Warriors get a heavy hitter
Loan deal for Kiwi Faamausili thrills the CEO of NZ club
The injury-plagued Warriors have secured the services of Roosters prop Poasa Faamausili on a month-long loan deal. The NRL last week gave the Warriors special dispensation to take on loan players from rival clubs for four weeks, after the club was left reeling from a series of injuries.
Warriors middle forwards Leeson Ah Mau, Bunty Afoa, Jackson Frei and Jazz Tevaga are all out with injuries, leaving coach Stephen Kearney desperate for reinforcements.
Warriors CEO Cameron George thanked the Roosters for their cooperation in allowing Faamausili to move clubs.
“We can’t thank the Roosters enough for their support with this. It’s a great gesture on their part, an expression of the goodwill we’ve witnessed from so many clubs,” said George last night.
“[Head coach] Trent Robinson and everyone at the Roosters have been terrific with the way they have been there for us in what has been a difficult time. We’re thrilled Poasa will be joining us.”
Robinson said the deal benefits both clubs.
“He’s an NRL player ready to play. He’s not currently in our squad and we believe it’s a benefit for us as well,” Robinson, the Roosters’ three-times premiership-winning coach, told the website NRL.com.
And there was Poasa, just a young kid, and he was giving it to us, telling us our team wasn’t very good. Frank Puletua
“It’s hard to leave your club but it’s also he knows he’s ready to play. He knows he’s ready to play in the NRL.”
Faamausili, who was a Glenora Bears junior and attended Waitakere College, has played 14 first grade matches for the back to back premiers since his debut in 2018. He featured in the Bondi Junction club’s round two loss to the Sea Eagles before the suspension of the league due to the coronavirus pandemic but was only named as the 21st player for tonight’s game against the Rabbitohs.
The 24-year-old Aucklander is also the cousin of former Panthers and Kiwis brothers Tony and Frank Puletua.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph after hearing the news Faamausili would be joining the Warriors, Frank Puletua recalled a story of his trashtalking cousin when he was younger, and a fan of the Warriors.
“I remember Tony and I played in Auckland once, and we got carved up, the Warriors were on fire that day. After the game we went to the house where all the families got together,” Puletua said.
“And there was Poasa, just a young kid, and he was giving it to us, telling us our team wasn’t very good.”
Faamausili will remain in the Roosters’ 21-man squad for Friday’s clash and will join the Warriors on Monday.
The Warriors play the St George Illawarra Dragons in their first game of the NRL restart tomorrow in Gosford on the NSW Central Coast.