Tui fulfils Grand dream with Reds
We’ve been going in as underdogs and that has probably helped us – there is no pressure on us Tui Lolohea
TUI Lolohea believes it was ‘meant to be’ as he prepares to run out at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old Tongan international had high hopes of playing in a Super League Grand Final when he joined Leeds at the start of the season but, after a remarkable twist of fate, will now realise that ambition with unfancied Salford.
Lolohea was cut by the Rhinos just six months into a three-year deal after failing to impress at Headingley, becoming the makeweight in a transfer swap that enabled Leeds to get their hands on fellow stand-off and Salford favourite Robert Lui.
The former Wests Tigers half-back lost his first two matches in a Salford jersey but has since helped them to 10 wins from their last 11 matches, culminating in a 28-4 rout of defending champions Wigan at the DW Stadium on Friday night that earns them a tilt at St Helens next Saturday.
“As a kid, I dreamed of playing in an NRL Grand Final and here I am playing in a Super League one,” said Lolohea, whose only previous final was with New Zealand Warriors’ Under-20s.
“I’m still speechless, I can’t believe we’re going to be there. I definitely had ambitions to reach the Grand Final with Leeds because of how successful the club were. It just didn’t work, I guess it was all meant to be for me to come over here.”
A 150-1 shot at the start of the season, the Red Devils remain underdogs against Saints but Lolohea, who has struck up a partnership with Man of Steel favourite Jackson Hastings, says they intend to make the most of their ‘free hit.’
“We were in the five when I arrived and were travelling well,” he said. “We kept winning but nobody expected us to be in this position.
“We’ve been going in as underdogs and that has probably been a help for us. As Jacko says, we just get to have a free hit.
“There is no pressure on us, the pressure is on all the other teams because we’re not expected to be here.
“Our defence has been bang on in the play-offs and that’s going to be really important next week. St Helens have been sitting at the top the whole year so we know it’s going to be big challenge, but
I’m looking forward to it.”
Lolohea, who flew to Auckland in June for Tonga’s midseason international against New Zealand, is hoping to play against Great Britain and Australia in the end-ofseason Tests, but says that is not his priority right now. “I’ve not put too much focus on it, I’m just thinking about the Grand Final,” he said. “If it happens, it happens, I always put my hand up for Tonga.”