- Joined
- Oct 1, 2013
- Messages
- 17,736
- Reaction score
- 31,795
WHAT sacrifices would you make to chase a dream? And at what point do you give up?
Ask Renouf To’omaga those two questions and the answer is resounding — everything, and never.
He’s been chasing his since a school friend convinced him to ditch the Gilbert and pick up a Sherrin in Wellington about seven years ago.
His journey to the NRL has been long, and at times exhausting. But on Friday night he realises his dream when he runs onto ANZ Stadium with Canterbury’s No. 16 on his back.
This is how he got there.
LEAVING HOME
To’omaga grew up in Wellington and, like a lot of young New Zealanders, played rugby union for most of his childhood.
It wasn’t until he was 15 years old that he was talked into ditching the nation’s favourite code and switching to rugby league.
It was a decision that would change the course of his life.
“I went there and just fell in love with it,” To’omaga told foxsports.com.au.
“I think it was because I was better at league than I was at union. They score more tries in rugby league.
“When you’ve got the passion it’s pretty easy to transition like that.”
It wasn’t long before other people began to notice just how talented the hulking teenager was at the 13-man code.
By the time he had graduated year 11 at school, To’omaga had an offer from Canterbury on the table.
The catch was he would have to pack his bags and leave his parents and two siblings in Wellington.
But in his mind he already had the path laid out in front of him. He had a dream to play in the NRL, and he would do whatever it took to get there.
He kissed his family goodbye and flew across the ditch.
DIGGING HOLES, 1AM FACTORY SHIFTS AND NO SLEEP
The Bulldogs arranged for 17-year-old To’omaga to live in a boarding house with other young rugby league players.
While he made friends with the other boys — including now-Warriors forward James Gavet — he was the only one contracted to Canterbury. Most of the others were with Wests Tigers.
The club also organised work for him, labouring with landscapers.
“I was digging holes every day with some of the older boys then I would go to training. That was my routine for the whole first year I was here,” To’omaga said.
“Sydney is a massive place, and compared to where I’m from it was hard to get myself from A to B.
“I didn’t have a car licence, I didn’t have a car, so I think figuring out the whole public transport stuff was pretty tough.
“Mentally it was pretty tough for me, but I think the boys at the house got me through.”
Soon enough To’omaga’s parents decided to make the move to Australia as well, and he was able to move into their new home in Sydney.
But the slog was far from over. When he graduated from the junior ranks and was signed to an NRL contract three years ago, he soon realised Sydney is an expensive place to live.
That’s when To’omaga decided to look for more work to supplement his Bulldogs salary.
“I was working in a factory just to make a bit of money,” he explained.
“I would work from like 1am to 7am then go to training from 8 o’clock to whenever.
“My sleeping pattern was a bit weird because I was staying up till about 6 o’clock and then I would go to sleep ... I’d wake up at midnight and go to work, then go straight to training until 1 or 2 o’clock and go straight home, have another sleep.
“It was a bit draining on the body but I was like I just have to get it done.”
A DREAM REALISED
To’omaga punished his body, labouring in the sun and then sacrificing sleep just so he could chase his NRL dream.
He says even when he was rolling into his bed at 6pm exhausted from work and training, he never considered taking a different path.
His form in the NSW Cup this season has been hard to ignore, and now coach Dean Pay has given him a chance in first grade.
Pay called To’omaga into his Belmore office on Monday and told him he was to make his NRL debut on Friday against the Eels.
In a twist, To’omaga’s parents only moved from Sydney to Brisbane last week, but they will fly down to watch his debut.
All counted, To’omaga has reserved about 50 tickets for family and friends to Friday’s game.
His mother and father cried when he rang them on Monday to tell them the news.
“I was a bit emotional. I was in disbelief, pretty shocked,” To’omaga said.
“You know when you get some good news and you don’t know how to react? I was really kind of spaced out.”
If his form in reserve grade is anything indication, Bulldogs fans are in for a treat.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner took To’omaga under his wing in pre-season and the two forwards could end up as cult heroes at the club.
“He’s been a standout by a mile in Cup this year,” To’omaga’s manager Luke Lombardi said.
“For a big unit he’s very mobile with great leg speed, the way he plays really resonates with that Dogs of War mentality.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...d/news-story/55f8837e776bd0dda828db72e3cbebb1
Ask Renouf To’omaga those two questions and the answer is resounding — everything, and never.
He’s been chasing his since a school friend convinced him to ditch the Gilbert and pick up a Sherrin in Wellington about seven years ago.
His journey to the NRL has been long, and at times exhausting. But on Friday night he realises his dream when he runs onto ANZ Stadium with Canterbury’s No. 16 on his back.
This is how he got there.
LEAVING HOME
To’omaga grew up in Wellington and, like a lot of young New Zealanders, played rugby union for most of his childhood.
It wasn’t until he was 15 years old that he was talked into ditching the nation’s favourite code and switching to rugby league.
It was a decision that would change the course of his life.
“I went there and just fell in love with it,” To’omaga told foxsports.com.au.
“I think it was because I was better at league than I was at union. They score more tries in rugby league.
“When you’ve got the passion it’s pretty easy to transition like that.”
It wasn’t long before other people began to notice just how talented the hulking teenager was at the 13-man code.
By the time he had graduated year 11 at school, To’omaga had an offer from Canterbury on the table.
The catch was he would have to pack his bags and leave his parents and two siblings in Wellington.
But in his mind he already had the path laid out in front of him. He had a dream to play in the NRL, and he would do whatever it took to get there.
He kissed his family goodbye and flew across the ditch.
DIGGING HOLES, 1AM FACTORY SHIFTS AND NO SLEEP
The Bulldogs arranged for 17-year-old To’omaga to live in a boarding house with other young rugby league players.
While he made friends with the other boys — including now-Warriors forward James Gavet — he was the only one contracted to Canterbury. Most of the others were with Wests Tigers.
The club also organised work for him, labouring with landscapers.
“I was digging holes every day with some of the older boys then I would go to training. That was my routine for the whole first year I was here,” To’omaga said.
“Sydney is a massive place, and compared to where I’m from it was hard to get myself from A to B.
“I didn’t have a car licence, I didn’t have a car, so I think figuring out the whole public transport stuff was pretty tough.
“Mentally it was pretty tough for me, but I think the boys at the house got me through.”
Soon enough To’omaga’s parents decided to make the move to Australia as well, and he was able to move into their new home in Sydney.
But the slog was far from over. When he graduated from the junior ranks and was signed to an NRL contract three years ago, he soon realised Sydney is an expensive place to live.
That’s when To’omaga decided to look for more work to supplement his Bulldogs salary.
“I was working in a factory just to make a bit of money,” he explained.
“I would work from like 1am to 7am then go to training from 8 o’clock to whenever.
“My sleeping pattern was a bit weird because I was staying up till about 6 o’clock and then I would go to sleep ... I’d wake up at midnight and go to work, then go straight to training until 1 or 2 o’clock and go straight home, have another sleep.
“It was a bit draining on the body but I was like I just have to get it done.”
A DREAM REALISED
To’omaga punished his body, labouring in the sun and then sacrificing sleep just so he could chase his NRL dream.
He says even when he was rolling into his bed at 6pm exhausted from work and training, he never considered taking a different path.
His form in the NSW Cup this season has been hard to ignore, and now coach Dean Pay has given him a chance in first grade.
Pay called To’omaga into his Belmore office on Monday and told him he was to make his NRL debut on Friday against the Eels.
In a twist, To’omaga’s parents only moved from Sydney to Brisbane last week, but they will fly down to watch his debut.
All counted, To’omaga has reserved about 50 tickets for family and friends to Friday’s game.
His mother and father cried when he rang them on Monday to tell them the news.
“I was a bit emotional. I was in disbelief, pretty shocked,” To’omaga said.
“You know when you get some good news and you don’t know how to react? I was really kind of spaced out.”
If his form in reserve grade is anything indication, Bulldogs fans are in for a treat.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner took To’omaga under his wing in pre-season and the two forwards could end up as cult heroes at the club.
“He’s been a standout by a mile in Cup this year,” To’omaga’s manager Luke Lombardi said.
“For a big unit he’s very mobile with great leg speed, the way he plays really resonates with that Dogs of War mentality.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...d/news-story/55f8837e776bd0dda828db72e3cbebb1
