RUGBY LEAGUE
As a youngster Tim Lafai supported the Wests Tigers and marveled at the skills of Benji Marshall.
Now the 24-year-old will play alongside the Kiwi international at the St George Illawarra Dragons.
‘‘I followed the Wests Tigers as a boy and Benji was my favourite player,’’ Lafai told The Leader after a training session at Jubilee Oval, Carlton on Friday.
‘‘Benji and Greg Inglis were the two players I admired most.
‘‘Now I am playing footy with Benji at the Dragons.’’
Lafai said he knew Marshall and Dragons Samoan-born recruits Masoe Masoe, Dumnais Lui and Leeson Ah-Mau through the league fraternity.
Born in Samoa, Lafai came to Australia with his parents and settled in Minto in Sydney’s south-west.
The Bulldogs recruited him playing for Campbelltown Warriors and in five years the 24-year-old played 74 NRL games for Canterbury and five Tests for Samoa.
‘‘I still live in Minto and will drive down Appin Road to take the south coast turn off for training at Wollongong,’’ Lafai said.
After Canterbury signed Will Hopoate the Bulldogs management told Lafai there was no room for him anymore, so he and his manager Dave Rawlings, Director of Runway Sports Management, had to find a new home.
‘‘The Dragons, Titans and Panthers all made me offers then I decided I like the culture of the Dragons and that was similar to Canterbury so I signed for two years here,’’ Lafai said.
Lafai said Dragons coach Paul McGregor impressed him when they chatted about joining the club.
‘‘I liked what the coach said to me and what the club was about,’’ Lafai said.
‘‘I wanted to play left centre and that’s where the coach said he wants me to play next year. ‘‘This year I played right centre at the Bulldogs.’’
