THE BIG READ: All Stars clash a family affair for Fuimaono
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INTENSE: Tyrell Fuimaono will make his second appearance for the Indigenous All-Stars next weekend. Picture: NRL Imagery
ANY NRL player who's been through a preseason will tell you that there are days in the sweltering heat of December when they pause and admit to themselves they'd rather be somewhere else. Dragons wrecking ball Tyrell Fuimaono's certainly had them.
Same thing when he was working road crew on the M4 without an NRL contract just months out from the start of the 2020 season, or running laps around a local oval by himself on the faint hope the phone might ring with a new deal.
When those thoughts inevitably do arise, his mind often turns to his mum Michelle, more specifically the sacrifices she made just so he could earn a crust playing footy; and experience all the pain that goes with it. Sacrifices, like selling off her jewellery to fund a flight to Perth to watch him play for Combined Catholic Colleges as a teenager.
"When I made CCC's in under 15s, the competition was in Perth," Fuimaono recalls.
"Mum was a single parent and didn't have much money so she hocked her jewellery so they could fly over. She stayed at one of her friends' places who'd just moved over there, all just so she could come watch me play.
"It meant everything. It gives you that warm feeling inside, the sacrifices she's made. I couldn't be anymore grateful and appreciative of what she's done for us, laying the ground work to get us where we are. My mum's a champion for what she's done for us and I can never thank her enough.
"We've got better financial circumstances now so my mum and my Nan [Jann], wherever the games are, they always make the effort regardless of what it takes. They just love coming and, regardless of how crap you think you played, your mum and your nan always think you're the best player on the field.
"She's doing really well for herself now but a goal of mine has always been to make life a bit easier for all of us. I just keep striving for that."
There's notably an 'us' in the story. It refers to little sister Taliah Fuimaono, who was inevitably along for the ride in all those trips - across the road or across the country - before emerging as star player on her own right.
TIGHT: Tyrell and Taliah Fuimaono have been on a roller coaster ride through rugby league. Picture: supplied
She's endured more injury setbacks than your average 21-year-old, which made her first-time selection in the Women's Indigenous All-Stars ahead of the annual clash in Townsville next weekend an emotional moment.
"When I saw her name there I nearly teared up," Tyrell, who'll make his second All-Stars appearance in the men's game, said.
"I was so happy for her. She's just always, loved footy, whether it's because of me or just a given. When she was really young she'd always be in the back seat on the way to all my games, even when I played interstate mum would come and watch and would drag her along.
"She's been quite unlucky with injuries and what not and to see her named at number six I was more ecstatic for her than myself that she was finally getting recognised for her talents. Hopefully this is just a first stepping stone to her getting recognised for what she's capable of.
"For her to finally get a break, to be there and share the experience with her is something we'll both hold dearly forever, the fact that we did it together. I can't wait to get into camp, we'll be doing a lot of things, the men and women come together a lot during the week.
"With coronavirus and everything the flights are pretty expensive but mum and my nan are going to make the trip up there to watch us play, they've got their flights booked. There's definitely something that we'll remember forever."
BOND: Mum Michelle (centre) has been a source of inspiration for Indigenous All-Stars pair Taliah and Tyrell Fuimaono. Picture: supplied
The journey taken as a family, makes the opportunity to represent their mother's Indigenous heritage in All Stars garb all the more special.
"My mum's Aboriginal, we're Wiradjuri," Fuimaono said.
"My family's from out west, Cowra, Grenfell, that way. I was born in Penrith and grew up around Mount Druitt but I spent a fair bit of time in the bush with grandfather (Charlie Felstead) growing up. Every break I get I try and get out there with him or by myself but schedules can make it tough. After Charity Shield [in Mudgee] I'll head out there that weekend.
"I'm still learning about [my Indigenous heritage], there's a lot of things I don't know and I love learning about it. That's what the week leading up to the game is about, they're very culturally-orientated bringing elders in to teach you about dance, about everything.
"That's what I look forward to, not only the footy, but that side of things. For all the guys who aren't really connected to culture it's a chance to learn about heritage and for the boys who do know to express it and a chance for our people to show the world a little bit about our culture.
"It is it a great game and a challenging game, but the week leading up to it is very culturally rich and and I look forward to it each year."
The 24-year-old is also hoping to use it as a springboard into the NRL season where he'll be looking to lock down a spot in Anthony Griffin's 17 after playing 17 games last season. It was the first in a two-year deal with the Dragons and, with a glut of forward experience having walked out the door, he feels the door is open for him to walk through.
"It's definitely a goal for me to try and cement my spot each week whether it's as a bench utility or [an edge] spot," he said.
"You want that peace of mind each week and hopefully it'll allow me to play my best footy. It complicates things having a new coach come on board but everyone's in the same boat, you've just got to train the best you can and try and prove yourself at training.
"We've got trials and games coming up for the coach to have a look and make his mind up what he's going to do for round one. In terms of where I'm at, I'm happy to have a full preseason under my belt now compared to last season where I only did half. The body's in pretty good nick now and injury free.
"It's been tough. When we first came back It was a different style of training to what we were used to in the previous and everyone was a bit shocked with how hard it was. It was only a few weeks into it that everyone adapted to it and got on with it but I think everyone's better for it now."
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/7123224/the-big-read-all-stars-clash-a-family-affair-for-fuimaono/?cs=3713
