Concreter by day, footballer by night: Losalu learning on the job

Taylor Losalu had plenty of reasons to be a bit worse for wear when he arrived at work on Saturday morning. 

Unlike most 22-year-olds, however, Losalu wasn't nursing a hangover as he signed on at 7am for his shift as a concreter. Instead, the prop had spent Friday night at CommBank Stadium helping the Roosters secure a shock victory over the Panthers. 

The result capped a rapid rise for the emerging prop forward who made his NRL just eight days earlier after Nat Butcher was a late withdrawal from the side's season opener. 

Losalu initially thought it was simply a one-week cameo and had started his shift on the worksite last Monday morning before Roosters coach Trent Robinson called to ask why he wasn't at training. 

By Friday, the prop was preparing to start in the front row in just his second match in the top flight. Even now, he struggles to describe how crazy the past couple of weeks have been.

"When I debuted last week it was a shock because Nat Butcher went to hospital and they called me up last minute," Losalu told NRL.com. "I found out the day before I was going to play. 

"I was just grateful for one game, getting two games I'm just so grateful. It was an unreal feeling to start, it was like nothing I've ever experienced before."

Losalu may have been thrust into the spotlight at short notice, but the emerging forward has spent the past few years steadily building towards the top flight.

The prop helped the Roosters progress to the 2023 Jersey Flegg grand final before stepping up to reserve grade last year. 

The rise to open-age rugby league proved no hurdle, with Losalu named the Roosters NSW Cup Player of the Year in 2024.

After a tough initiation to the NRL in Round 1, the young Roosters pack went toe to toe with the Panthers on Friday night and came out on top. 

It was exactly the performance Robinson was hoping to see and he was pleased the youngsters did not disappoint. 

"We had Naufahu Whyte lead really well, he hasn't started many games but I thought he was outstanding," Robinson said after the game. 

"We've got Taylor Losalu who played his second game and started in the front row with Salesi Foketi. Taylor will be on the tools at 7am tomorrow morning concreting. That shows insight into how he goes about his game and his training and his life. 

"There's future there but we're not sitting around waiting for it. Those guys got given an opportunity and they can play like that. We'll just keep coaching, keep believing and keep getting better."

Losalu could easily have called in sick on Saturday morning, put his feet up and allowed his body to recover as he basked in the afterglow of one of the most unexpected victories in the Roosters' storied history. 

The prop, however, works with his father and did not want to let his family down. 

Losalu knows how much they have sacrificed to allow him to chase his rugby league dream and he's determined to take every opportunity to give back.

"My family is everything," he said. "I do it for them. Without them I'm nothing, they got me to this point, they sacrificed so much and all I can do is repay them. 

"They just work so hard. They're the hardest workers I've ever met in my life. Some of the things they've done for me, I just want to repay them and I've got no words for what they've done for me."

Losalu will have to ask for some time off this week as the Roosters get ready to face the Warriors on Friday night.