This one's for you mum

Photo: Griffith Thomas / The Reporter IR190311LEAGUE2

FORGET the fame, money and glory that beckons rugby league tyro Sasa Tofilau if he fulfils his full potential.

The one and foremost thing driving him to succeed is his mother, Sapi.

At just 16, this aspiring and exceptionally talented teenager has made a huge life choice by leaving his Auckland home in New Zealand to take up a three year scholarship with NRL club Brisbane Broncos.

But if his gamble pays off, the explosive winger already knows what he'll buy after signing his first NRL contract.

“I want to buy my mum a house and pay off all her debt,” Tofilau, who now lives at Loganlea, said.

“Dad left when I was six and my mum raised all of us.

“She didn't have a car and worked two jobs to support us.

“I want to make sure she doesn't have to struggle anymore and she has a better life.”

For Tofilau, his mother means the world to him.

So it might come as a bit of a shock why he decided to leave his family to pursue an NRL dream.

Tofilau revealed it was his mother who played a big role in his decision to join the Broncos.

“It's pretty hard leaving home, but at the same time I did it for my mum and she has supported my decision,” he said.

“Mum has been the biggest influence in my life and football as well.”

To remind him why he's in Australia, Tofilau has the word “Mum” written on his left wrist strap. On his other wrist is his motto “To be the best you have to do everything no one else will”.

At 94kg and 186cm, the Samoan-born Tofilau is a massive winger in the same mould as Wendell Sailor or Lote Tuqiri, but he nominates New Zealand All Blacks great Jonah Lomu as the player he tries to model his game off.

A naturally gifted player who only took up the 13-man code just over 12 months ago after a year playing union, Tofilau is also a former sprint champion having once clocked 11.04sec over the 100m distance.

In the gym he's not too shabby either and is able to squat 160kg and bench press 110kg.

It's no surprise why the Broncos were desperate to sign him, with Brisbane beating off three rival NRL clubs to secure his signature.

“I talked a lot with Paul Bunn (Broncos development officer) and he couldn't believe I was only 16,” Tofilau explained.

“He believed I had the tools to make it to the NRL and that I just needed a club to help nurture me.”

Tofilau plays with Brisbane feeder club Norths Devils in the state-wide Mal Meninga Cup competition (under-18) and attends Wavell State High, which is widely regarded as a great rugby league nursery with Greg Inglis, Ashley Harrison and Adam Blair all benefiting from the school's fame rugby league excellence program.

While he has the potential to become a future NRL star, Tofilau is under no illusion about the task awaiting him.

“I've got a long way to go,” he said.

“Everyone thought I would become home sick, but to be honest I'm not.

“I can handle it because I know why I'm here and know what I've got to do.”