Joe Ofahengaue fights through dark year to land Origin debut

One year ago Joe Ofahengaue’s wife Sofi was diagnosed with grade-three breast cancer. With stunning help from family, the couple have overcome numerous battles to change their lives completely.

Joe Ofahengaue has overcome a difficult year in his life. Picture: Adam Head

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Josh Ofahengaue watched as his son Joe’s heart broke in two.

This time last year, the Broncos forward’s world was turned upside down when his partner of nine years, Sofi Leota, was diagnosed with grade-three breast cancer.

Ofahengaue senior could see his boy’s life falling apart.

Amid the darkest days of Joe Ofahengaue’s life, Josh decided he would not let his football career go off the rails.

Joe Ofahengaue has overcome a difficult year in his life. Picture: Adam Head

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“It was a devastating time for all of us,” said Josh, the brother of 1991 World Cup-winning Wallabies forward, the famous Willie Ofahengaue.

“It’s been a really tough year.

“When we heard what happened with Sofi, there were many tears. We were all shattered.

“Straight away, I said to Joe and Sofi: ‘You two are coming to live with us’.

“I said to Joe: ‘You just worry about football, we will look after Sofi, we will cook meals or take her to the doctor’.

“We couldn’t let our son and his beautiful partner go through all that on his own.

“Family is everything to us and we live by our last name which is Ofahengaue, which means love to work.”

Ofahengaue’s partner, Sofi, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

It is fitting then that Joe Ofahengaue’s love for his partner, and love for his work at the Broncos, has delivered him to the promised land of his boyhood dream ... a Queensland Origin jumper.

The vision of Ofahengaue wearing Maroon, flashing his trademark 1000-kilowatt smile, is one of the most heartwarming sights in rugby league.

In the space of 12 months, Ofahengaue has gone from living a nightmare to sharing his Origin dream with his Tongan family and his partner.

It has also been a triumphant year for Sofi. Having undergone a mastectomy, lymph node removal, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, Ofahengaue’s courageous partner was told she was in remission in January.

“We are all so happy,” Ofahengaue Sr said. “Sofi is a fighter ... and so is my boy.”

The pair moved in with family following the diagnosis. Picture: Supplied

It’s no surprise the Maroons debutant regularly flashes a smile, because it resides spiritually in his DNA.

Ofahengaue’s ancestors in Tonga originally had the surname ‘Kata’, which translates to ‘laugh’.

When the Broncos prop’s great-grandfather Saia helped construct a church in his village in Tonga, the local priest honoured the family with a new surname ... Ofahengaue, because of Saia’s love for work.

Such industry is displayed now by Ofahengaue.

The 23-year-old has amassed 1397 metres at an average of 127 per game this season, impressing Maroons selectors with his brutal midfield charges and defensive attitude off the interchange bench.

When Queensland coach Kevin Walters called Ofahengaue with the good news, he rang his father within minutes. Both burst into tears.

Ofahengaue’s form has been rewarded with an Origin berth. Picture: Adam Head

“It was a bit emotional for me because it had been something I had been working on for a little while now ... since I was a kid I have wanted to play for Queensland,” Joe said.

“It was crazy, I got the call in New Zealand and my reception wasn’t working, I think Kevvie accidentally face-timed me so I had to switch it to facetime audio.

“When he told me I hung up the phone, then rang my dad and started crying.”

Adds Josh: “Joe was so humble he had to question Kevvie again. He said: ‘Are you sure I’m playing and Kevvie said: ‘You are bloody playing’.”

After playing in the 2015 NRL grand final in his rookie year, Ofahengaue suffered second-year syndrome, dropped by Wayne Bennett as he struggled for his optimum form.

But the 81-game bookend fought his way back, now understanding what it takes to be consistent in the engine room.

“The season 2016 wasn’t too good for me,” he said.

“I just thought it would be easy to make grand finals every year and took for granted the team we had that year.

“I didn’t realise how hard it was to make a grand final and I haven’t been back ever since. It just opened my eyes to never getting comfortable in the NRL. I am trying to keep myself honest every week.

“Now I’m just getting back to what I do best, playing my style of footy, take those tough carries that I have to take, hit people hard when I can, rather than trying to be a superstar.”

Ofahengaue’s coronation with the Maroons presents a representative football migraine of sorts.

The Broncos prop has previously represented Tonga at the 2017 World Cup and while he can still wear the red jumper because they are a second-tier nation, if there was a scheduling clash, he would choose Queensland.

“I know Joe is a true Maroon,” his father says. “He has played for Tonga, but his heart is with Queensland.

“The reason he played for Tonga is because of me and his mum. We wanted Joe to represent Tonga for his culture and his background.

“I remember he came back from Tongan camp and he said he didn’t learn about footy, he learnt about God and family.

“That was the perfect answer for me. That was what we hoped for. I said, ‘Son, I know you love Queensland ... now follow your dream.”