State of Origin 2020: Maroons great Petero Civoniceva helped convince Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika to play for Queensland
Moeaki Fotuaika had goosebumps when the text message arrived. “I was pretty scared to text back”. It was Petero Civoniceva. And what the Maroons legend said convinced the Titans young gun to commit to Queensland.
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Gold Coast dynamo Moeaki Fotuaika has revealed a text message from childhood idol Petero Civoniceva helped convince him to pledge his allegiance to Queensland and Australia.
Fotuaika will this week be named in Queensland’s train-on squad for November’s State of Origin series following a sensational NRL season for the resurgent Titans.
Born in New Zealand, Fotuaika moved to Australia as a seven-year-old and played for the Junior Kiwis as a teenager in 2017. He is also eligible to play for Tonga.
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But Fotuaika has long regarded Australia as home and made the decision to commit to Queensland with the support of his family.
Fotuaika, 22, said he had been in discussions with Maroons team manager Civoniceva, the Fiji-born Queensland great who played 33 Origin games, before deciding his allegiance.
“I was born in New Zealand and moved here when I was seven,” Fotuaika said.
“I’ve been here the majority of my life. I call Australia home.
“I never played any Queensland representative in my junior grades, apart from a Queensland training camp in under-18s.
“I didn’t have any meetings (with the Maroons), I was just exchanging texts with Petero.
“When I got the text message I had goosebumps, I was blown away, I was pretty scared to text back. He is a genuine guy, down to earth. It was good to get that text message off him.
“He was seeing where I was sitting and if I was available for selection. I told him I’d be available and keen if I get picked in the squad.
“I didn’t jump into the decision to say I wanted to play for Queensland. I talked to my parents about it and they were happy with it, as well as my family.
“As long as my family’s happy then I am happy.”
Fotuaika is one of the NRL’s rising front-rowers.
He was crowned the Gold Coast’s player-of-the-year in 2019, only his second season in the NRL, and now has 55 first grade appearances next to his name.
Fotuaika missed out on back-to-back Paul Broughton Medals by only one point to Titans teammate Brian Kelly this season, highlighting his consistency for the Gold Coast.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook said Fotuaika would thrive in the Origin arena.
“He is such a fit guy, he plays 60 minutes every week and could play 80 but we have to look after him because he’s a young guy,” he said. “The intensity of the game goes up but that won’t worry Moe because he’s a super fit guy that can play big minutes.
“Moe would have no issue with that. I’ll be rapt if he gets an opportunity.
“It is exciting. If your players can play rep footy it gives them more confidence playing at a higher level and seeing how other players train and play. They will come back better for it.”
Fotuaika will be joined in Queensland’s train-on squad by Titans teammates AJ Brimson, Phil Sami and Jai Arrow.
The hardworking prop said he was ready for an Origin baptism when the series kicks off in Adelaide on November 4.
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“I thought it would be a great challenge for myself to test myself in that arena,” Fotuaika said.
“If I was to get picked in the squad I can learn off the players in that squad. It would be a big learning curve leading into the future.
“To get the opportunity to learn off the calibre of players in the Queensland side would be great for myself and my career.
“What comes to mind (the players I idolised) is Petero Civoniceva, Shane Webcke and Matt Scott. Those guys are straight forward. They do their job, run hard and get the boys forward.
“If the opportunity comes I will take it with both hands and do the best I can.”
Originally published as State of Origin 2020: Maroons great Petero Civoniceva helped convince Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika to play for Queensland
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