To his fans, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is a formidable force on the rugby league field. Yet, behind that stoic exterior, the 26-year-old star is enduring a deeply personal struggle as his father, Fereti, battles cancer for the second time.

A Source of Strength from a Hospital Bed

For Tino, every match has transcended sport; it is now a promise kept to his ailing father. Reflecting on his motivation, he shared with emotion: “He is very sick and I will be playing for him more so to put a smile on his face at home in bed.”

Tino spares no effort to make the journey to Gympie to see his father, despite the rigorous demands of his training schedule at the Titans. He confided: “He is always in my heart, no matter what. Every day off I go up and see my dad (in Gympie). It could be a day trip or I go the night earlier after training at the Titans, just to make sure I spend time with him. In life you never know what is going to happen and I cherish every moment with my dad.”

To Tino, his father is more than just a parent—he is an unwavering pillar of support: “He’s my hero, he’s my rock. It’s hard to talk about publicly but he’s everything to my family. He’s the man.”

A Butterfly Effect of Heritage

Tino’s journey is rooted in his father’s own path—a man who traveled from Samoa to Sydney, where he was scouted by the legendary Arthur Beetson. After years with the Roosters, Fereti settled in Gympie, working as a boilermaker to provide for his family. Tino speaks of his heritage with immense pride: “Where I am in my career now and playing for Queensland, it really all started when Arthur recruited my old man and it’s had a butterfly effect. Whether my dad was sick or not I will always play for him. All my family have played a big part in why I am standing here and who I am as a man.”

The MCG Showdown

In the upcoming clash at the MCG, Tino will reignite his fierce rivalry with NSW counterpart Payne Haas. Recalling their past confrontations, Tino remained composed: “There are no mates out there and we were both young bucks coming through protecting our teammates. That is why it popped off and continues every year. It was just two passionate players who are passionate about their state, who will never back down and that will continue next week.”

Wearing a retro 1995 jersey bearing the words “all fired up,” Tino and his teammates are driven to repeat history. As he remarked: “It means a lot. The people from the past have set us up to be here.”