The day after he suffered a season-ending injury, Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui began plotting an overseas venture, intent on returning a more daunting prospect than before.
Those plans have come to fruition, after the Queensland enforcer flew to the US on Friday for an intensive two-week training camp.
The Queensland star has not taken the field since suffering a ruptured ACL in round three this year, forced to watch from the sidelines as both his club and state imploded in 2024.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui leaves the field after suffering a ruptured ACL.Credit: Getty
Fa’asuamaleaui was determined to announce his comeback in time to join team training after Christmas.
To help him achieve that vision, he sought world-renowned expert in sports reconditioning Bill Knowles, who has helped fellow NRL stars Ryan Papenhuyzen, Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell rediscover their peak performance.
“I think it was the next day after I got injured I tossed it up as a bit of a joke, and then the club have actually pulled through with it and got it all done for me,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“I haven’t spoken to them, just watching their documentaries they had over there on Latrell and Tom Trbojevic and Paps, it gave me what I’m looking for – another set of eyes, and someone who is going to push me to my limits.
“It’s a new environment … you’re exposed to a bit more over there; I might bump into other athletes, potentially go to some NFL and NBA games, and see their professionalism and the way they do things. It’s a whole new world I haven’t seen before.”
Fa’asuamaleaui is hopeful of featuring in the Titans’ preseason trials to “get the cobwebs out” before the opening round.
From there, he declared he was “very hungry” to regain his State of Origin jumper, after Queensland’s series defeat exposed the absence of he and fellow injured aggressors Tom Gilbert and Thomas Flegler.
The Maroons missed Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s aggression in this year’s State of Origin series defeat.Credit: Getty
But his priority is getting the Gold Coast back in the winner’s circle, with his side missing his physicality – finishing 12th in the competition for post-contact metres – and leadership as they slumped to a third-straight bottom four finish.
And Fa’asuamaleaui believed the benefits of his first major injury began to show in the latter stages of the season.
“It’s been a bit up and down, but a lot of positives through it all. Especially being with the family, I spent more time with them, and it’s actually weird going away for two weeks,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“When I got injured, I thought that leadership role stops with me not being around the team.
“But I soon learnt during the year I needed to be there still with the boys.
“I really found my feet towards the end there, it’s all part of the rehab journey – learning how to be a leader even when you’re not playing.”
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