DOING IT FOR DAD

Edmonton’s Enari Tuala set for Cowboys debut

ENARI Tuala is set to make an emotional NRL debut tonight for the Cowboys with his greatest fan watching from above.

The 18-year-old will become the first Edmonton Storm junior to play in the top grade when he steps on to 1300SMILES Stadium for a baptism of fire against the Sharks as Lachlan Coote looks set to succumb to injury.

Tuala’s mum Lisa Thompson said while he was “a little nervous” when he told her the good news, the inspiration of his dad Mingo, who died in April last year, would help him rise to any challenge.

“The most important thing for his father was football,” mum Lisa Thompson said.

“He followed him around everywhere. Even if he had to fly to Sydney to watch him play, he’d be there.

“It was so important to his dad and he knows that.

“Everything is for him, every run. He just puts his heart into it for him and he loves the game.

“I’m just proud because of all the hard work he’s put in and he had a rough year last year, losing his dad, but he just keeps moving forward.

“He’ll get strength from his dad. I tell him his dad’s out there with him.”

If watching her son make his NRL debut wasn’t already enough, Thompson will also celebrate her birthday doing so alongside the people who have shaped his football career.

The support from the likes of junior coach Tony Downes, has not only helped Tuala come out the other side of a difficult emotional period, but plenty of bumps and bruises along the way.

The star under-20s centre broke his jaw playing for the Junior Kangaroos in May and battled stress fractures in his back before he moved to Townsville to join the Cowboys system.

Tuala is tipped to replace Lachlan Coote in the 17 and Downes said whether he played wing or centre, it wouldn’t matter. You could even put him in the front row and he wouldn’t let you down.

“It’s great for him and his family and all his friends,” Downes said. “It’s just a pity his dad’s not here to see him play.”

His debut will also put Edmonton Storm on the map and Downes said there were plenty more just from that team waiting in the wings.

Storm junior president Barry Beswick said it would be great moment for the club and testament to the efforts of coaches, particularly Downes, to help him reach his potential.

“It will be a big day for the club. He’s always recognised Edmonton as his home” he said.

Tuala is tonight expected to play in his preferred right centre position, pushing Javid Bowen to the left wing and Kalyn Ponga to fullback.