Tino and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui run on for Titans against Storm
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui shed a tear on Friday as he handed his younger brother his Titans’ jersey ahead of Saturday’s game against the Melbourne Storm, when the brothers will run out together for the NRL for the first time.
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Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui will finally realise his childhood dream on Saturday afternoon as he makes his NRL debut in the same team as his elder brother Tino.
The brothers will run out for the Gold Coast Titans against the Melbourne Storm at C-Bus Super Stadium for the first time in the same team since their days as juniors for the Gympie Devils.
Iszac, 21, has always been in the shadow of his older sibling but now, after some standout performances for the
Burleigh Bears in the Hostplus Cup, coach Justin Holbrook has given his first chance at senior level and he is set to make his debut from the interchange bench against the Storm.
Speaking to The Gympie Times last week Iszac said: "Obviously I want to make my NRL debut with him (Tino) and that will be a different sort of feeling, I am sure.
"If and when that happens, and hopefully that will be later this season, it will obviously be a very proud moment for me and Tino and the family."
The dream, which began in rural Widgee near Gympie more than 10 years ago, will come to fruition on Saturday and Tino, who will skipper the Titans, said it would be a proud moment for all the Fa’asuamaleaui family at 2pm, especially after Iszac was forced to have hip surgery when he was 11, which could have ended his career before it began.
"I am very proud of Iszac," Tino, 23, told the Gold Coast Titans website.
"He’s been through a lot. I was already proud of what he has achieved but I will be even prouder when he runs out for the Titans with me on Saturday for his NRL debut."
Tino said while he was the older of the two siblings, it did not stop Iszac from critiquing his performances every now and again.
"He’s smart with his football," Tino told the Titans website.
"He will sit down and and analyse my game and give me a lot of tips.
"Even though it can be annoying sometimes after games, that’s what younger brothers are for.
"They are there to help and make you get better as a player."
Tino and Iszac have played for the Titans already this season in a trial match against NRL newcomers, the Redcliffe Dolphins.
The Titans skipper said while that was a great moment, Iszac’s NRL debut would be the most special moment of all for the family and he would likely shed a tear or two ahead of the game.
"It would mean so much for Iszac to make his NRL debut," Tino told the club website.
"I will likely be the one to hand him his jersey and I am not too sure how my speech will go then, it will be pretty emotional.
"It will be such a proud moment, not just for us brothers but for mum and dad too.
"All credit to my brother after what he has been through, but also credit to my parents for what they have done for us both."
Update: Tino did present Iszac with his jersey on Friday afternoon and a tear was shed.
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