‘Do him proud’: Lions recruit Henri Futialo to honour Sonny Fai’s tragic NRL legacy

Sonny Fai’s name will live forever after sacrificng himself to save his brother from drowning. His cousin, a clone of the former NRL player, is ready to write the next chapter in their family’s story.

A cousin of one of New Zealand rugby league’s most tragic heroes has moved to North Queensland determined to honour his family’s legacy in the 13-man code.

Kiwi product Henri Futialo’s life was changed forever when his cousin, Warriors backrower Sonny Fai, 20, drowned in rough surf off Auckland saving the life of his 13-year-old brother in 2009.

Fai’s name and sacrifice will live forever in New Zealand sporting folklore and Futialo is determined to pay tribute to his cousin by adding his own chapter to their family’s rugby league legacy.

The 24-year-old stands 192cm tall and weighs in at 104kg, nearly identical in stature to the late cousin whose footsteps he hopes to one day follow to the NRL.

Rugby league player Sonny Fai during the 2006 New Zealand Warriors photoshoot at Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 15 Dec 2005.

That journey will begin this season at Western Lions, where the backrow and centre prospect plans to launch his push for his first professional rugby league contract.

“I just want to see how far I can go, before I hit 30 I want to accomplish something,” Futialo said.

“I want to make it somewhere in footy. That’s my goal, to see how far I can go; Queensland Cup, NRL, all of that. To do it I’ve just got to shine (with the Lions).”

Fai, his mother’s first cousin, is an inspiration to Futialo who knows he carries his family with him into every match.

Western Lions 2024 recruits Henri Futialo and Sosaia Angilau ahead of the Rugby League Townsville and Districts season. Picture: Nic Darveniza

“He was a second-rower too so all my cousins look up to him,” he said.

“I was quite young when he drowned. It kind of drew me more to footy because I wasn’t really focused on it as a kid. Thinking about it now, he is my biggest role model.

“I really want to do him proud. Hopefully I can continue it (the family legacy).”

Futialo is one half of a key class of Kiwi forward recruits the Lions hope can lay the platform for the club’s first solo premiership since the West End Athletics’ days in 1986.

Uncompromising defender Sosaia Angilau is another Auckland product eyeing off a starting berth in the Lions backrow.

The 20-year-old shares his compatriot’s dream of starting a professional rugby league career and vowed to use his tough tackling to bring a punishing physical presence to the Lions midfield from lock.

Originally published as ‘Do him proud’: Lions recruit Henri Futialo to honour Sonny Fai’s tragic NRL legacy