One day after starring on the wing for the Australian Under-18s in their first win over New Zealand Schools since 2019, Heamasi Makasini has signed a three-year deal to remain at the Wests Tigers in a blow for Rugby Australia’s future plans.
Makasini scored a try in Hamilton and celebrated with his teammates after the hard-fought 38-31 victory, before pledging his future to rugby league.
Heamasi Makasini of Australia Under-18s scores a try against New Zealand Barbarians. Credit: Getty Images for Rugby Australia
In a statement, Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall spoke highly of Makasini, who has starred for Newington College in rugby while also playing for Wests Magpies Harold Matthews Cup team in rugby league. There he finished as the side’s leading try-scorer with 10 tries from as many games.
“He is one of the best young talents that we have who has progressed his way through our development programs,” Marshall said.
“He is very humble, respectful and is a good young man. Being able to secure Heamasi’s signature for the next three seasons is a massive boost for our club and the direction we are heading.”
RA will now face a nervous wait on the future decisions of Penrith junior Heinz Lemoto, who starred at No.8 for Australia in New Zealand, and his teammate, fullback Rex Bassingthwaighte, who has played for the Roosters.
Manly NRL star Tolu Koula is a former Australian Under-18s rugby representative.Credit: Getty
The last Australian Under-18 team to beat New Zealand in 2019 included Manly’s Tolu Koula and Joseph Suaalii. After spending the last three years with the Roosters in NRL, Suaalii is now back in rugby and expected to join the Wallabies’ spring tour in November.
Speaking to this masthead just before the news of Makasini’s contract with the Tigers broke, Australian Under-18s coach Shannon Fraser spoke of the challenge RA faces in keeping its talented squads together into senior rugby.
“It’s going to be player choice, and we can’t kid ourselves that these kids don’t have other options,” Fraser said.
“I think we’ve got an ability to provide meaningful competitions, we provide exposure to regular international rugby, we compete around the world. You can play for your country on an international stage and [with] some of the greatest sporting events in the world, that’s not insignificant.
“We’ve just got to create a healthy experience for our young players that challenges them but also rewards them with these life experiences of playing at the top and playing around the world.”
Fraser formerly worked with St George Illawarra as a skills coach and believes that Lemoto, Makasini and Bassingthwaighte represent key talents.
“They’re hugely talented players, all slightly different … and I think that comes with a level of confidence,” Fraser said.
“They’re well prepared in relation to their training and their recovery and getting up to speed on their knowledge [of the game] … they’re confident, they back themselves. They’re very self-assured of their abilities and you sort of see that in the way that they play.”
