Queensland prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has revealed he cherishes every moment with his sick father and will play for him “even more” when he lines up for the Maroons in the State of Origin series.
Fa’asuamaleaui spoke publicly for the first time in camp about his dad, Fereti, who is battling cancer for a second time. Tears welled up as Tino reflected on the man whose move from Samoa to the Sydney Roosters, and ultimately Gympie in Queensland, set in train a chain of events that led to his son pursuing his own rugby league dream.
“He is very sick and I will be playing for him more so to put a smile on his face at home in bed,” Tino said. “He is always in my heart, no matter what. Every day off I go up and see my dad (in Gympie). It could be a day trip or I go the night earlier after training at the Titans, just to make sure I spend time with him. In life you never know what is going to happen and I cherish every moment with my dad.”
The Gold Coast co-captain, 26, will play his 17th Origin match, proud of the surname he wears on his back. “He’s my hero, he’s my rock,” Tino said. “It’s hard to talk about publicly but he’s everything to my family. He’s the man.”
Fereti moved to the Roosters when scouted by the great Arthur Beetson. He lived with Beetson and played reserve grade for the Tricolours, before moving to Gympie and providing for his family as a boilermaker. “Where I am in my career now and playing for Queensland, it really all started when Arthur recruited my old man and it’s had a butterfly effect,” Tino said. “Whether my dad was sick or not I will always play for him. All my family have played a big part in why I am standing here and who I am as a man.”
Fa’asuamaleaui will resume hostilities with NSW counterpart Payne Haas at the MCG next Wednesday night. The two famously wrangled in game two of the 2020 series after a fracas and both were sin-binned. “There are no mates out there and we were both young bucks coming through protecting our teammates,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “That is why it popped off and continues every year. It was just two passionate players who are passionate about their state, who will never back down and that will continue next week.”
Fa’asuamaleaui was sporting a retro 1995 Maroons jersey with the words “all fired up” written on it when addressing the media. Queensland will be looking to repeat the feats of that side who wrapped up the series at the MCG with a 20-12 win, the Maroons’ only victory at the venue. “It means a lot. The people from the past have set us up to be here,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
