Fonua on ‘dad’ day mission!
Castleford v Hull FC Today, 3.30pm
MAHE FONUA is desperate to help his ‘adoptive dad’ Lee Radford kick-start Castleford’s season with an emotional win over Hull.
Cas have suffered a torrid start under new boss Radford, losing all three games.
But Fonua insists a clash with him and Radford’s former club Hull is just the thing they need.
The 29-year-old Tonga international centre said: “This was the first fixture I looked for. I’m happy we catch them early on.”
Fonua has a point to prove after Hull released him last season with a year still to run on his contract.
Radford, who has signed Fonua for the third time, is also keen to bloody the noses of a club that sacked him two years ago.
Fonua said: “I’m like his adopted Tonga child. He must have a soft spot for me. But it goes both ways – I’ve a lot of love for him.”
Before Radford stepped in with his Cas offer, Fonua had been considering a return to Australia to lick his wounds after last year’s disappointments.
He said: “It’s like a breath of fresh air for me at Cas.
“I am excited to be back with Radders. It was a heartbreaker to see him leave Hull in 2020. It was never the same after.
“I had come back overweight that season, but then I lost too much during the four-month break for Covid. I just didn’t feel like that power was there.”
Fonua’s struggles continued last season, but he added: “This time I’ve had compliments for the shape I’m in.”