Tim Lafai is finally in a good place. He just never figured it would be with Samoa again. Nor even in rugby league.
Eighteen months ago, Samoan-born Lafai traded his 170-game NRL career for 70-hour weeks of labouring and traffic control on construction sites.
His last season, split between St George Illawarra and Canterbury in 2020, was mired by what he describes as a “mental breakdown” during lockdown.
An anxiety attack saw police called to Lafai’s Wollongong home after he punched walls, blacked out and terrified his young family. No charges were laid, but he was served with an AVO upon release from the hospital he checked himself into following the Good Friday incident.
Lafai eventually returned for a surprise cameo at Canterbury, but no offers from either side of the globe meant the workboots were donned last year.
Weekend footy with the Camden Rams was the only rugby league in a life that once revolved around it.
“I couldn’t land a contract, there was just nothing around so I went to work like everyone else,” Lafai said.
“I was getting up at 4am and heading off to work to put food on the table for the family.
“It was good pay but to get there it’s 12-hour shifts, six-day weeks and I was missing out on a lot of things with the kids. You realise how good we have things in footy and you appreciate it.
“I was grateful for the work because it meant I could look after my family. I did that for a year and it was a good eye-opener.
Tim Lafai figured his time in Samoan colours was up.Credit:Getty
“My perspective on footy is different now, you appreciate the simple things in the game. You can take things for granted when you’re young but before you know it 10 years have passed and you’re one of those blokes looking in from the outside.”
A call from Super League outfit Salford gave Lafai one last lifeline.
He was still clocking on at job sites a few weeks before he, wife Jacqui and their four kids flew out, but Lafai finished the year by being named in Super League’s team of the season.
Then when injuries ended the World Cup campaigns of Tyrone May and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Samoa came calling as well.
Lafai now has four tries in two starts and centre billing for the all-Pacific quarter-final clash with Tonga on Sunday (1.30am Monday AEDT).
“I thought I was just coming back in to make up the numbers after the injuries, but this is such an honour to pull on the blue jersey again,” he said.
“I thought my time had come and gone, I figured it’d be left to the younger generation.
“To be one of the oldest in the squad and see guys like Joey Suaali’i, Stephen Crichton, Jarome [Luai] putting their hand up for Samoa, that means a lot to me.”
Most importantly, the 31-year-old is smiling again.
“Mentally I’m good. It’s taken a bit, and I’m still learning how to open up,” Lafai said. “But it’s getting there, if I’m down, I’ll say something, have those conversations with my wife.
“It’s not easy owning up to that side of things but everyone should do it.
“It’s been a journey for sure for myself and my wife. All credit to her, she’s made some massive sacrifices so everything I do now is for her and our kids.”
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