Business must be quiet at the much-hyped barber shop inside the Wests Tigers new $78m centre of excellence judging by the excellent ’fros being rocked by Isaiah Papali’i, Justin Matamua and AJ Kepaoa.
As coach Tim Sheens pulls out the last of his hair while answering questions about Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks and Mitchell Pearce, the young Tigers trio have been impossible to miss – and tell apart.
Matamua and Keapoa have already been mistaken by TV commentators and teammates, and Papali’i’s vow to not cut his hair again until the end of the year will add to the confusion.
For all the doom and gloom that seems to follow the winless Tigers, who are at long odds to beat Brisbane on Saturday night, Papali’i, Matamua and Kepaoa are doing their best to keep the mood upbeat and put smiles on faces with their brilliant locks.
Kepaoa was seen forever trying to pull the hair out of his eyes against Melbourne last Friday and admitted it was time he invested in another hair band.
From left to right (we think) … Wests Tigers trio Isaiah Papali’i, AJ Kepaoa and Justin Matamua.Credit:Steven Siewert/SMH
“If you watch the pre-season games, I had a hair band but kept losing it,” Kepaoa (or was it Matamua?) told the Herald.
“I’m trying to go for that [Aquaman actor] Jason Momoa look.”
Matamua, the 19-year-old forward who will play his third NRL game against the Broncos, said: “I’ve been growing it for two years and I only cut the back and sides.
“Every time I take a carry and I get tackled, the hair will fly back. But I love it. AJ has the best hair because he can do a bit more with his. Mine is a bit thick and too curly.
“If we play games together or go out, some fans will call me ‘AJ’ and he’ll called ‘Justin’. We laugh about it. It’s good to see ‘Ice’ [Papali’i] growing his hair out, and hopefully he can catch up to us.”
The Tigers are chasing their first win of the year and have a good record against the Broncos, winning their past four games including three at Suncorp Stadium.
Kepaoa, who has settled into left centre playing outside Luke Brooks, was relishing the challenge against one of the form centres in the competition, Kotoni Staggs.
