sport, local-sport, nsw waratahs, nhru, nsw rugby, wanderers
ANDREW Tuala touched down in Newcastle six years ago with not much more than the clothes on his back, a few hundred dollars in his wallet and the hope of playing some decent rugby. On Friday night, the power-packed hooker will run on to McDonald Jones Stadium for the NSW Waratahs against the Sunwolves. In between, Tuala has worked as a nightclub bouncer, poured concrete, met his partner Tai and celebrated the birth of their three daughters, won a Newcastle premiership with Wanderers and racked up thousands of kilometres travelling down the freeway to Sydney to play with Randwick, West Harbour and now Norths. At one point his weight ballooned to 143 kilograms. But in the end Tula found the determination, desire and discipline to rise from a handy park rugby player to a fully-fledged professional. Tuala, 28, made his Waratahs debut off the bench in the closing minutes of the stunning 20-12 win over Super Rugby champions the Crusaders last round. "Getting that first cap, it ticked all the boxes. I have actually achieved my dream," Tuala told The Herald after Waratahs training on Tuesday. "Making my debut and getting a win against the Crusaders, even just playing five minutes, I'll take that. I was really nervous but I needed to go out and do my job. I knew I was ready." On an elite development squad contract, Tuala's opportunity came after Tatafu Polota-Nau was recalled by English club Leicester. The veteran hooker was on-loan to cover for suspended Wallaby Tolu Latu, who has another three games on the sideline. "This is only the beginning," Tuala said. "I won't be holding back. I am so stoked that we get to play in Newcastle. Having all my family and friends there, especially my old club Wanderers. It will be special." Tuala had considered "hanging up the boots" last season. He - and his young family - had made a number of sacrifices in pursuit of a rugby dream. For four seasons he has travelled to and from Sydney for playing and training. When home, he worked late nights in security or long days labouring. On the field, he was West Harbour's player of the year in consecutive seasons, played with the Greater Sydney Rams in the National Rugby Championships and earned a training contract with the Melbourne Rebels. But when a permanent deal didn't materialise, Tuala questioned whether he had reached his peak. "I was glad the Rebels gave me a chance but thought nothing was going to happen," Tuala said. "I had to start helping my family. There were money issues and things like that. Then I got a sniff at the Waratahs and thought maybe this is a sign. Give it one more crack. I put my head down and arse up, and I got myself a cap." Tuala, from Mount Roskill, was recruited from Auckland club Suburbs by Easts for their re-entry to Newcastle's premier competition in 2013. "I had never heard of Newcastle but decided to give it a shot," he said. "I wanted to test myself in Australia." He and centre Tapaki Rahui switched camps to Wanderers in 2014 and led the Two Blues to a premiership, with the hooker collecting the John Hipwell Medal for player of the grand final. Tuala was 143kgs when he joined Wanderers, but through his persistence and the encouragement and guidance of former teammate Bill Coffey and more recently Brayden Mellon, he has turned his life around. He joined Randwick in 2016, before reuniting with Wanderers coach Todd Louden at West Harbour a season later. "I was a big boy," said the now 118kg beast. "Billy and Brayden have been with me all the way. My partner has been a great support too. She is strict on my food plans and I don't have to eat those island foods any more." Coffey and Mellon were among family and friends at the Sydney Cricket Ground for Tuala's debut. "It was great to have my Newcastle team there with me. My mum and family were watching from New Zealand and messaged me after the game to say they were super proud when they saw me run on," he said. NSW Waratahs general manager of rugby Tim Rapp said Tuala had done everything possible to ready himself for Super Rugby and was deserving of his chance. "To make your Super Rugby debut against the Crusaders' front-row is a tough ask and he handled himself aptly," Rapp said. "He has been put forward a challenge a month at a time. He has had things to work on and he has got into them while he has been in the program. Whilst he has been at home he has done some self-motivated things. That is usually one of the biggest things ... how they handle themselves usually gives you an indication of where they will go. He has done everything required and more." READ MORE: FOLAU EYES TRY-SCORING RECORD IN NEWCASTLE READ MORE: TUALA HAS MILES IN LEGS FOR WARATAHS DEBUT READ MORE: SUPPORT KEY TO CITY HOSTING MORE GAMES
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March 27 2019 - 8:00AM
Rugby Union: Waratahs hooker Andrew Tuala to make emotional return to adopted home
James Gardiner
HOOKING IN: Andrew Tuala throws a lineout at Waratahs training. Picture: NSW Rugby
ANDREW Tuala touched down in Newcastle six years ago with not much more than the clothes on his back, a few hundred dollars in his wallet and the hope of playing some decent rugby.
On Friday night, the power-packed hooker will run on to McDonald Jones Stadium for the NSW Waratahs against the Sunwolves.
In between, Tuala has worked as a nightclub bouncer, poured concrete, met his partner Tai and celebrated the birth of their three daughters, won a Newcastle premiership with Wanderers and racked up thousands of kilometres travelling down the freeway to Sydney to play with Randwick, West Harbour and now Norths.
At one point his weight ballooned to 143 kilograms.
But in the end Tula found the determination, desire and discipline to rise from a handy park rugby player to a fully-fledged professional.
Tuala, 28, made his Waratahs debut off the bench in the closing minutes of the stunning 20-12 win over Super Rugby champions the Crusaders last round.
"Getting that first cap, it ticked all the boxes. I have actually achieved my dream," Tuala told The Herald after Waratahs training on Tuesday. "Making my debut and getting a win against the Crusaders, even just playing five minutes, I'll take that. I was really nervous but I needed to go out and do my job. I knew I was ready."
On an elite development squad contract, Tuala's opportunity came after Tatafu Polota-Nau was recalled by English club Leicester.
The veteran hooker was on-loan to cover for suspended Wallaby Tolu Latu, who has another three games on the sideline.
Pictures: Fairfax photographic library, NSW Rugby
"This is only the beginning," Tuala said. "I won't be holding back. I am so stoked that we get to play in Newcastle. Having all my family and friends there, especially my old club Wanderers. It will be special."
Tuala had considered "hanging up the boots" last season. He - and his young family - had made a number of sacrifices in pursuit of a rugby dream. For four seasons he has travelled to and from Sydney for playing and training. When home, he worked late nights in security or long days labouring.
On the field, he was West Harbour's player of the year in consecutive seasons, played with the Greater Sydney Rams in the National Rugby Championships and earned a training contract with the Melbourne Rebels.
But when a permanent deal didn't materialise, Tuala questioned whether he had reached his peak.
"I was glad the Rebels gave me a chance but thought nothing was going to happen," Tuala said. "I had to start helping my family. There were money issues and things like that. Then I got a sniff at the Waratahs and thought maybe this is a sign. Give it one more crack. I put my head down and arse up, and I got myself a cap."
Tuala, from Mount Roskill, was recruited from Auckland club Suburbs by Easts for their re-entry to Newcastle's premier competition in 2013.
"I had never heard of Newcastle but decided to give it a shot," he said. "I wanted to test myself in Australia."
CAPPED: Andrew Tuala and youngest daughter Telesia.
He and centre Tapaki Rahui switched camps to Wanderers in 2014 and led the Two Blues to a premiership, with the hooker collecting the John Hipwell Medal for player of the grand final.
Tuala was 143kgs when he joined Wanderers, but through his persistence and the encouragement and guidance of former teammate Bill Coffey and more recently Brayden Mellon, he has turned his life around. He joined Randwick in 2016, before reuniting with Wanderers coach Todd Louden at West Harbour a season later.
"I was a big boy," said the now 118kg beast. "Billy and Brayden have been with me all the way. My partner has been a great support too. She is strict on my food plans and I don't have to eat those island foods any more."
Coffey and Mellon were among family and friends at the Sydney Cricket Ground for Tuala's debut.
"It was great to have my Newcastle team there with me. My mum and family were watching from New Zealand and messaged me after the game to say they were super proud when they saw me run on," he said.
NSW Waratahs general manager of rugby Tim Rapp said Tuala had done everything possible to ready himself for Super Rugby and was deserving of his chance.
"To make your Super Rugby debut against the Crusaders' front-row is a tough ask and he handled himself aptly," Rapp said. "He has been put forward a challenge a month at a time. He has had things to work on and he has got into them while he has been in the program. Whilst he has been at home he has done some self-motivated things. That is usually one of the biggest things ... how they handle themselves usually gives you an indication of where they will go. He has done everything required and more."
READ MORE: FOLAU EYES TRY-SCORING RECORD IN NEWCASTLE
READ MORE: TUALA HAS MILES IN LEGS FOR WARATAHS DEBUT
READ MORE: SUPPORT KEY TO CITY HOSTING MORE GAMES
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