Melbourne forward Tino Faasuamaleaui went to sleep on Saturday a Samoa representative and woke up a Junior Kangaroos player as part of the busiest fortnight of the teenager’s rugby league career.
A key part of Samoa’s World Cup nines squad that lost to Australia in Saturday’s semi-final at Bankwest Stadium, Faasuamaleaui proudly represented his father’s heritage in the tournament.
He then made the dash to Wollongong to join the Junior Kangaroos camp on Sunday morning, in preparation for Friday’s fixture against France.
It also came just a week after he played his first senior game in Australian colours – for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Fiji last Friday.
“It’s been pretty interesting being in both jerseys,” Faasuamaleaui told AAP.
“I’m really happy I’ve been able to represent both cultures and both nations, both my mum (with Australia) and dad’s (with Samoa).
“It’s been a big honour to do that.
“(Kangaroos coach) Mal (Meninga) and (Samoa coach) Matt (Parish) both supported it, they were happy for me to do both as long as I was happy with it.”
Born in central-western NSW, Faasuamaleaui moved to the rural Queensland town of Widgee as a youngster and grew up playing his football in Gympee.
His father Fereti was a Sydney Roosters reserve grader in the mid 1990s with proud Samoan heritage.
“I actually grew up in a town where it was just my family who were Samoan,” the 19-year-old second-rower said.
“But I was always around it, whenever we had Samoan independence day down in Brisbane me and my family would always drive down and get around the culture.
“I have so much family everywhere, down in Brisbane, New Zealand and in America and everywhere. They all support me.”
After playing five games for Melbourne this year, the teenager will line up alongside the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Angus Crichton and Victor Radley against France in Wollongong on Friday.
“It’s going to be amazing, have you seen this team? Far out,” he said.
“Before I debuted and even now I still look up to these fellas.
“The likes of Kalyn Ponga, there are a fair few players in there.
“It’s going to be a pretty amazing week and game on the weekend. Especially in the green-and-gold jersey.”