Vodafone Warriors front rower Agnatius Paasi has been re-signed until the end of the 2022 NRL season.
The 27-year-old Mangere East Hawks junior has become the cornerstone of the club’s pack, earning him a new three-year contract.
The father of four will make his 93rd career appearance in Saturday’s clash against the Brisbane Broncos leaving him on track to play his 100th game against South Sydney at Mount Smart Stadium on August 30.
“Iggy has done a tremendous job for us since coming home,” said Vodafone Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney.
“He has really developed not just as a first-choice player but also as a leader in our group.”
Paasi returned home on a two-year contract with the Vodafone Warriors last year after spending three seasons with the Gold Coast Titans.
He was a 2011 NYC premiership winner with the Vodafone Junior Warriors and then became a reserve grade regular for the Vulcans and Vodafone Warriors in the New South Wales Cup over the next three seasons. He also made his NRL debut against the Broncos in 2014.
It was his only NRL appearance before he linked up with the Titans but was lured home to rejoin the Vodafone Warriors for the 2018 season.
Quickly establishing himself as a front-line player as the Vodafone Warriors reached the NRL finals for the first time since 2011, Paasi appeared in 23 of the club's 25 matches and started in all of them. He has added another 14 starting appearances so far this year.
By the end of the 2018 season, Paasi had also won selection in the Kiwis' 24-man squad for the one-off Test against Australia and the three-match series in England although he didn't make an appearance during the campaign.
Earlier in the year Paasi and his partner Chloe welcomed the arrival of their fourth son.
AGNATIUS PAASI
Born: November 30, 1991
Birthplace: Lapaha, Tonga
Junior Club: Mangere East Hawks
Position: Prop
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 111kg
Rep Honours: Kiwis (2018), 1 Test for Mate Ma’a Tonga (2014), Junior Kiwis (2011)
Previous Clubs: Vodafone Warriors (2014), Gold Coast Titans (2015-2017)
NRL Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium, July 19, 2014 (Round 19)
Vodafone Warriors No: 191
NRL Career: 92 appearances (2014-2019):
Vodafone Warriors: 38 appearance (2014 & 2018-2019)
Gold Coast: 54 appearances (2015-2017)
NRL Points: 48 (12 tries):
Vodafone Warriors: 20 (5 tries)
Gold Coast: 28 (7 tries)
NYC Career: 21 appearances for Vodafone Junior Warriors (2011)
NYC Points: 24 (6 tries)
