Gold Coast Titans prop forward, Moeaki Fotuaika, affectionately known as ‘Mo’, is not one to wallow in self-pity. During our catch up a few days before his 20th birthday, he holds up a cast covered wrist and with a broad smile joyfully says, “it’s great to be off the crutches!”
Like so many athletes, Moeaki’s off-season has been spent recovering. In his case from two separate off-season operations. Injury one, a broken scaphoid in his right wrist that occurred in round 7, and four rounds later a meniscus tear in his left knee.
It stands to reason that in a gladiatorial sport like rugby league, injuries to your wrist and knee would significantly detract from your performance. Yet at the 2019 Gold Coast Titans awards night, Moeaki became the youngest winner of the club’s most prestigious award, the Paul Broughton medal. This medal is awarded to the most consistent player throughout the year.
Please do not gloss over those words, ‘two separate off-season operations.’ To do so, does not truly put into perspective the significance of what Moeaki achieved throughout the 2019 season whilst carrying two performance inhibiting injuries.
TWO OPTIONS.
Moeaki’s journey to the NRL has been well written about and is anything but a smooth sail on calm seas. He has had to face, and overcome, family tragedy and heartbreak, early mornings, long travel, longer days, late nights, his mother and father having to move from their Ipswich home back to New Zealand and the constant doubt (from others) over his ability. Any one of these could be enough for most to turn it up and try their hand at something else.
American psychologist, Abraham Maslow said, “in any given situation we have two options: step forward into growth or step backwards into safety.” And while there are times in all our lives that stepping backwards into safety is the wise and obvious choice, for Moeaki, in the context of achieving his athletic dreams, his option was a no-brainer.
Moeaki attributes his family for being the foundation from which he has been able to build his success. “My family is the reason I am where I am, they mean everything to me.” Now before you say ‘that’s what everyone says’ I will highlight it wasn’t so much what he said, rather how he said it that gave his answer genuine and deep meaning. For when ‘Mo’ replied, he sat up a little straighter and his eyes drilled into me when he emphasised the word everything.
To highlight how much, and how often he is thinking of his family, he could tell me the Titans play the NZ Warriors in New Zealand on 16 May 2020. “It is always the first thing I look for when the draw is released,” and he quickly adds “I need to speak to the club to arrange tickets” for his family and relatives over the Ditch.
It stands to reason then that when he was told he would be making his debut against the Canberra Raiders in round 9 of the 2018 season, he couldn’t wait to telephone his parents. When I asked how far out of the coach’s office he was before he rang them, he said, “oh, about 2 steps” and laughingly adds “but they didn’t answer! I had to keep ringing them.” It is clearly a fond memory, and one that I am certain meant everything to his mum, Lisa, and his father, Penitani.
The Titans also did a fantastic job in making Moeaki’s debut even more memorable by delaying informing his teammates. They waited until the team was together on the bus en route to the airport when they announced the King of the Ring would be making his debut. Reports are the bus exploded with thunderous applause and lots of ‘man love.’ “It was really special to get that reaction from the boys. It made me feel good about myself. It is one of the things you love about being involved with a team.”
OUT OF THE SHADOWS.
Having been working in the shadows for so long, Moeaki, finally found himself in the bright lights. My reference to the ‘shadows’ is my term, not Moeaki’s. See, Moeaki went to Keebra Park State High School and he struggled to make his high school team, due to the prodigious talent of a few of his teammates, most notably Payne Haas, Thomas Mikaele and David Fifita.
When we speak about those days, Moeaki is quick to acknowledge the boys in front of him all deserved to be where they were, “I was so happy for them, you always want your mates to succeed. They’re great players.” I do not think anybody will argue with that, but if somebody had asked the question when these boys were all together at Keebra Park who they thought would be the first to make their NRL debut, I don’t think many would have correctly selected the boy who couldn’t make the starting team … Moeaki.
However, for his Titans’ teammates, Moeaki had been clear of the shadows well before he debuted. During his first pre-season, the then 18-year-old found himself facing off against Titans goliath, Ryan James, in a wrestling contest to see who would be crowned King of the Ring. He had already beaten all-comers in the ‘qualifying rounds’ to get this far and according to Moeaki he just kept it simple.
“For me it wasn’t about winning, (there was a few seconds of silence before he added with a cheeky grin) oh I wanted to win, but it was more about attitude. My focus was on doing my best and competing until the end.”
And when the end did come, that competitive fire that seems to be ignited the moment this peaceful warrior finds himself in a contest, saw him wearing the Crown. Again, it is not so much what he says he did, rather how he does it that really matters.
SOMETIMES THINGS DON’T ALWAYS GO TO PLAN.
It is this same attitude that saw him have his “best pre-season” in the lead-up to the 2019 season. “I worked hard, my body felt great and I took every opportunity to go up against the best because that is how you improve and become consistent.” He understands that iron sharpens iron, and what comes from that sharpening process is consistent improvement. Not just him, but also his teammates. It is crystal clear to me, whether in practise or during a performance, when you compete against Moeaki there is no pact to take it easy on each other. “You have to compete at training, because if you don’t you cannot expect to compete on game day.”
Despite his body feeling great, when the 2019 season kicked-off, Moeaki says, “I had a poor game first up and I made a couple of errors.” It clearly didn’t get much better and by the time round 3 came around, Moeaki had been dropped; and when he got called back up for their round 4 clash he got suspended. He detailed he was initially down but realised “that mindset doesn’t help, it just hinders” and he quickly returned his focus back to what he controlled … his actions.
It is refreshing to hear a teenager holding himself accountable, and while his confidence took a hit, his work ethic did not. To use a Zen principle, during this period, just like those tough periods before, Moeaki kept carrying water and chopping wood; and he did this to the absolute best of his ability. It is here again where the emphasis is not so much on what he was doing, but on how he was doing it. “I knew I had to keep putting the effort in because when my time came, I was going to be ready.”
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED WILL YOU BE READY?
It was this action beats intentions mentality, coupled with a positive attitude, that meant he never went down the blaming or complaining path, but rather stepped forward into growth. As it happened, a few weeks later Moeaki’s name was called and he was ready. “One of my teammates got suspended which provided me the opportunity, and I couldn’t wait to get back out there with the boys.”
Despite the injuries, Moeaki was able to keep playing through the pain and discomfort, until an ankle injury ended his season before the last round. In addition to praising the coaching and medical staff at the Titans, he credits joining a few of his teammates who practise meditation and visualisation before games, as being of assistance throughout the season.
Whilst he professes to being a novice, he felt the benefits assisted him to clear his mind and to “perform in the present. It is something I enjoyed and will continue to practice.” Here again, through humility and appreciation we see the actions of a young man prepared to step forward into growth.
IF YOU WANT TO DRINK THE WINE; BE PREPARED TO PICK THE GRAPES.
When I asked Moeaki if he had a favourite saying he replied, “not really” instead telling me his father’s actions are often his driving force. As a young boy, Moeaki, helped support the family by working with his father picking fruit. He recalled how a good day was “only 12 hours picking” and speaks about the relentless attitude of his father’s work ethic.
“He just never stopped. I can’t say I was happy, but I knew the reason we were there, and I knew whinging about it wouldn’t get the fruit picked.” This grounding is a source of inspiration to him today, “when times get tough, that is where my mind can go, and I ask myself – do you want to be picking fruit?”
The irony is, metaphorically speaking, picking fruit is exactly what Moeaki is doing now. He is starting to reap the rewards of the seeds that were planted in those ‘shadows’ when he was a young boy. As Aristotle said, “good habits formed in youth make all the difference.” Those habits, nurtured by his parents and siblings, have developed deep roots that enabled him to withstand the cyclone of adversity he faced in his younger years and have been the catalyst for where he is today.
STRENGTH OF CHARACTER
It is exactly those habits and actions, that saw the Gold Coast Titans extend his contract through until the end of the 2022 season. When I contacted the Executive Chairman for the Gold Coast Titans, Dennis Watt, to seek some insight from their perspective, he readily responded saying, “strength of character is at the core of the Gold Coast Titans culture, and positive character traits are an essential ingredient within the fabric of our players. In Moeaki we see that strength every day, on and off the field.” It was evident in our conversation that Moeaki’s contribution to the Club goes well beyond the playing field.
As indicated by Dennis Watt, this contribution is demonstrated in his work away from the field where Moeaki is completing a certificate in Youth Work. He passionately details how he wants to apply that knowledge in his work with his assigned Gold Coast junior club, the Coomera Cutters. “We all have clubs that we go to, and I have great fun at Coomera. To give back and hopefully make a positive impact upon the boys and girls is important. I love seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces.”
I have already said this, and at the risk of being monotonous, it bears repeating … it is not what Moeaki is doing, rather how he is doing it that leaves a lasting, positive impression.
It will come as no surprise to those who know Moeaki well, that he is a man of action, rather than a man of words. Moeaki is a doer, and one who truly puts the act into character.
Follow Moeaki on Instagram @mfotuaika.
Many thanks to Dennis Watt for willingly and unselfishly giving up his time to chat.
