Tino’s selling job got Fifita in
STORM gun Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has revealed the role he played in luring David Fifita to the Gold Coast as he strives to farewell Melbourne with an NRL premiership and State of Origin debut.
Fa’asuamaleaui has been a shining light in a breakout season this year, playing what he describes as “Tino style” football in all 19 Storm games to announce himself as an NRL star of the future.
He will be one of 12 players rested from Sunday’s last round clash against St George Illawarra as he prepares for a maiden NRL finals campaign.
That means Fa’asuamaleaui has a maximum of four games left in Storm colours before he embarks on a $2 million move to the Gold Coast Titans next season.
Fa’asuamaleaui inked a three-year contract with the Titans last December, becoming coach Justin Holbrook’s first big-name recruit.
The Titans have since landed Newcastle’s Herman Ese’ese and Brisbane’s Fifita, the latter on a $3.5 million deal, considered one of the biggest signings in Gold Coast history.
Fa’asuamaleaui and Fifita have a strong relationship from playing together in junior Queensland teams and the Storm sensation admitted he enticed Fifita to leave the Broncos and help him turn the Titans into an NRL force.
“I am excited, I can’t wait to have my good mate there,” he said. “Hopefully me and him and the other boys can change the club around.
“He took a fair bit of convincing but he liked the sound of it and decided to go.”