BROTHERS UNITE TO LIFT LIONS
A TRIO of Taias have left their Rugby League Townsville clubs to unite for the first time under the Western Lions banner in 2023.
Blackhawks prop Hamilton Taia has walked away from the Burdekin Roosters to return to the club that gave him his local A Grade debut as a 17-year-old five years ago.
Taia, now a man at 22 years of age, has convinced his talented brothers Thomas, 25, and Jacob, 20, to depart Centrals Tigers and join his quest to win the first A Grade premiership in Lions history.
Taia believes their connection can be the missing ingredient that complete the Lions’ finals jigsaw puzzle.
“Me and my brothers grew up playing at Centrals but in giving me my A Grade debut, getting me comfortable at that level, winning a premiership at Lions would be like me thanking them,” Taia said.
“Everyone on the field is your brother but winning a premiership with your family, that would be more than just sport.
“We’re all older and parted ways, we all have our own families, but playing footy together just brings back all those memories of playing footy in the front yard with each other. It’s just crazy to think about it like that, going from footy in the backyard with your brothers to playing A grade together. That is pretty special.”
It was family that led Taia to give up on his weekly commutes to Ayr for Roosters training and matches.
His two young children and training commitments with the Blackhawks in the Intrust Super Cup left him searching for a club closer to home to cut down on a harrowing two-hour round trip.
His search for a new club didn’t take long.
“I noticed a lot of players were going to Souths Bulls and I didn’t want to follow the crowd,” Taia said.
“Training with the ‘Hawks and with my partner and family I wanted to find a club closer to town I thought I could most likely make an impact on, and I thought most likely that would be the Lions – and I used to play there as well.”
Taia wasn’t keen on joining the Centrals yet, though he intends to retire at the Tigers, so began the process of recruiting his brothers.
Jacob, a middle forward like himself, had shared the field with Hamilton in the Blackhawks under-21s but Thomas, a centre who returned from a lengthy injury stint last season, was the other target Taia hoped to score.
“He did his ACL about six years ago and came back last year for the first time and absolutely killed it. That love for football has brought him back and I’d love to share this level of footy with him.
“I always know when family is watching me play so playing alongside them makes it more than just a game. Family makes rugby league more than just sport.”
Coach Jacob Bourke couldn’t wait to tap in to the siblings’ connection to bring the family vibes back to the Lions. “That’s exactly what you want to hear. We’ve had people here before who were here for the coin but didn’t want to be here; to get people who actually want to be here is a massive boost,” Bourke said.
“The best thing about the Taias is they are going to set the standards for us. They are very strong-willed and proud, so when you see them work you realise these blokes mean business.”