Sitili Tupouniua’s rise from building pool fences to constructing impressive highlight reel

The boom Sydney Roosters young gun has gone from building fences to constructing an impressive highlight reel in a short space of time.

He has gone from building pool fences to constructing an impressive highlight reel in a short space of time for the Sydney Roosters.

Sitili Tupouniua is rubbing shoulders with his childhood idols at the Tricolours but it wasn’t that long ago when he was building backyard pool fences for a living.

When he moved to Sydney from Auckland at age 17, he juggled lower-grade football with labouring in a bid to make money to chase his NRL dream.

Tupouniua’s hard work and sacrifice was rewarded in round 16 last year when he made his first-grade debut against Melbourne in Adelaide.

The Kiwi is earning cult-hero status at the Roosters with his whole-hearted displays in the forward pack and impressive athleticism.

In round six he starred in a thrilling golden-point win over the Storm.

His heroics, which included a decisive run prior to Latrell Mitchell’s field goal that secured victory, 21-20, have attracted plenty of praise.

He continued his standout form in last Saturday’s 42-12 win over the Wests Tigers with a clever try assist for Mitchell.

For all the hype, Tupouniua’s humble beginnings mean he won’t be getting a big head.

“I’m always grateful for what I get to call a job,” Tupouniua, 21, told The Sunday Telegraph.

“It isn’t really a job because I’m living my dream.

“I get to train with a lot of players that I looked up to when I was younger, which is great.

“It has been a tough and a long journey, but it is all worth it now.”

Sitili Tupouniua has been a revelation for the Roosters.

Tupouniua’s work ethic is certainly no coincidence.

His father is a construction worker back home in New Zealand and he always taught his son to chase his goals.

“It’s why I always think about my family first whenever I’m playing,” he said.

“I just want to make them proud. The goal is to help my family out.”

Tupouniua grew up playing rugby union in Central Auckland with aspirations of becoming an All Black.

His union ambition soon shifted when he tried rugby league and he hasn’t looked back since.

Roosters cult hero Sitili Tupouniua.

“Once I played league, I knew that I wanted to play in the NRL,” he said.

“It wasn’t easy to make it, especially when I first moved to Australia, but I never thought about giving up.

“I always knew that I had to work my way up, so I just trusted the process that if I worked hard it was going to pay off.”

Tupouniua is also blessed with a healthy dose of natural talent.

Standing at more than six foot (186cm) and weighing 101kg, he has the perfect frame to excel as a rugby league forward.

Tupouniua also puts his athleticism down to countless social games of basketball in his spare time.

“I’m a Golden State fan and I like Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.”

Tupouniua will look to maintain his form when the Roosters take on the red-hot Canberra Raiders in the NRL’s Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

And while he has enjoyed producing consistent football, he isn’t getting carried away.

“Once you get a taste, you want to stay up here. But it isn’t easy and you’ve got to keep working hard.

“You can’t get complacent and I just have to keep performing every week.”