Chris Vea’ila

Growing up in Auckland and of Tongan descent, Chris Vea'ila first made his mark in rugby league with the Waitemata Seagulls and Pt Chevalier Pirates, before being scouted and signed by the Newcastle Knights at just 14-years-old.

Vea'ila spent several seasons rising through Newcastle's junior representative system, winning the Harold Matthews Cup with the club in 2019 before progressing through the SG Ball and Jersey Flegg Cup ranks. In 2023, while playing Jersey Flegg for the Knights, he made a mid-season move to the Cronulla Sharks — a switch that would prove pivotal for his development.

His rise accelerated quickly at Cronulla. In 2024, Vea'ila became a regular in the Newtown Jets' NSW Cup side, starting at centre in their Grand Final win over the North Sydney Bears and finishing the season with 10 tries in 21 matches. His form saw him named 18th man for Cronulla's NRL squad on multiple occasions, a clear sign a first-grade debut wasn't far away.

That long-awaited debut arrived in Round 20 of the 2025 NRL season against the Sydney Roosters, with Vea'ila scoring a try in front of a home crowd to announce himself on the biggest stage. He re-signed with the Sharks that same season, extending his contract through to the end of 2026, crediting senior teammates like winger Ronaldo Mulitalo for making him feel at home at the club from day one.

Now set to join the Perth Bears on a two-year deal from 2027, the 22-year-old outside back arrives with genuine junior representative pedigree and a proven NSW Cup and NRL scoring record already on the board — a boom New Zealand talent the Bears believe still has significant upside ahead of him.

Head Coach Mal Meninga said Vea'ila had an exceptional junior career with the Knights and was given his chance with the Sharks last season.

"I think he will continue to improve and be a real asset for the Bears in 2027 and beyond," Meninga said.