LEARNING TO LOVE LEAGUE
The Melbourne-born rugby junior to debut for the Northern Pride
MORE often than not, Matolu Laumea is wearing a smile.
But if you ever see the Northern Pride man-mountain with a Steeden in his hands – get out of the way.
The powerhouse forward has been a notable addition to the Pride’s pack in his debut pre-season with the club, following an impressive 2018 playing for Innisfail in the CDRL and earning Northern Marlins representative honours.
But when the 27-year-old isn’t in the gym and on the training paddock, he’s still putting in the hard yards.
“I’m a chippie by trade,” said Laumea.
“If I’m not at training, I’m probably at work.”
Laumea started his carpentry apprenticeship when he was 15 – about the same time he got his first taste of rugby league with the Tully Tigers.
The Melbourne-born rugby union junior made the switch to league in his mid-teens, after a trip to the Far North turned into a permanent posting in the rugby league heartland.
“We came up in 2007 for just a family vacation and then we just never went back to Melbourne,” he said.
With roots in rugby union, Laumea said he didn’t know too much about rugby league’s finer details when he started playing and, as a result, he didn’t like the sport.
“Not straight away,” he laughed.
“It was more just because I didn’t know too many people at the time, but it turned into something that I just kept enjoying more and more.” Laumea loves league now. The Pride newcomer could be the club’s next big thing in 2019, as he looks to cement a spot in the starting 17.
On Tuesday, he was named to make his Intrust Super Cup debut in the No.16 jersey.
He is one of four men to play their first games for the club, with former Ipswich Jet Denzel King, former Easts Tiger Cameron Torpy, and former NRL and Super League star Maurice Blair joining Laumea on the bench.
But Laumea, he is just getting started.
“That’s the goal, but there’s still a bit of work to do,” he said.