Wallabies v Argentina: Lukhan Salakaia-Loto armed with fresh purpose after unpleasant incident

Armed with a new surname and fresh purpose, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is determined to banish memories of the last time he faced Argentina on the Gold Coast and lead the Wallabies to victory.

It’s family first and everything else takes a back seat for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

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Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has a new name and aptitude for his flanker role since the heartache that grounded his Wallabies’ career when he last duelled with Argentina.

His powerful sense of family will surge just seeing his surname in Saturday night’s Test match program before the biggest game of his career at Suncorp Stadium.

“That means everything to me because it represents the family I stand for, where I come from and the struggles we’ve been through,” Salakaia-Loto said.

“To see it printed online or in a match program is awesome.

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It’s family first and everything else takes a back seat for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

“I have six siblings from both sides of my family and I represent them all.

“Being a big brother is probably harder than being a rugby player but it’s good having the responsibility every day to set a good example.

“That’s part of the reason I train hard every day.”

String all the highlights of his rattling hits, big runs and lineout wins together and you have an imposing 116kg of athlete.

What he is yet to master is putting all those elements together for more sustained impact because he’ll turn a Test on his own when he does.

He made just three runs for six metres against South Africa last weekend when coach Michael Cheika made particular mention of getting him to “ball-carry from a bit more depth”.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will have an important part to play on Saturday night.

Lukhan Tui, as he was then, was shattered by the sudden death of his father last September.

He only played the losing Test to Argentina on the Gold Coast days later to honour the man who did so much to get him there.

Unfairly, the snapshot of the night has been diluted to a confrontation after full-time between the emotionally vulnerable Wallaby and a heckling spectator spewing expletive-laden taunts.

When it left his little sister in tears in the seats nearby, the giant forward knew how important being a senior family figure would be even at 21.

His new surname is a proudly amalgam of the two father figures in his life.

He pulled out of the Wallabies’ four-Test tour to Japan and Europe and only re-emerged for his first match five months later for the Queensland Reds.

An unfortunate incident at the Gold Coast last year left a family member in tears.

“It was the only right decision because the biggest priority for me is family and everything else takes a back seat,” Salakaia-Loto said.

“It’s been a process moving forward, not an easy one, but a process to be in a better place.

“You go through tough times with the down side but you build strength off it and I can express that on the field.”

It’s driving him towards the World Cup in Japan and to build on his brief 12-Test career so far.

He’s never been fitter or more agile because those teenage days of taking on an 18-piece KFC family pack solo in western Sydney are long gone just like his 138kg frame.

Salakaia-Loto, 110kg Isi Naisarani and two 100kg-plus centres, Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani, give the Wallabies huge ball-carting power.

Unlocking the best way to harness it all is still the challenge against the Pumas.