Colt keen to follow in Tuala’s footsteps
JACOB GRAMS ENARI Tuala’s trailblazing run into the NRL is inspiring his former Edmonton junior teammates to keep striving for the top grade.
The 19-year-old became the first Storm product to score a try in the NRL, supporting Kyle Feldt’s acrobatic grab from a Johnathan Thurston cross-field kick to score his maiden four-pointer against the Sea Eagles on Thursday.
The match doubled as Tuala’s first start and may have cemented his centre spot.
Former junior teammate Lui Lockington, who plays for the Northern Pride’s Hastings Deering Colts under-20s side, was thrilled for Tuala and hoped to soon join him.
“He’s doing well for himself. It’s good to see him doing what he’s doing,” he said.
“Every time I see one of my friends go up a level it always makes me want to get up there and play better.”
Lockington, a towering centre who spent time at the Gold Coast Titans before 12 months out of rugby league after an anterior cruciate ligament injury, hoped to first cement a spot in a strong under-20s team in a bid to turn the heads of NRL scouts.
“It’s a good experience to travel every weekend and it’s a good bunch of boys,” he said.
“This competition really exposes you to the NRL clubs and we have a lot of talent up here.”
The Pride Colts have a tough ask today at Barlow Park against a massive Souths Logan team.