Agnatius’s family shoulders the gain
WHEN Agnatius Paasi was doing it tough this season with a broken shoulder, he only had to think about his “angels” at home.
The big Titans forward lived without his loved ones for more than two years as he tried to forge a career in the NRL after arriving from New Zealand.
“It has been (hard),” Paasi said. “The first year I was here, that was the hardest, but I got used to it over the time.”
Paasi linked with the Titans at the end of 2014 on a train-and-trial deal, heading over the Tasman without the promise of a contract.
He left partner Chloe and then only child Manatoa in New Zealand, while he slept on the floor at mates’ places and caught buses to training.
Chloe became pregnant with their second child, Agnatius Jr, and completed her university studies in New Zealand while Paasi played for his family’s future.
The couple spent turns heading across the ditch when time allowed and were finally united fulltime in March this year.
Paasi had a breakout year
in 2016, sealing a contract upgrade and extension but it came at the expense of his shoulder which had to be reconstructed at the end of the season.
The six-month recovery was gruelling and cruelled further when Paasi broke it again this year.
“I thought I just got a stinger on my shoulder but unfortunately it was a fracture and it put me back two months,” Paasi said of the injury that sidelined him for another 10 weeks.
“It was pretty tough at the time but I got through it.” How?
“I reckon it’s my faith, my faith in the Lord,” he said.
“And especially my family, they’ve been there. My partner and my three kids.” “They’re a motivation. “It’s a blessing to get a big injury and just have to look after yourself and to do those little things rehab wise and also spend time with family.
“It just sucks I had to do it with one arm.”
Paasi returned for the Titans’ win against the Wests Tigers in Round 16 and is set to be named today for Saturday’s crucial clash against defending premiers Cronulla at Cbus Super Stadium.
MY FAMILY, THEY’VE BEEN THERE. MY PARTNER AND MY THREE KIDS ... THEY’RE A MOTIVATION.
AGNATIUS PAASI