A young NRL star's rise to fame and the importance of staying grounded - a story that will leave you inspired and curious.
Imagine being an 18-year-old rookie, fresh off a remarkable 16-minute hat-trick in the NRL trials, and walking into training as if nothing had changed. That's the impressive mindset of Heamasi Makasini, the teen sensation who's capturing the attention of the rugby league world.
"He had a fantastic game, yet he came in today as if it were any other day. It's a great attitude to see," said Sunia Turuva, the Wests Tigers winger and 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year.
Makasini's talent and passion are undeniable. He made his NRL debut in the final round last year and scored a try, leaving Tigers fans buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming season. But here's where it gets controversial: despite his impressive performance, there's no guarantee he'll make the first-grade squad.
And this is the part most people miss: it's a blessing in disguise for a young player like Makasini, who still has so much to learn and grow. Turuva urges us to keep perspective, reminding us that Makasini is still only 18 and has a long journey ahead.
"He's a big unit, standing at 192cm and weighing 105kg, but he's still got a lot of growth and learning to do. It's crazy to think he'll only get bigger and stronger," Turuva said.
Makasini's impressive preseason performance was no fluke, according to Turuva. "He had a great preseason, so his performance on Saturday wasn't a surprise. It's awesome to see him kill it in preseason and then reap the rewards."
Turuva has some unique insights, having played alongside Stephen Crichton, the current Bulldogs skipper, in the 2023 premiership side. Crichton, who experienced similar hype when he first burst onto the scene, reached out to Makasini with some wise words.
"His idol is 'Critta' (Crichton), and Critta sent him a message a few months ago. Critta went through a similar journey and reminded him to stay grounded and humble. Critta was a bit leaner when he started, and I don't think he had as much hype as Makasini does now."
The key for Makasini, according to Turuva, is to not get caught up in the media stories about him. "He's a humble kid, and he tends to stay away from that stuff. He knows the dangers of listening to the media and getting a big head. That's the last thing you want for an 18-year-old. You don't want to reach the top and then experience a massive drop. But he's been really good at staying focused."
The Tigers are looking to build on their encouraging win last week when they face the Panthers on Friday night in another trial. The real test begins next month when they aim to end their finals drought, which has lasted since 2011.
"Every team can say they want to be there in September, but I truly believe we have the right group to make it happen," Turuva said with confidence.
The Tigers' spine of Jahream Bula, Jarome Luai, Adam Doueihi, and Api Koroisau, who have had another year together, is a key strength.
"Knowing we have Jahream, Api, Jarome, and Adam gives us confidence. We need to keep our squad consistent and perform on game day. That starts with our training, and Api, Jarome, and Benji Marshall are really focused on that."
Will the Tigers break their finals drought this year? Only time will tell, but with a strong spine and a humble attitude, they're certainly giving themselves a fighting chance.
