Cowboy Semi Valemei cannot forgive thieves who stole and torched his car
Cowboys winger Semi Valemei has broken his silence about the theft and torching of his car in Townsville, revealing he had not forgiven the thieves for shaking his trust in his new home.
Cowboys
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cowboys. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Semi Valemei has not forgiven the thieves who broke into his home while he slept and allegedly stole his vehicle before setting it alight.
The Cowboys winger has broken his silence over the December 4 ordeal, revealing the theft had shaken his faith in his new home.
The Fijian World Cup representative quickly won over fans in North Queensland with a 100 per cent tryscoring rate since joining the club from Canberra in a mid-season switch.
His heroics on the football field meant little to the thieves, who a witness described as a “group of young boys” when fleeing the burning wreck.
“They came in and broke into my house and took the car. I called the cops and a few minutes later they called me back and told me it was on fire,” Valemei said.
“It’s gone. One of our good friends lent me a car for now until I get a car back.
“Yeah (it has shaken his trust), because they don’t really care. They’re just going to come into your house if you don’t lock your things.”
Valemei said his mistake had been only locking one door to his North Ward home, not the additional screen door.
Thieves broke the lock on his front door around midnight and made off with the 2017 Audi Q2 station wagon, which police discovered around 6.30am with its interior burnt out in Heatley.
A 25-year-old Deeragun man and a 15-year-old Palm Island boy were each charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
They were remanded in custody and will face Townsville Magistrates Court on February 8 and January 24 respectively.
Valemei said he had no idea what he would say to the thieves if they stood before him.
“I don’t know, to be honest. I haven’t forgiven them, really, because I still haven’t got my car back.”
The theft was one of two major disappointments of the summer for Valemei after visa complications prevented him from travelling home to Fiji to spend Christmas with his family.
The 24-year-old has not seen his family in over 12 months.
“Every Christmas I spend Christmas and New Year’s with them and this year was the first time I didn’t get back home to spend Christmas with them. That was tough,” Valemei said.
“I couldn’t really call them or FaceTime them. They have to call me to communicate with them, that’s the only way I could reach them.”
Valemei instead spent Christmas surrounded by his “Fijian family” in Townsville who have welcomed the football star into their community.
The winger is ready to leave those twin heartbreaks behind him and cement his place in a Cowboys backline set to undergo a reshuffle with the departure of his centre partner Peta Hiku to the Super League.
Replacing Hiku is the biggest question mark of North Queensland’s pre-season, with young gun Zac Laybutt and Warriors recruit Viliami Vailea expected to duel for the right centre position.
At least that’s what Valemei thought, until he arrived at training this week to learn he had been named to train at right centre for the session.
It was the same position he filled for Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup.
“I came and I saw my name in the centre spot for training and I thought I’d give it a shot,” Valemei said.
“Viliami has been good but at the moment he is stuck in New Zealand with his visa or something. He was good before Christmas and there was a lot of talk about him at centre. I was outside him a few times training together. He’s played that position for a long time.
“I don’t really mind where I play. Wherever the coaches and the coaching staff put me I’m going to make sure I do my best and what the team needs me to do for that position.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Cowboy Semi Valemei cannot forgive thieves who stole and torched his car
How the Cowboys unearthed Tongan test bolter Ana Malupo
The Northern Territory talent will have the opportunity to debut for Tonga in the next fortnight. Find out when Cowboys NRLW coach Ricky Henry knew Malupo had a big future in rugby league.
Rabid Cowboys fan to Rookie of the Year: Purdue’s incredible 12 months
To say the last 12 months has been a meteoric rise for Jaxon Purdue would be a huge understatement. Read how the kid from Mackay went from Cowboys superfan to NRL player in less than a year.