Former Leeds Rhinos and Penrith Panthers youth product Vila Halafihi has done a u-turn on his retirement, joining Championship outfit Halifax Panthers.
Halafihi played three seasons in the second tier with the Sheffield Eagles before retiring at the end of the 2024 season.
He turned 31 in January and was a member of the Eagles team that played Wakefield Trinity in the 1895 Cup final at Wembley Stadium last June.
And, just a few months after retiring, he has opted to return to the field with Fax, who are presently sixth on the Championship ladder.
Veteran hooker Vila Halafihi makes retirement u-turn to join Championship side
The veteran hooker began his career in the youth ranks of Castleford, Leeds, and Penrith, having relocated Down Under to join the Panthers at the under-2 level.
Halafihi did not make a senior appearance for any of those three clubs, but he did make his senior debut for Bradford Bulls in April 2015. He has since represented Oxford, Swinton Lions, Hunslet, and Sheffield.
Halifax manager Kyle Eastmond stated, “He’s a real fierce competitor.” He aspires to be the best and to win, which is a character quality we always strive for.
“He will add a wealth of experience and leadership to the team.
“It’s a signing we need that will benefit us both on and off the field. He will help to increase the standard and assist the lads.
“They’ve done a lot and given a lot this year already in half a season, and it’s nice to get more bodies in to help them.”
Halafihi, who was born in Leeds, has made 172 senior games and scored 37 tries. The majority of these games have occurred in the Championship.
Eastmond went on to say, “He’s taken a break from the game, but he’s maintained his fitness and training up, so he should be able to get right back into the swing of things.
“He is a smart hooker who can also play loose forward. We’ll bring him in, let him become comfortable, and get him on board with what we’re doing. His adaptability and experience will really benefit us; it is a valuable advantage.
“The discussions to bring him here were relatively simple; he knows Jammer (assistant Jy-Mel Coleman) well.
“They grew up and played together, so once he realized we were interested, everything fell into place. He’s only 31, and we believed he still had much to offer, especially at this level, so it was an easy decision.”
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