Oct 3rd, 2018

Oct 3rd, 2018

The Warriors have lost one of their most promising forwards to his Mormon religion.

Back-rower Joseph Vuna, who played four NRL games for the club this season and was earmarked for ‘something special’, is set to go on a Mormon mission for the next two years.

Named in the Junior Kiwis only this week, 20-year-old Vuna will wear the team’s colours against Australia before quitting the game to go on his mission.

He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Will Hopoate, Young Tonumaipea and Jordan Rapana who have taken breaks from the game to do their bit for the Mormons.

Born in the USA, Vuna moved to New Zealand with his family as a child and is the younger brother of ex-Wallaby and Tongan league international Cooper Vuna.

"It’s a pity because the kid is a good talent and was developing nicely," a Warriors source told Wide World of Sports.

"But we have to respect his beliefs and hopefully he will come back to the game in a couple of years."