NRL 2020: Melbourne Storm star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui played a key role in luring David Fifita to Titans
He has eyes on an NRL premiership and a State of Origin berth, now rising star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has revealed the extent of his influence in helping David Fifita decide on his future team.
Titans
Don't miss out on the headlines from Titans. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Storm gun Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has revealed the role he played in luring David Fifita to the Gold Coast as he strives to farewell Melbourne with an NRL premiership and Origin debut.
Fa’asuamaleaui has been a shining light in a breakout season for Melbourne this year, playing what he describes as “Tino style” football in all 19 Storm games to announce himself as an NRL star of the future.
He will be one of 12 Melbourne players rested from Sunday’s last round clash against St George Illawarra as he prepares for a maiden NRL finals campaign.
Watch the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals on Kayo. Every game before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
NRL LATEST
Look what could be consigned to NRL history
Can US-style initiative save NRL from itself?
Eight Dogs cut as Barrett eyes key signings
That means Fa’asuamaleaui has a maximum of four games left in Storm colours before he embarks on a $2 million move to the Gold Coast Titans next season.
Fa’asuamaleaui inked a three-year contract with the Titans last December, becoming Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook’s first big-name recruit.
The Titans have since landed Newcastle’s Herman Ese’ese and Brisbane’s Fifita, the latter on a monstrous $3.5 million deal that is considered one of the biggest signings in Gold Coast history.
Fa’asuamaleaui and Fifita have a strong relationship from playing together in junior Queensland teams and the Storm sensation admitted he enticed Fifita to leave the Broncos and help him turn the Titans into an NRL force.
“I am excited, I can’t wait to have my good mate there,” he said.
“Hopefully me and him and the other boys can change the club around and go from there.
“He took a fair bit of convincing but he liked the sound of it and decided to go.”
When Fa’asuamaleaui committed to the Titans, the club was coming off the 2019 wooden spoon and was yet to play a game under Holbrook.
The Storm refused to match the Gold Coast‘s $650,000-a-season offer for Fa’asuamaleaui and the Titans have since bolted up the NRL ladder into ninth spot and are being tipped for finals in 2021.
Fa’asuamaleaui, 20, said the Titans’ improvement had put him at ease as he prepares to leave the super successful Storm.
“One hundred per cent, those boys have been improving each week and showing heaps of aggression which is good,” he said.
“Hopefully next year when I get there we can build from that.”
Before he departs Melbourne, Fa’asuamaleaui is determined to clinch a maiden NRL premiership.
He played five games for the Storm late last season but was overlooked for the finals as Melbourne bowed out one game short of the decider.
Fa’asuamaleaui admitted he was sad to be farewelling the Storm but a premiership ring could ease his pain.
“It is my number one goal - I’d love to go out with a ring and on a good note with the club,” he said.
“I have been dreaming about it for a long time now but we have a lot of good teams to come up against.
“I started here, I debuted here and this club has done a lot for me off the field.
“I am going to be really sad but I am hoping to leave on a good note.”
Fa’asuamaleaui has scored seven tries and averaged 126m and 23 tackles a game in the front row to go with 41 tackle busts.
He is the only Storm player to have featured in all 19 games this season and is a certainty to be picked for Queensland in the November Origin series.
Fa’asuamaleaui said he wanted to take his game to another level during the finals and finish the year with a bang for Queensland after being endorsed by Storm coach Craig Bellamy and Maroons mentor Kevin Walters.
“I have to knuckle down on my training even more coming into finals and I am hoping to go to another level in the finals,” he said.
“Finals are a different game so I have to train well and go that extra mile to hopefully be better each week.
“It feels good hearing that kind of stuff from those high profile boys. I just have to stay healthy and play some good football to get my name over the line.
“If I do get the opportunity I will just play the way I have been…Tino style I guess.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Melbourne Storm star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui played a key role in luring David Fifita to Titans