Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was in tears as he revealed his father was battling cancer within 100 kilometres of the Queensland training camp.
The Maroons star was speaking for the first time after his dad, Fereti, was diagnosed for the second time.
Family members from Samoa and ‘across Australia, New Zealand and the world’ have returned to be by Fereti’s side with Tino making regular trips to his home in Gympie.
Speaking as emotions began to pour out of him, the 26-year-old called his dad his ‘hero.’
‘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.
‘It’s something I don’t really want to speak about,’ Fa’asuamaleaui said, wiping his eyes and apologising as his emotions began to surface.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was moved to tears as he opened up on his father’s second battle with cancer
The Queensland star called his dad his ‘hero’ as he said he always plays for his father Fereti and will do it again to bring a smile to his face in State of Origin game two
Tino also opened up about his strong rugby bond with is father who always gives tips on how to get better
‘He’s a strong man, he’s my hero, I love that guy.
‘You don’t want to think of the worst case, but we’re just trying to cherish every moment.
‘He’ll get through this – I pray every day and pray to God that he gets through the sickness, but he’s got a lot of support and staying really strong.’
Fereti himself was a decent rugby player, he made it to reserve grade for the Sydney Roosters, after being recruited by Arthur Beetson.
And that understanding of rugby is something that has bonded the pair so strongly over the years.
‘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.
‘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.’
The 26-year-old played in a key role in Queensland’s fast start in the game one loss against New South Wales
Tino has vowed to put the smile back on his father’s face with another stellar performance as the Maroons aim to level the series
And it is that motivation that has spurred Fa’asuamaleaui on to be determined to turn in a great performance in his father’s honour.
‘If I play bad, he’s not smiling,’ Fa’asuamaleaui added with a laugh, ‘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.
‘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.’
Fa’asuamaleaui’s performance could once again be the key in the Maroons levelling the series after a heartbreaking loss in game one.
In that match, Queensland had been dominating the midfield up until Kalyn Ponga was sent off.
That moment saw the Maroons lose control of the game as their impressive start counted for nothing when James Tedesco went over in the 78th minute to complete the 20-point comeback for New South Wales.
Fa’asuamaleaui, who racked up 116 running metres and 27 tackles, said that while the prevailing feeling that had Ponga not been sent off, Queensland would have won, has not been the main one in the Maroon dressing room.
‘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.
‘We got a lot of learnings from that, and it’s time to move on.’
Queensland will have the chance to level the tie at the MCG and no matter what, Fa’asuamaleaui’s performance is sure to put a smile back on his father’s face.
