De La Salle Va’a’s incredible journey from junior league and boxing star to NRL debutant

From the fertile rugby league territory of the Darling Downs to the bright lights of the Sydney Roosters, De La Salle Va’a was destined to make it to the big time. Read about his journey from league young gun and boxing phenomenon to NRL debutant.

De La Salle Va'a of the Roosters leaves the field for a HIA during the round 27 NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images

For De La Salle Va’a, the world is at his feet as the NRL’s newest kid on the block is set to be a star for years to come.

Just three weeks after his 19th birthday, Va’a made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters in their round 27 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

However, there was once a time where he was turning heads not only on the football field as a junior but in the boxing ring at a national level.

Toowoomba trainer and boxing promoter Brendon Smith described the 19-year-old, who weighs in at 114kg and is 198cm tall, as a “potential world champion boxer”.

“For such big lads (De La Salle and his brother Xavier), for heavyweights, they had hand and eye co-ordination and the speed and power,” Smith said.

“Salle he had that real fire in the eyes when he fought.

“I believe he’ll become one of the enforcers in the NRL there’s no doubt about that.”

Joined by his older brother Xavier, who is also contracted with the Roosters, the pair quickly made their mark in the Australian amateur boxing scene.

“Their work ethic was incredible,” Smith said.

“He (De La Salle) worked with Corban (Kanaveilomani) our coach and we all worked together but Corban cornered him and trained him and he won a couple of Australian titles.

“They were certainly potential world champions in the making.

“Xavier as a 15 year old was sparring with Paul Gallen.

“They were very big strong young men, very athletic, very intelligent and there was no doubt they would make it in the NRL.

“They’re a great family and they dominated in amateur boxing.”

Toowoomba's Va'a brothers De La Salle (left) and Xavier raise their arms as they celebrate their Australian title wins with TGW & Smithy's Gym team members and trainers in 2019.

Despite their dominance in the ring and incredible potential, Smith was delighted to see them chase their rugby league dreams in Sydney.

“I loved to see them follow their dreams, it was just a pleasure to have them in the gym they fought on many of our shows,” he said.

It took a village to raise the newest NRL prospect, as he spent time playing for Dalby Devils, Highfields Eagles and Valleys Roosters in Toowoomba before setting sail for Sydney.

As a Dalby boy, Va’a’s journey began with the Dalby Devils, following in the footsteps of Andrew McCullough and Carl Webb.

His under-11s and under-12s coach Jim Sankey said he knew there was something special there even from a young age.

“I suppose from an early stage it was easy to tell he was physically gifted,” he said.

“Even as an 11 year old you could see he would grow into a big lad.

“He was skilful also, he had good ball skills and a great demeanour about himself and a very modest kid.”

Sankey coached Va’a and fellow Dalby NRL breakthrough star Lyhkan King-Togia, with the duo forming a barnstorming partnership and leading the Devils to back-to-back premierships.

With the latest generation of Dalby stars coming through, Sankey hopes they will inspire the current Devils juniors like McCollough and Webb did for them as they grew up.

Dalby’s De La Salle Va'a and Lyhkan King-Togia after they were selected to play in the under 12s Australian Rugby League Championships in 2017. The duo both made their NRL debuts this year.

While Va’a is an imposing presence, Sankey said there was more to the player than meets the eye and that he was far from a “typical front rower”.

“He has the good knowledge of the game, he wasn’t a typical front rower,” he said.

“He put a lot of thought into his game studied the game and knew where he needed to be on certain parts of the field.

“When you add a bit of smarts to that he is pretty formidable to come up against and I think that's why he’s gone to the next level.”

Sankey, who oversaw Webb’s development during his time in Dalby, drew comparisons between Va’a and the Origin legend for the way the pair struck fear into competitor's eyes in the boxing ring as youngsters.

Steve Haywood who is the current men’s A-grade coach of Highfields, was the junior coaching co-ordinator during Va’a’s time at the club and said it came as no surprise to see him take the step to the next level.

“He was there for two or three years, he did a stint there and I coached his older brother who is a standout player too,” Haywood said.

“It must have been tough and also excellent that he (De La Salle) made that debut but I tell you what, Xavier won’t be far off.”

Haywood revealed what stood out about him the most during his time at the Eagles nest.

“Just work and that dedication,” he said.

De La Salle Va'a in action for the Roosters in the SG Ball Cup. Picture: Sean Teuma.

“He is also in boxing a Queensland and Australian champion in his age group because no one was big enough to fight the kid.

“He went onto Valleys and St Mary’s (College Toowoomba) and look at him now.

“He was just a big machine with the headgear on.”

On a personal level, Haywood was delighted to see Va’a following his dreams.

“It is very special, that is why we coach,” he said.

“You’ve got to coach them as best you can and if they move on, they move on, but you just hope they’ve learned the best they can while they’re there.”

In his final stages of development in the Darling Downs, Va’a featured in the under-19 Valleys side and the Western Mustangs (now Western Clydesdales) Cyril Connell Cup sides.

Scott Brunner has established himself as a living legend at Valleys, having been involved with the club for decades as player and coach and was overjoyed to see a former player of his make his debut.

De La Salle Va'a in action for Valleys in 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“It was unbelievable,” he said.

“It is good to see a young fella that has put in the hard work that he has get the goal that he’s got, I was blown away.”

Like several of his predecessor coaches, Brunner was amazed by the amazing mindset of Va’a.

“When he puts his mind to a job, he just gets it done,” he said.

“You can give him any role on the field, he was a young, determined lad.”

Brunner coached De La Salle and Xavier in the same under-19 men’s team in 2021 and reserved high praise for the pairing.

“Him and his brother were probably the best front rowers I’ve seen run around for a long time,” he said.

“My help with Salle was probably just giving him an opportunity to play senior footy at 16 and just to take him against guys that were two years older than him.

“He was a big boy, he could handle that grade and probably another grade above.

“At 16, he could have probably played A-grade in this town.”