'I want to give back': How Tino is helping grow game in Samoa

Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has met Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and been a special guest at a youth tournament as he reconnects with his Samoan heritage.

Fa'asuamaleaui and his brother Iszac, who also plays for the Titans, are in Samoa for a family wedding and reunion, and the Test and Origin forward decided to use the opportunity to help promote rugby league.

The Samoan Rugby League Christmas Youth 9s tournament was held at the Vaiala rugby union club where Fa'asuamaleaui’s father, Fereti, played before being lured to Sydney Roosters by rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson.

“All of my dad’s family is in Samoa so it was an opportunity to see them and spread the game of rugby league that I love,” Fa'asuamaleaui said.

“There just happened to be a gala day on - the first time they have had a rugby league 9s carnival - and it was at my dad’s old rugby union club, so that’s a pretty cool connection.

“I just wanted to give back to the community and the people of Samoa, and I am glad to be able to represent my family on the Samoan side over there.”

The trip coincides with the announcement of the Pacific Rugby League Partnership between the Australian Rugby League Commission and Australian Government, which will provide $600 million funding over 10 years to develop the game in PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

About 50 per cent of the funding will go towards rugby league pathways and community programs in the four Pacific nations, with the rest supporting the entry of a PNG team in the NRL in 2028.

“I’m excited to see what’s happened with expansion in Papua New Guinea and with all the other Pacific islands,” said Fa'asuamaleaui, who represented Toa Samoa in 2019.

“They’ve got so much talent which is untapped, and I am glad to be able to play a part through my role to hopefully motivate some kids to do the right thing and transfer over to league.”

After meeting the Samoan Prime Minister on Thursday, Tino and Iszac attended the 9s tournament on Friday and addressed the junior players.

They also gave away Titans gear, signed autographs and posed for photos.

“My initial idea was just to post a location on Instagram and hopefully kids would turn up, but then I thought it would be better to do it properly, where it is run well, and I can teach kids how to play,” Fa'asuamaleaui said.

“I approached the Titans and they helped me sort it out, and the NRL have helped out also. I am glad that they jumped on board and see me as a figure who can help the community and help the kids.”

After playing for the Kangaroos in the 2022 World Cup and last year’s Pacific Championships, Fa'asuamaleaui hasn’t ruled out the possibility of again representing Samoa at RLWC2026 in Australia and PNG.

However, his immediate focus is on recovering from the knee injury that sidelined him for most of last season and helping Gold Coast’s 2025 premiership campaign.

“I was lucky enough to play for Samoa at a young age and at the moment I am just focused on reconnecting with my culture and my people,” he said.

“I definitely wouldn’t rule it out, but my main priority is to just get my knee right and to get back into the Titans team.

“Hopefully, I can play some consistent football where my name is tossed up for selection by either side.”