Meteoric rise of a heavy man

Karl Tu’inukuafe admits that if he wasn’t playing for the All Blacks tomorrow, he may well have been working on the door of a nightclub in Auckland.

So instead of chucking out drunks who’d been going large at Eden Park, he’ll be making his test debut and continuing one of the most remarkable rises in rugby since the professional era began.

Just three months ago the 24-yearold made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs, coincidentally at Eden Park and this weekend he’s expected to come off the bench against France.

It’s an incredible story, but not one the understated Tu’inukuafe is thinking about ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

‘‘I’ll do the job first and think about it later, I’m grateful, but the job first.’’

Tu’inukuafe’s rise has been so meteoric that he hasn’t yet adjusted to life as a professional rugby player and still hasn’t moved away from holding down a normal job, which for him was working in security for Auckland Live.

‘‘It’s mostly a desk job but I get on the doors at night sometimes,’’ he said.

‘‘To get some extra money in for working at the clubs.’’

Tu’inukuafe is listed in the All Blacks media guide as weighing 135kg. But he wasn’t always so ‘trim’.

It was only when a doctor told him he could be heading for an early grave that he decided to take up rugby again, and he says he’s lost around 30-40kg since that warning.

‘‘In 2014, the doctors were telling me to lose weight,’’ he said. ‘‘I was complaining about pain in my legs and stuff and he was explaining that it was my bad health decisions with eating that was leading to a heart attack or whatever.

‘‘When he told me to lose weight, the easiest way was to play rugby with my brothers and family. I’d rather do it with them on the field, than lose it by myself, so it made it easier.’’

Tu’inukuafe’s motivation to turn his life around and cut out the burgers – something Jordie Barrett should probably also do – is an inspirational story.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says he should be proud of what he’s achieved and he’s shown that players who haven’t come through traditional paths can still make it to the top.

‘‘It is a special occasion for Karl and his family,’’ Hansen said.

‘‘For anyone out there still with aspirations to be an All Black and hasn’t been a Super Rugby academy player or U20 player, it’s a clear message you can still make it if you’ve still got that dream, desire and work ethic to try and make it.

‘‘He’s had few marbles roll his way, the Chiefs looseheads have been dropping like flies all year, but he stepped up and has really done the job.’’ The forgotten man of the Warriors’ early season winning streak will not be making a premature return from the wounded ward.

Leivaha Pulu, one of the key cogs in the Warriors’ wheel of success in the opening five rounds of 2018, told Stuff an early comeback is off the table. The former Gold Coast Titan was struck with a foot injury during the round six loss to the Brisbane Broncos in April. The 27-18 defeat was the Warriors first of the season.

Rumours of an earlier return than the round 20 date that was originally slated have been bubbling away but the back-rower, who was in career best form on the left edge until the injury – has all but ruled that out.

‘‘I’ve probably got another five to six weeks, hopefully, to start running fully on the track with the boys,’’ Pulu said of his match day return.

The 28-year-old is in Christchurch undertaking school and community visits to spread the rugby league gospel ahead of tomorrow’s round 14 contest against Manly at AMI Stadium.

‘‘I haven’t got a target round at the moment it’s just listening to the physio and hopefully I’ll get the OK sometime soon.’’

The 28-year-old, who has only had his cast removed in the last few weeks, has been able to maintain some of his fitness by cycling and upper body work.