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Michael Fatialofa was hot property leaving school, but a few years later he was in danger of being a forgotten journeyman.
A horror run of injuries conspired against the 23-year old – who is a distant relative of Peter Fatialofa – from reaching Super Rugby sooner.
Back surgery in 2011, bilateral hip surgery in 2012, a pectoral muscle injury in 2013 and knee surgery in 2014 all limited the ability of Fatialofa to play regular rugby. In fact for three consecutive years he missed six months of rugby per season.
“I am really enjoying my rugby at the moment. My body is feeling good and I have had a good stretch without injuries. At no point did I think about giving it away. I had some goals I wanted to achieve,” Fatialofa says.
In 2010 the two-metre lock was captain of the Mount Albert Grammar School First XV who won all 17 matches and captured the National Top Four and Moascar Cup titles. Predictably Fatialofa, along with four teammates, was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ team which beat Australia in Dunedin.
A year later Fatialofa was a member of the New Zealand under-20s side which won the IRB Junior World Championships in Italy.
Fatialofa was mentored by All Black Bryan Williams and former Taranaki wing Charlie McAlister at Mount Albert. These were formative years in his development.
“I really enjoyed MAGS. I got to know Bryan Williams well through his Ponsonby connection. He has been a great mentor. Charlie treated us like adults. He was hard on us, but he imbued us with a lot of responsibility which developed good habits and helped us think on our feet in tight games,” Fatialofa recalls.
In 2009 MAGS won the 1A Auckland Championship and from that team Steven Luatua graduated to the All Blacks.
Fatialofa ventured south to Invercargill. He played 36 games for Southland and was a member of the Highlanders wider training group. A combination of injury and restlessness meant he never produced his best for the Stags.
“I enjoyed my time in Southland, but after a while I was keen to get back home. Southland is a small town and I am a West Auckland boy,” Fatialofa laughs.
While in Southland Fatialofa studied at the Southern Institute of Technology and earned a diploma in sports exercise. Once that was done he returned home and had a breakthrough year in the NPC as Auckland reached the Championship final and narrowly lost to Canterbury.
Fatialofa played 777 minutes and impressed with his abrasive approach and busy work rate. In 11 games he made 98 tackles and 92 carries.
“We had a great bunch of boys in Auckland last year. I really enjoyed being home,” Fatialofa enthuses.
The Hurricanes took notice of his form and recruited the 116kg giant.
Halfway into 2016 Fatialofa has usurped Mark Abbott, Geoff Cridge, James Broadhurst and Vaea Fifita as the starting lock. It should be noted two of them are injured, but Fatialofa’s numbers are impressive.
He has played 313 minutes and produced 41 tackles and 39 carries. Against the Chiefs last Saturday he was arguably the Hurricanes best player. He was marking All Black and 2014 IRB player of the year Brodie Retallick.
“I don’t know about being the best player, but I did enjoy the game. Brodie was everything I expected him to be. He is the toughest opponent I have marked. He is bloody hard to move.”
The Hurricanes had little problem moving the Chiefs scrum. In the 38th minute Chiefs tighthead prop Atu Moli left the field and was officially replaced injured at halftime. The reserve tighthead Siate Tokolahi was injured in the 75th minute and left the field reducing the Chiefs to their last front row replacement Siegfried Fisiihoi.
Despite Fisiihoi playing several games for Bay of Plenty at tighthead in last year’s NPC the Chiefs advised substitutes controller, David Walsh, Fisiihoi can’t play tighthead meaning the game went to uncontested scrums. What does Fatialofa make of this?
“It was controversial,” he replies bluntly.
Despite the loss to the Chiefs, Fatialofa is confident the Hurricanes are in good shape to make the playoffs.
“We just have to get better at doing the small things right. We need to tidy up our lineout, cleanout and a couple of things in our defensive system. Everyone is in good spirits, Fatialofa concludes.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.