Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has set his sights on regaining his Queensland jersey and doing the late and great Arthur Beetson proud. Fa’asuamaleaui played 12 games straight for the Maroons at lock and prop before a season-ending ACL rupture wiped him out of last year’s series.
The 25-year-old Gold Coast Titans skipper said he was mentally and physically in great shape after spending a fortnight with highly regarded reconditioning guru Bill Knowles last year in the US.
He’s ripped into his rehab ever since and made his successful return against Canterbury when the Titans’ season kicked off in round two of the NRL. The dynamic middle forward was a regular in the Maroons outfit after making his Origin debut in 2020.
Sitting on the sidelines is not what he wanted in 2024 but it gave him a reminder of what he was missing.
“It gave me extra motivation and real fire in the belly to be able to play good for the Titans and hopefully get my name thrown in the mix come Origin time.
“I was supporting the boys from afar and I was very proud of them. Obviously it was a tough series (lost 2-1 by the Maroons) but there were a lot of positives that the state and the boys can take out of it. Hopefully they will learn from it and do well this year.”
Fa’asuamaleaui’s back-story is a fascinating one. His father Fereti moved from Samoa to the Sydney Roosters when scouted by Beetson. Fereti lived with Artie for a while and played reserve grade for the Tricolours before moving to Gympie and providing for his family as a boilermaker.
“Where I am in my career now and playing for Queensland, it really all started when Arthur recruited my old man and gave him an opportunity.
“If that never happened I probably wouldn’t be here today. I am very grateful to Arthur. My dad left a small island to have a crack in the big smoke and it’s had a butterfly effect to be honest with my brother (Iszac) and myself here at the Titans.”
Fa’asuamaleaui said he loved to hear stories about Beetson in Maroons camp as it had a special meaning to him.
“He means a lot to me on a personal level with my family story. It would have been pretty cool if he was still here to watch some of the boys play for Queensland and for me to talk to him about bringing my dad over, just to get an understanding of the whole story. He is watching from above as a proud Queenslander.”
Most props come of age in their mid-20s or later but big Tino was ripping Origin apart as a 20-year-old on debut.
The 2020 series, won 2-1 by the Maroons, will always have a special place in his heart. Wayne Bennett’s team defied the critics to prevail in a series that launched Fa’asuamaleaui as a force of nature.
“It was probably the most confidence I have ever felt in my footy career,” Fa’asuamaleaui recalled.
“I was 20 years old and we’d just come off a grand final win at Melbourne. A lot of things happened to me that I didn’t expect.
“Then I was picked in the Queensland squad. First day in camp Wayne looked at me and said, ‘you are going to be our No.13’.
Fa’asuamaleaui’s influence on the NRL, Origin and Test football has been massive. He has won a World Cup, Origin series and an NRL title with the Storm.
Leading the Titans to a maiden premiership as captain is the main item on his agenda.
“That is the goal,” he said. The Titans pack is star-studded and includes current Maroons prop Moeaki Fotuaika and second-rower David Fifita, who is aiming for a recall to the side. Tough as teak forward Beau Fermor is also a future Maroon.
Fa’asuamaleaui hopes to play alongside them all in a Queensland jersey.
“We have a lot of boys in our Titans team that are Queenslanders and I am excited to hopefully see them achieve their dream and play for their state,” he said.
“I am keen to play well with them at the Titans and hopefully play with them for Queensland. “