Tino Fa’asuamaleaui wiped away tears and apologised as he spoke publicly for the first time about his father’s second cancer battle. The Queensland Maroons enforcer revealed Fereti Fa’asuamaleaui is being treated within 100 kilometres of the team’s Sunshine Coast camp, in Gympie.
“He’s very sick at the moment. He’s got cancer – he had it a few years ago, he’s a strong man and got through it,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “It’s something I don’t really want to speak about.”
Fereti played reserve grade for the Sydney Roosters after being recruited by rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson. Now his son carries the family name on his back for Queensland.
“He’s always got tips on what I can do better, and that’s something that I’ve loved about my dad – he’s always spoken truthfully about my game and just me as a man and how I can be better,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“I’ve always played for my dad, he’s my hero whether he was sick or not, and is someone I look up to and love so much.”
The 26-year-old prop has been making regular trips home to Gympie during Maroons camp. Family members from Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and around the world have returned to be by Fereti’s side.
“Obviously, my dad can’t come to the games any more, so it gives me that extra motivation to play well for him so he can have a smile while he lays in bed,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “If I play bad, he’s not smiling – so I have to play good to make sure he has a smile. I’m honoured I get to wear his last name on my back for Queensland, and represent what he’s done for me.”
Fa’asuamaleaui’s pledge echoes last year’s Origin decider, when Queensland skipper Cameron Munster delivered a heroic performance after his own father passed away during the game three camp.
The Maroons head to the MCG needing to square the series after a heartbreaking and controversial game one defeat in Sydney. Kalyn Ponga was sent off for a contentious shoulder charge in the 57th minute, and NSW won through James Tedesco’s final-minute try. No Blues forward ran for more than 100 metres in that game, while Fa’asuamaleaui finished with 116 running metres and 27 tackles.
“We’re not looking into it – it’s football, stuff happens. If we were looking at it like that, we’ve already beaten ourselves,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “I’m very proud of the boys, there were a lot of good efforts, and we were really working hard. Even when we went down to 12 men, we still had that Queensland spirit, and it came down to a flip of the coin.”
Queensland haven’t won at the MCG since 1995. Their 2006 game three victory came at Marvel Stadium. Only Munster and Kurt Capewell in the current squad were born before that last MCG win.
“We’re not worried about it – if you’re worried about that stat now, you’ve obviously beaten yourself already. No one was born yet, so does it matter?” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
For Fa’asuamaleaui, the stakes go beyond the series. Every run, every tackle, every hit-up is for Fereti.
“He’s very brave, anyone who’s gone through that it’s nothing easy, and for him to every day battle it in a lot of pain, it’s quite remarkable,” he said.