experience and I hope we get back to another one."
June 16, 2013
Warriors v Roosters
Vatuvei runs 95m to score an extraordinary try against the Roosters in Sydney. After retrieving a grubber kick near his own line, he outsprints four defenders to seal a win against the eventual premiers.
"That was awesome. I had to lose some weight in the pre-season and that gave me some pace back. Maybe I didn't have the pace I had when I first started but it was close to it."
August 3, 2014
Warriors v Raiders
Vatuvei scores his second hat-trick against Canberra in less than a year, and the sixth three-try bag of his NRL career. He has been prolific against the Raiders, with 15 tries, surpassed only by his record against the Knights (16).
"I'm not sure why I do well against some teams and not others. Maybe things just happen like that ... it's all down to the work of the boys inside me anyway."
