Queensland prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui drew strength from his father’s dying words to lead the Maroons to a stunning 44-24 comeback victory over New South Wales in State of Origin at the MCG on Wednesday night.
Playing just days after the passing of his father Fereti from cancer, Fa’asuamaleaui delivered a towering performance that helped Queensland overturn a 10-point deficit and level the series, setting up a decider in Brisbane.
“It wasn’t hard because I knew my dad wanted me to do this and he sacrificed a lot for me growing up,” Fa’asuamaleaui said in the sheds after the match. “His last day on Earth he told me, ‘son, whatever happens next, you make sure you represent Queensland and play hard’. That meant so much. While it was hard for him not watching me, I know he had the best seat in the house ... watching that game and he will be really proud.”
Fa’asuamaleaui’s mother Dianne, sister Olivia and brother Iszac were among family members who watched his stellar performance at the MCG. The family wore shirts featuring a smiling Fereti and the words “number one Queenslander” on the front.
Fereti was a rugby union star before joining the Sydney Roosters and playing lower grades under the guidance of Maroons legend Arthur Beetson. “To see my dad’s smile on that T-shirt means so much,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “He played for Toa Samoa and travelled the world playing sevens and accomplished a lot for a young boy from Samoa ... and then to get picked up by Arthur Beetson was a full-circle moment. Arthur Beetson was our number one Queensland player.”
The 24-year-old prop acknowledged the heavy burden of stepping up as a leader for his family. “I am just heartbroken for my family and my mum who are going through what they are going through at the moment,” he said. “I have got to make sure I step up and lead and make sure I do my thing and put a smile on everyone’s face.”
Fa’asuamaleaui’s teammates rallied around him, just as they had for captain Cameron Munster in last year’s Origin decider after his father Steven died during camp. “To see what Munster went through last year broke my heart so we all got around him and that is exactly what the boys and Billy (Slater) did for me,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “When I got into camp they all wrapped their arms around me. Some of the boys wrote my name and my old name’s name on their wrist tonight. I love these boys. They are like my brothers and I appreciate every single one of them. I had my dad’s last name on my back. Whenever I look at this jersey I see his last name and I hope I represented him really well.”
The Maroons did just that, storming back from a 10-point deficit to dominate the Blues. “It was a good Queensland win,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “When we get our game on we know what we are capable of. We kept going and kept going and the Queensland spirit got us home.”
