The season was not even 20 seconds old when the bad luck started for South Sydney’s Tevita “Junior” Tatola.
Twenty-five rounds on, Tatola is due a bit of luck.
The big front-rower took the first hit-up of the Rabbitohs’ season against Cronulla on March 4, and ran straight into the left shoulder of Dale Finucane.
He stumbled to his feet, failed his head injury assessment and was stood down the following week.
Tatola returned in round three against the Sydney Roosters and suffered a knee injury.
Three weeks later, he came back against Canterbury, and reinjured the same medial cruciate ligament in his left knee as a result of what coach Jason Demetriou claimed at the time was a hip-drop tackle.
Then came the death of his father, Tevita, in the same week as Magic Round.
Then there was a bulging disc in his neck, which required surgery last month.
Surgeons initially told Tatola they would perform keyhole surgery to fix his C7 and C8 vertebrae, but after a late rethink, they had to open him up. Tatola showed off the scar to this masthead as he looks to finally kick-start his season on Sunday at a packed McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
Tatola, 26, had high hopes for 2023 after winning the club’s George Piggins’ Medal last season.
Tevita Tatola has suffered injury and heartbreak in 2023.Credit: Getty
If there is one consolation for Souths fans, it is the fact the club’s casualty ward is almost empty.
Hame Sele, who has struggled with a calf injury, will also return against the Knights, which leaves Tom Burgess (suspension) and Jed Cartwright (back) the only two players unavailable.
Tatola is not the sort of star who is going to win Souths a competition on his own, but his work-rate and movement in the middle certainly make life easier for big names Damien Cook and Cameron Murray to do their thing.
“We’re a better footy team when Junior is out there, that’s for sure,” Souths coach Jason Demetriou said.
“He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves externally but, internally, he does. We know what he brings. We’re excited to have him back.
Junior Tatola is knocked out in the first hit-up of the season.Credit: Getty
“We went into the year thinking how good our middle rotation was going to be. I probably jinxed myself with that thought.
“But with Junior back, he’s always been difficult to put down and put on his back – he finds his front a lot of the time when he carries the ball.
“He understands the game, and his movement defensively is as good as any middle in the game.”
Indeed, it is. So much so that NSW Blues advisor Greg Alexander told a sportsman’s lunch on the eve of State of Origin I just how close the Tongan came to pinching the final middle forward spot on the bench.
Alexander revealed the Blues leaned towards fellow Tongan Tevita Pangai jnr because he had spent time at Penrith at the back end of 2021 and was familiar with the host of Panthers in the NSW side.
While Tatola is back, Pangai jnr will soon be off to try his hand at boxing. It’s a very sliding doors moment.
Tatola picked up the neck injury in round 19, but it has largely gone unnoticed by fans. In fact, it is still listed on the official NRL website as a knee injury.
Junior Tatola shows off the scar on his neck
He surrendered to the pain at the end of the captain’s run on the eve of the Broncos clash in round 21, flew back to Sydney for scans, met with the doctor the following day, spoke to the surgeon on the Monday, then underwent surgery on the Tuesday.
“It was meant to be keyhole surgery, then my partner noticed a giant scar at the back of my neck,” Tatola said.
“When I phoned the surgeon, they said the bones were too big. It’s more about getting power back in the arm. I tested it out properly at training on Thursday, and I’m good to go.”
Tatola broke down in tears beneath Suncorp Stadium during Magic Round just days after his father died from a heart attack. His son, the second youngest of seven boys, did not get the chance to say goodbye.
The entire Souths team attended the funeral the following week.
Tevita was more of a rugby man, playing the game back in Tonga, but loved watching Souths.
Junior Tatola, and with his late father, Tevita (inset)Credit: Getty
“Dad would be watching me now and saying what he always used to say, which was to, ‘Run hard, tackle hard and hold the ball’,” Tatola said.
Tatola knows Souths have the team on paper to go all the way to a premiership. They were embarrassed by Cronulla in Perth a fortnight ago.
Demetriou knows the time they spend together on the road in recent weeks was great for bonding, but difficult for training and having enough players available from both grades to complete proper opposed sessions.
But there will be no excuses come Sunday. Souths are favourites. Tatola is a favourite at Souths.
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