Reds star Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s pride in family spurs him on

So strong is his sense of family that seeing his new surname in a match program is as big a feeling as his Wallabies debut for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto at Reds training. Picture: AAP

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So strong is his sense of family that seeing his new surname in a match program is as big a feeling as his Wallabies debut for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

The powerful 116kg forward will re-emerge in his first proper match for five months on Friday night when the Reds launch their season against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

“Family and footy” had been a comfortable axis for his life until that equilibrium was shattered by the sudden death of his father last September.

Lukhan Tui, as he was then, was floored and only played the Test against Argentina on the Gold Coast the same week to honour the dad who did so much to get him there.

The confrontation between the emotionally-vulnerable Wallaby and a heckling spectator spewing expletive-laden taunts after full-time left his little sister in tears.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto at Reds training. Picture: AAP

There was just a single reason he stepped away from rugby and pulled out of the Wallabies’ tour last November.

“Looking after my family was the best decision to make, the only right decision to make,”

Salakaia-Loto said.

“I’ve always been one to have my priorities sorted and everything else takes a backseat to family.”

Changing his surname was to honour his late father (Salakaia) and his birth father, with an abbreviation (Loto).

“It’s something I carry with me every day for the people I represent...my family, where we come from and the struggles we’ve been through,” he said.

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“To see my new last name printed online or in a Reds’ match program means so much it is right up there with my Wallabies debut.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto consoles his little sister after he was heckled by a spectator after the Wallabies’ match against Argentina on the Gold Coast in September. Picture: AAP

“I have six siblings from both sides of my family, I represent them all and they can see that’s their big brother who is guiding them.”

Salakaia-Loto, 22, wants to keep his personal life private yet gave an inkling at what a force it is when he plays the game.

“You go through tough times like this you build strength and I’ve kinda found a peace,” he said.

“My family is the reason I’ve been training harder every day and I get to express that out on the field.

“’Run hard, hit hard, do my job’...that’s my simple plan outside the technical stuff.”

His bumping runs, workrate, physicality and lineout work all make the Reds a better team and he’s excited to get the season started, most likely as a lock.

“You don’t want to be spending your whole career losing games...winning, winning at all costs, is the most important thing for the Reds,” he said.

“That has been drip-fed from the coaches but it’s player-driven as well that we have to give 110 per cent.”

He remains a strong blindside flanker project for the Wallabies and the 11-Test figure will be pushing for the World Cup. For his late father. For his family.

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