Titans enforcer is a superstar in waiting
Step aside Reece Walsh. Gold Coast’s $12m man Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been anointed the most valuable rising superstar in the NRL.
News Corp’s third annual poll of NRL coaches and assistants has produced a stunning endorsement of Fa’asuamaleaui’s talent and leadership strength.
Asked which NRL player, aged 23 or younger, would they choose to build a team around, a whopping 50 per cent of coaches opted for Titans enforcer Fa’asuamaleaui.
The Queensland Origin prop blitzed the field, with Eels playmaker Dylan Brown (20pc), Broncos fullback sensation Reece Walsh (10pc) and Tigers’ NSW Origin prop Stefano Utoikamanu well behind in voting.
Mindful of Big Tino’s status, the Titans have wasted no time taking Fa’asuamaleaui off the market, signing him last season to a monster 10-year deal to keep him at the Coast until the end of 2033.
NRL newcomers the Dolphins attempted a big-money poaching raid on Fa’asuamaleaui in 2022.
Dolphins super coach Wayne Bennett met with Fa’asuamaleaui in the hope of securing him as a marquee recruit for their debut season last year, but the Maroons and Test bookend stayed loyal to the Titans.
Bennett isn’t surprised by the survey result, saying few forwards in the game possess Fa’asuamaleaui’s work ethic and consistency.
“That’s why I tried to sign Tino a few years ago,” said Bennett, who gave Fa’asuamaleaui his Queensland State of Origin debut for the Covid-affected 2020 series.
“He is a wonderful young leader and he learned some great habits from his time as a young player at the Melbourne Storm.
“He was brilliant for me in that Origin series, he doesn’t take a backward step, he’s a winner, and his teammates have enormous respect for him.”
At just 23, the 197cm hardman has already won an NRL premiership with the Storm in 2020, played 12 Origin matches for Queensland and seven Tests for Australia, including the Kangaroos’ World Cup victory in 2022.
He was installed as Titans skipper at age 22 – the fifthyoungest captain in history – and the 90-game NRL star is on track to chalk up a century of first-grade games this season.
His long-time manager, Simon Mammino, believes Fa’asuamaleaui will be the face of Queensland rugby league for the next decade.
“Tino is the best rugby league player I have ever seen off the field,” Mammino said recently.
“If the NRL wants a role model for the next generation of fans, they should look no further than Tino.
“So many NRL players get into off-field dramas but I am prepared to bet that you will never read a story about Tino being involved in a scandal.
“I believe he can be a captain of not only the Titans, but the Queensland Origin team.”
Fa’asuamaleaui is relishing working with new Titans coach Des Hasler as the duo look to deliver the Titans’ maiden premiership.
“He is a coach who has been there and done that,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“He brings that accountability and I guess that tough love.
“That is something I need and something I love because I know it will take me to the next level. Hopefully we can bring that NRL trophy to the Gold Coast one day.”