Freedom Vaka’akolo has burst onto the Auckland rugby league scene in his first season this year. The Pt Chevalier Pirates won the Fox Memorial Premiership Final and Freedom will get the opportunity to play in his second Grand Final of the year with the Auckland Vulcans in the NZRL Men’s Premiership this Sunday.  

In the off-season Pt Chevalier recruited Otago and Highlanders centre Freedom Vaha'akolo. Freedom's journey to Rugby League came with a hard decision to uproot from Dunedin and move to Auckland, a decision that has paid off. 

“I was with the Highlanders and Otago, NPC is quite different due to the short season, it's only semi-professional. I had to juggle finding full-time work or study, which was one of the main reasons why I wanted to make the move up to Auckland. Obviously, it was hard to let go of that contract but at the end of the day I wanted to put my mental health and well-being first.” 

“I didn’t necessarily think I was going to be playing Fox, I just wanted to give myself a challenge. I really enjoyed my first season, playing league is not as chaotic and is quite different as a centre, especially when you must meet expectations in such a quality championship-winning team.” 

Coming up to Auckland was a huge move for Freedom. He was involved with the NSW Cup Warriors pre-season side in the summer. From there he had to choose which club he wanted to go to, choosing the Pt Chevalier Pirates. Freedom chose the Pirates due to the environment of the club, the level of commitment, and the bond between players was strong and that’s exactly what he wanted to be a part of.   

“At the start of the year I played in a few tournaments and got to meet a lot of different guys from different clubs across Auckland, which was great, it gave me to opportunity to go and look around at a lot of Clubs pre-season trainings. I wanted to get a vibe of what that club was like on and off the field and see what was the best fit for me.” 

“I’d say I’m an ambitious young man and I wanted to find a team that had that same approach of seriousness and ambition that I have”  

“I spoke to Francis Leger about the situation, Francis is my older cousin and he’s someone that I’m close to. I see him often during my week outside of training just to catch up and chat, so when I explained my situation about wanting to switch codes, he threw his arm around me like all good cousins should and took me under his wing.” 

“Coming into the Pt Chevalier environment was great; it was the warmest environment I had ever experienced, and it was the best to be a part of a winning culture and back it up winning the Fox Memorial Premiership.”  

Freedom had a great opening season, exploding into the Fox and was one of the most improved players throughout the whole season, making him an important part of the Pt Chevalier side, his ability to find the line and bust tackles is second to none. In the Grand Final Freedom scored a vital try that gave the Pirates a 2-point lead with 15 minutes to go. 

“I thought my first half wasn't the best, I made a couple of errors, I was just keen to flush those memories and get stuck in to the second half. We struggled to get to our points, but that last 20 minutes it felt like the momentum swung, we started to get some field position and to our points on the field.” 

“Pat Sipley made a good carry, and it took a few boys to get him down. Both Lorenzo and I saw the mismatch on the short side and took it. I just did my job but getting that job done was a great feeling, and going down the field and scoring again felt like the Fox Memorial Shield was within our grasp.” 

Smart game management, Finals experience, and a deeply connected culture got the Pt Chevalier Pirates over the line to be crowned back-to-back champions for 2023. From his impressive season Freedom has been with the Auckland Vulcans, alongside a few of his Pirates teammates.  

“I’m excited to be a part of this team. We are building a great winning culture, being around mates that I've made throughout the year makes it even better. I’ve been looking forward to what the competition has to offer.” 

2023 has been a big year for Freedom so far, He made a life changing move which has put him in a great position to get the best out of life. We spoke to Freedom about the off season and what he has planned for the 2024 season.  

“2023 was a big year but certainly was not how I was expecting it to go, I think the main thing for me is to go into the off season with an open mind. I was lucky enough to train with the NSW Cup Warriors side last off season, it would be awesome to have an opportunity like that again.” 

“I’m just looking to grow as much as I can as a player. I feel like when you have a love for the game and really enjoy playing it as an adult. You want to make the most of your time playing because it’s not forever.” 

Freedom has had many successes in his career so far, in rugby union and now rugby league. These achievements have been due to his dedication for becoming a better man every day. Freedom’s journey to get to where he is now was tough. He had to go through hardship and pain. Now he uses that hardship and pain to fuel his fire to be the best person he can be. 

"I started as a mischievous kid who often strayed from the right path, letting down many along the way. School, for me, was a constant struggle, with detention and extra responsibilities keeping me from pursuing my passions. Rugby entered my life late, but it was like a beacon of hope. I realized I had a talent for it, and it became my way of repaying those who had believed in me over the years.” 

“Initially, I was content just being part of the rugby team, but now I'm evolving. I'm setting higher standards and goals for myself. My journey has been marked by setbacks and harsh life lessons, including a period of homelessness due to my own actions. Gradually, I’ve acquired life wisdom, and matured into a more accountable individual. Today, I take pride in my transformation, it's this journey that motivates me each morning.” 

“Reflecting on where I've been and how far I've come fills me with gratitude and determination. I have my moments like winning the Fox this year, but it's consistency, routine, and the support I've received that keep me moving forward. Having faced dark times, I've also developed empathy for others going through similar struggles. Instead of judgment, I extend a helping hand, seeking to uplift those in need." 

The journey is the most important aspect of being an athlete and of life in general. Freedom's journey is nothing short of inspirational, proving that hard work and dedication can triumph over all the negative aspects in life. We should all feel inspired, especially if you’re a young boy or girl trying to take your game to the next level Freedom has some great advice. 

“I think the first thing I would tell them is don't be naughty like me. The first thing I would say is like don't be naughty to the point where it's like, you know, your talents kind of being wasted in a way. I know life isn't always easy as a young man or young woman, but just try your best to behave and get yourself involved in sports. 

“I would really encourage kids to back themselves and focus on what they’ve got. They'll have a lot of coaches telling young kids this is what you need to work on. They'll go away from their strengths and try to become a bit more of a balanced player, which is important, but I think when you're a kid and you're still young and still developing as a person, it's important to have fun. Still keep growing as a person and most importantly work on what you've already got in the toolkit.” 

Article added: Friday 29 September 2023