Keebra Park product Agnatius Paasi on Gold Coast Titans tenure, life at the New Zealand Warriors

He was part of a New Zealand Warriors forward pack that inflicted defeat on the Titans last week but Agnatius Paasi will be forever grateful for his time on the Gold Coast.

HE was part of a New Zealand Warriors forward pack that inflicted defeat on the Titans last week but Agnatius Paasi will be forever grateful for his time on the Gold Coast.

The 27-year-old made 22 tackles and ran for 103m in a 24-20 win over his former club at Cbus Super Stadium.

The popular Tongan has slotted back in nicely at the Warriors, where he made his NRL debut in a one-off appearance in 2014.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL ON FOOTY GOLD COAST RUGBY LEAGUE NEWSLETTER

But it was at the Titans where he made a name for himself as a barnstorming front-rower across 54 matches from 2015 to 2017.

Agnatius Paasi in Titans colours. Picture: Getty Images

“They took me in, they threw me a lifeline when I came over,” Paasi said.

“It was pretty tough. I’m just happy that Neil Henry, the coach at the time, took me in.

“I got three years with them.

WHY KING’S FUTURE IS UP IN THE AIR AGAIN

“Obviously I started my career at the Titans and I’m just happy that they gave me a lifeline.

“I don’t look back now, it’s just all about moving forward.”

Paasi took the opportunity to return to Auckland last year and has become a central figure in the Warriors set-up, playing in 35 of a possible 38 games since.

Agnatius Paasi playing for the Warriors against Gold Coast. Picture: AAP Image

“I’m just trying to be a leader for our forward pack and trying to lead them to as many wins as we can,” he said.

“I’m happy with what I’m doing and hopefully I can carry that on and we can make the top eight.”

PBC V KEEBRA: CAPTAINS’ FINAL WORDS, TEAM LISTS

Off the field, the move has paid dividends too.

“It’s going not too bad. I just had to make the family happy and when they’re happy, I can just do my thing on the paddock,” he said.

“I’m just glad that my family is happy.

Agnatius Paasi in 2017 with his wife Chloe and children oldest to youngest - Manatoa, Agnatius Jnr and Ilaisia. Picture: Steve Holland

“I have got four boys now so I have got to look after them and just build a future for them as well.”

Paasi is one of four former Titans on the Warriors’ books, alongside Lachlan Burr, Karl Lawton and Leivaha Pulu.

Age: 27

Birthplace: Tonga

Position: Front-row

Nickname: Iggy

NRL debut: Round 19, 2014 for the Warriors against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium

N RL games: 90

Clubs: New Zealand Warriors (2014, 2018-19), Gold Coast Titans (2015-17)

Agnatius Paasi in 2016. Picture: David Clark

■ His sole chance thus far to represent his homeland on the Test stage came when he had just one NRL game to his name. Paasi started at prop for Tonga in a 32-18 loss to Papua New Guinea in Lae in 2014.

■ Paasi is yet another product of Keebra Park’s rugby league program.

■ Is again playing through shoulder problems now, having battled through issues including a fractured shoulder blade during his time at the Titans.

■ Paasi developed a knack of finding the line during Gold Coast’s run to the 2016 play-offs, scoring five tries in his first 13 games of the season.