Here's an article I wrote about this team last year:
Introducing the 10 Minute Man
There are few NRL forwards who consistently play the full 80 minutes. Those that do are widely recognised. Luke Ricketson is "the type of workaholic forward every team needs. An 80-minute player"[1]. Steve Price is "that most rare of beasts in the modern game - an 80-minute prop"[2]; and Nathan Hindmarsh has been recognised as "the only forward in the NRL to have played the full 80 minutes in all seven premiership rounds so far this season"[3].
However, this article is not titled "Around The Paddock in 80 Minutes". No, this article isn't about the 80 minute men of league, but another animal entirely. Of course, the 10 minute men could not do their job without one or two 80 minute forwards in the team, but the true value of the 10 minute man often goes unnoticed. These specialist bench players, be they nippy ball playing halves or hulking impact forwards, can be game breakers, turning a match on its head during their limited stints on the field.
Introducing Parra's #1 10 minute man:
Name: Fui Fui Moi Moi
Species: Homo Decaminutus
Dimensions: Tank
Attack: Wrecking Ball
Defence: Sledge Hammer
Rep Honours:
* New Zealand 'A'[4,5] (including MOTM against the USA[5]);
* NZ Residents[6];
* American Samoa Sevens[6].
Having played with the Mt Albert Lions[7] and Glenora Bears[4] in NZ, Fui was a member of the Warriors' part-time squad early in 2003[6]. He had good wraps from Phil Blake and Frank Endacott, subsequently being picked up by the Rabbitohs after a couple of their props suffered injuries.
Fui was one of Parra's bargain off season buys, fitting the bill of Brian Smith's desire for big, mean, ugly forwards. His name alone sent ripples of excitement through their fan base. Fui's picture and the little information fans could dig up also generated excitement: this was a buy that could potentially just fade back into obscurity, or turn into a superstar of the game.
Fuifui Moimoi scored a brilliant solo try midway through the second half - the burly prop busted two tacklers and rambled 50 metres to the tryline, flinging away defenders with two big fends.[8]
It was at the Rabbitohs that Fui first indicated that he is a 10 minute man. Rumour suggests that Fui, unhappy with his time on the field, told incoming coach Langmack, "I play for 10 minutes, I train for 10 minutes". He was relegated to South's reserve grade bench and on the lookout for a new club. Of course, Brian Smith would not stand for that kind of attitude, and although Fui is still not a model of fitness, he has been training well at Parra.
Sure, Fui's only played a handful of NRL minutes so far this season, but oh what good minutes. What an impact! He's already starting to attract a cult following among supporters:
He hit the ball up hard, making one bust from a kick off & made some big tackles & was a delight to watch. Good onya Moi Moi from the Fui Fui Fan Club![9]
The 110kg Tongan[6], with questionable English, has impressed both fans and coaching staff with his passionate 10 minute bursts on the field, firstly in Premier League, and now in the top grade.
Some fans have nicknamed him Fui Fi Fo Fum in reference to his monstering of the opposition on the field. Ray Hadley, often highly critical of Eels players, declared a Fui Fui Moi Moi Day and repeatedly played him tribute in song (quite a catchy tune actually).
Even Roy Slaven (of Roy & HG fame) has his eye on Fui:
There's a gun player in the NRL called Fui Fui Moi Moi, also known as the Tongan tearaway... I've got big wraps on the kid, he's an excitement machine.[10]
Most importantly for Fui's career, his impact and value to the team has been noticed by Coach Smith:
Quite simply he changed the game... He only played... 10 minutes... but it was a cameo of some note. It will take some beating.[11]
This even made headlines in the SMH: "Moi Moi's brilliant cameo proves decisive"[12].
With Fuis return from injury, Smith's game plan should be fairly simple: wear them out with Hindy & Co over the course of 80 minutes, occasionally letting Fui loose to wreak havoc in explosive 10 minute bursts.
I'm particularly hopeful of witnessing Fui line up against Adrian Morely. Fui Fi Fo Fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.
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750 words
References:
1.
Luke Ricketson, ABC Sport -
http://www.abc.net.au/rugbyleague/origin/2003/profiles/ricketson.htm
2.
Steve Price, ABC Sport -
http://www.abc.net.au/rugbyleague/origin/2003/profiles/price.htm
3. Walter, B.
Storm fined $130,000 for salary cap breaches, Sydney Morning Herald 29/4/2004 -
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/28/1083103555768.html
4. Birchall, S.
France just beat New Zealand 'A', Rugby League in New Zealand 30/9/2002 -
http://nz.rleague.com/news/index.php?id=9044
5. AMNRL
Kiwis teach USA how to "Play the Ball", American National Rugby League 10/08/2002 -
http://www.amnrl.com/news/news_2002/100802.html
6. Ritchie, D.
Moi Moi Nobody's Bunny, Daily Telegraph 28/2/2003 -
http://www.rabbitohs.com/burrows/media/2003/02/28-dt.shtml
7. NZRL
BC match schedule - round 15 (June 30, July 1) , Rugby League in New Zealand 30/6/2001 -
http://nz.rleague.com/news/index.php?id=2545
8. Thumper
Premier League Rabbitohs top Jets -
http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=408
9. Parraletic
Eels beat old rivals & win test spots -
http://parraletic.net/news.html
10.
Rugby World Cup 2003, Voyeur (Virgin Blue Inflight Magazine) October 2003 -
http://www.virginblue.com/voyeur/oct03/voyeur_feature4_oct03.htm
11. Smith, B.
BRIAN SMITH MEDIA CONFERENCE - ROUND 6 18/4/2004 -
http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/news765.asp
12. Magnay, J.
Errors aplenty but Moi Moi's brilliant cameo proves decisive, Sydney Morning Herald 18/4/2004 -
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/18/1082226641038.html
