Meet the Lions’ unsung heroes

Not everyone’s Asafo Aumua. For every player that finds provincial rugby is the springboard to better things, there’s a couple more who have reached their pinnacle.

It’s hard to know what the future holds for Wellington flanker Mateaki Kafatolu. Not because he possesses limitless potential. More to do with having given up hope of a Lions debut years ago.

In 2009, the Petone player won club rugby’s best and fairest award and was included in Wellington’s wider training squad. But instead of Westpac Stadium or Eden Park becoming regular stamping grounds, he was left to chase his dreams in such far-flung locations as Japan, Romania and Sri Lanka.

Not that he resented that. A father of two girls, with Central Pulse netballer Te Amo AmaruTibble, Kafatolu was quite content with his lot.

‘‘Then Gibbo and Rodders [Wellington coaches Chris Gibbes and Rodney So’oialo] approached me.’’ Kafatolu said. Not with a concrete offer, but enough to get him interested again.

‘‘I was told I was just outside the squad, so I was here as more of a training partner. Took that on board, they gave me a few things to work on, went away and did that and here I am,’’ he said ahead of Wellington’s national provincial championship final against Bay of Plenty tonight.

‘‘I’ve waited a long time. I thought the dream had passed and now it’s here.’’

It remains to be seen if Wellington can beat the Steamers. But, whatever happens, from the moment Kafatolu ran on to Blenheim’s Lansdowne Park to play Tasman in September, his campaign was a success.

‘‘I’m happy. Being 28 and debuting at 28, for me, that’s satisfying. My goal was just to get the one game and now, in my eighth game, I’m in a final. I’m just blessed, eh?’’

The other way to look at it is that Kafatolu is merely getting what he deserves. From the moment he first pulled on the jumper this season, his desire and willingness to sacrifice his body for the cause and do the unheralded work has been impressive.

And he’s not alone. For every bullocking run by hooker Aumua and tighthead prop Alex Fidow, there’s been another ruck hit or tackle made by Tolu Fahamokioa.

At 26, the loosehead prop is another Lion who might not be destined for stardom. But that doesn’t mean this campaign doesn’t mean the world to him or that he hasn’t worked hard to ‘‘redeem’’ himself and the union.

Fahamokioa was part of the 2014 Wellington team that was relegated, before spending two years with Hawke’s Bay.

‘‘It must’ve been Monday after training and I was lying down at home thinking ‘s***, I was in that team that went down and now I could be in the team to bring Wellington back up’ so let’s hope we get the job done on Friday,’’ Fahamokioa said.

Wellington were a raw side in 2014 and Fahamokioa is one of only five survivors. He was a nursing student at the time, but had to pack that in to concentrate on rugby. That took him to Napier, where he was part of the Magpies’ team that staged a late comeback to pip Wellington 26-25 in the 2015 championship final.

‘‘I was pretty excited when Wellington called me up at the end of last year to come back. I wasn’t dreading going back to Hawke’s Bay, but I just wanted to come home. It didn’t feel right putting on those colours.’’

Fahamokioa blew someone a big kiss – ‘‘I don’t want to say any names’’ – during Wellington’s 49-21 semifinal win over Northland, after scoring his first try for three years. Now he hopes more history beckons tonight.