Gold Coast Titans recruit Thomas Mikaele reveals why he moved to the Super League and why he returned home

The Titans’ newest recruit has revealed how low he fell before a shock move to England, and why he is bettered prepared than ever to help inspire a premiership tilt on the Gold Coast.

Titans recruit Thomas Mikaele has revealed a lost passion for rugby league fuelled his defection to the Super League, however the birth of his child triggered a rapid move back home to the Glitter Strip.

Once pinned as the future of the Wests Tigers, playing 66 games for the club since his 2019 debut, the Keebra Park product made the shock switch to Super League outfit Warrington in May last year.

Originally inked on a two-and-a-half year deal with the Wolves, Mikaele said a new addition to his family had put too much strain on he and his partner, and they sought a move back to the Gold Coast for extra support.

Mikaele said his defection from the Tigers came down to a lack of passion for the code, admitting he reached a point where he simply did not want to take to the field any longer.

He said that motivation had returned in spades since plying his trade in England, as he pursued a long-term role in coach Justin Holbrook’s Gold Coast vision.

Gold Coast Titans at CBUS Stadium. Thomas Mikaele. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The decision to go over there was just I needed a change to be honest; I wasn’t enjoying my footy and I didn’t really feel like playing anymore,” Mikaele said.

“I needed to move over there to kick start my passion and love for the game again. I think it was just over time, I’m not sure if it was on field performance or whatever, I just think off the field I wasn’t really enjoying it.

“I wasn’t myself, I didn’t find footy enjoyable, I didn’t want to do it anymore and it was all those emotions like that.

“I really enjoyed playing over there. It was hard to leave, I was very disappointed to leave but obviously happy to come home.

“It was more just my family was struggling over there, I’ve got a new born now so my partner and I needed support with the kids and that was that.”

Whether Mikaele makes his debut in Titans colours on Saturday is unclear; named on an extended bench to take on the Brisbane Broncos.

The man himself said he was yet to speak to Holbrook about his place in the outfit, as he continues to recover from the relocation back to Australia.

Gold Coast Titans at CBUS Stadium. Thomas Mikaele. Picture Glenn Hampson

However while he has only been signed on to the Titans until the end of 2023, the 25-year-old prop said he had returned to the NRL a far more damaging prospect on either side of the ball as he pushed to extend his future on the Gold Coast.

“It was a good stepping stone for me to go over there and experience what it was like playing over there and just playing free I guess and not having any restrictions on me,” Mikaele said.

“I feel like the move has made me real mature as a player and helped me learn to be more of a complete player … but mainly mentally it’s changed me and made me better.

“I’m just happy to be back home and grateful to the Titans for giving me the opportunity to come back here and play with a couple of mates as well, but my preference is to stay here for as long as I can.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Titans recruit Thomas Mikaele reveals why he moved to the Super League and why he returned home