Tweet
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...012431,00.html
FRANK-PAUL Nuuausala was 18 when he reached the crossroads. Having been dumped by the Warriors, Nuuausala had two choices -- return to gang life on the mean streets of Auckland or find salvation at the Sydney Roosters.
Nuuausala chose the latter and hasn't looked back. Not only has he become a fixture in the Roosters front row, but Nuuausala's form has been so impressive he was named in a 45-man New Zealand train-on squad this week.
At 22, he stands on the cusp of international honours. Not bad considering where he has come from. A promising footballer in the south of Auckland, he started running with gangs and experimenting with drugs in his teens.
"Where I grew up it was real rough," Nuuausala said.
"All you know is drugs and to get a rep (reputation) for yourself. That area was pretty rough. All my mates do drugs, they all want to be American gangsters and join gangs."
When he was axed by the Warriors, Nuuausala considered returning to the streets.
"I was going to give it up when I was 18," he said. "I looked at my family and didn't want to be another statistic -- a could-have-been or would-have-been.
"I didn't want to let down my parents because they put so much into me. I was the one to take them out of Otara."
Thankfully, former Roosters coach Ricky Stuart intervened. Stuart had seen Nuuausala playing with the Junior Kiwis and noticed something. He contacted Nuuausala's manager and arranged a trial.
"I think it was the best thing I did in my life," Nuuausala said.
"I wanted to come back after one week, but I just stuck through it."
Even then, Nuuausala still had some hurdles to overcome. His weight soared and he struggled with his fitness, reaching 123kg at one point. His breakfast was typically McDonald's or fish and chips.
Only the faith of former coach Chris Anderson and the friendship of Craig Fitzgibbon saved Nuuausala from the scrap heap.
"Fitzy has been helping me a lot with food," Nuuausala said.
"He's a good role model for me. Everyone teases me and says he's my dad. He took me under his wing. He must have seen something in me that no one else saw. At first, I was scared of Fitzy. Now he's my good friend. To me he's like an older brother."
Fitzgibbon believes the Roosters have a gem in their ranks, a player who can become a fixture for the Kiwis should they give him a chance and allow him to mature.
"If he continues to develop from where he is now ... he might be one out of the blocks in a couple of years," Fitzgibbon said.
"From what Frank showed when he first came, I wasn't sure. He's a modest person. He did it all himself. Chris Anderson saw a bit in him and gave him a chance.
"From that point on, he's done it himself. No one can put you on a treadmill or take you home and cook your dinner for you."
He may be on the verge of international honours, but Nuuausala hasn't forgotten where he comes from. He calls his mother regularly and heads home whenever possible.
"I try to call my mum every few days -- she always gets worried about me because I am a mummy's boy," he said. "My brothers have had a little bit of trouble, but now they're out of it which is good because I don't want them to go through what I did. When they saw me in first grade, they realised there was better things."
While he has been a positive influence on his family, some of his friends are still running with the wrong crowd. "Every time I go over it's the same old thing -- doing drugs, drinking," he said. "I stay at home and don't go out -- I play X-Box with my brothers.
"If I didn't have footy I would be in a gang or a bum. I would be back at home living with my parents -- a waste of life."
His dream has always been to buy his parents a home, but his mum has instead encouraged him to build a house for his grandparents in Samoa.
When the season comes to an end, Nuuausala and his mother will fly to Samoa.
"So after the season I am going to go and give them cash to get a house for them. It makes me feel good," he said. "I always help my family out. I saw my mum and dad struggling when I was young and I don't want them to struggle any more.
"They put so much effort in, taking me to training. My mum always told me to play for the family -- just so people could see that one of her sons or daughters make it to the big time.
"I feel blessed. God gave me an opportunity."
FRANK-PAUL Nuuausala was 18 when he reached the crossroads. Having been dumped by the Warriors, Nuuausala had two choices -- return to gang life on the mean streets of Auckland or find salvation at the Sydney Roosters.
Nuuausala chose the latter and hasn't looked back. Not only has he become a fixture in the Roosters front row, but Nuuausala's form has been so impressive he was named in a 45-man New Zealand train-on squad this week.
At 22, he stands on the cusp of international honours. Not bad considering where he has come from. A promising footballer in the south of Auckland, he started running with gangs and experimenting with drugs in his teens.
"Where I grew up it was real rough," Nuuausala said.
"All you know is drugs and to get a rep (reputation) for yourself. That area was pretty rough. All my mates do drugs, they all want to be American gangsters and join gangs."
When he was axed by the Warriors, Nuuausala considered returning to the streets.
"I was going to give it up when I was 18," he said. "I looked at my family and didn't want to be another statistic -- a could-have-been or would-have-been.
"I didn't want to let down my parents because they put so much into me. I was the one to take them out of Otara."
Thankfully, former Roosters coach Ricky Stuart intervened. Stuart had seen Nuuausala playing with the Junior Kiwis and noticed something. He contacted Nuuausala's manager and arranged a trial.
"I think it was the best thing I did in my life," Nuuausala said.
"I wanted to come back after one week, but I just stuck through it."
Even then, Nuuausala still had some hurdles to overcome. His weight soared and he struggled with his fitness, reaching 123kg at one point. His breakfast was typically McDonald's or fish and chips.
Only the faith of former coach Chris Anderson and the friendship of Craig Fitzgibbon saved Nuuausala from the scrap heap.
"Fitzy has been helping me a lot with food," Nuuausala said.
"He's a good role model for me. Everyone teases me and says he's my dad. He took me under his wing. He must have seen something in me that no one else saw. At first, I was scared of Fitzy. Now he's my good friend. To me he's like an older brother."
Fitzgibbon believes the Roosters have a gem in their ranks, a player who can become a fixture for the Kiwis should they give him a chance and allow him to mature.
"If he continues to develop from where he is now ... he might be one out of the blocks in a couple of years," Fitzgibbon said.
"From what Frank showed when he first came, I wasn't sure. He's a modest person. He did it all himself. Chris Anderson saw a bit in him and gave him a chance.
"From that point on, he's done it himself. No one can put you on a treadmill or take you home and cook your dinner for you."
He may be on the verge of international honours, but Nuuausala hasn't forgotten where he comes from. He calls his mother regularly and heads home whenever possible.
"I try to call my mum every few days -- she always gets worried about me because I am a mummy's boy," he said. "My brothers have had a little bit of trouble, but now they're out of it which is good because I don't want them to go through what I did. When they saw me in first grade, they realised there was better things."
While he has been a positive influence on his family, some of his friends are still running with the wrong crowd. "Every time I go over it's the same old thing -- doing drugs, drinking," he said. "I stay at home and don't go out -- I play X-Box with my brothers.
"If I didn't have footy I would be in a gang or a bum. I would be back at home living with my parents -- a waste of life."
His dream has always been to buy his parents a home, but his mum has instead encouraged him to build a house for his grandparents in Samoa.
When the season comes to an end, Nuuausala and his mother will fly to Samoa.
"So after the season I am going to go and give them cash to get a house for them. It makes me feel good," he said. "I always help my family out. I saw my mum and dad struggling when I was young and I don't want them to struggle any more.
"They put so much effort in, taking me to training. My mum always told me to play for the family -- just so people could see that one of her sons or daughters make it to the big time.
"I feel blessed. God gave me an opportunity."