Rugby Team Rallies Around Star Mourning Father's Death

When Queensland rugby star Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's father Fereti passed away after battling cancer, his entire team wrapped around him with love and support.

Fereti Fa'asuamaleaui was more than just a proud dad. He left Samoa as a young man to play for the Sydney Roosters, then moved to Gympie to raise his family and watch his son carry on the rugby legacy.

Tino, who serves as co-captain of the Gold Coast team, stayed with his family in Queensland while his Maroons teammates flew to Melbourne on Friday. He told coach Billy Slater he intends to join them and play in Wednesday night's State of Origin match at the MCG.

Teammate Harry Grant, who played alongside Tino at Melbourne, spoke warmly about Fereti's presence at nearly every match. "Tino really looked up to him. He really paved the way for Tino and Tino has continually tried to pay that back over the years," Grant said from Melbourne.

The team understands the weight of what Tino is carrying. "It is obviously a very tricky situation and all raw and emotional but we have all got Tino's back and the family's back," Grant explained.

Just last week, while his father was seriously ill, Tino spoke about wanting to play and honor the family name. Fereti was known as a huge Maroons fan who beamed with pride seeing his last name on his son's Queensland jersey.

Why This Inspires

This story shows the power of chosen family in sports. Grant and the entire Maroons squad are giving Tino space to grieve with his mother Dianne, sister Olivia, and brother Iszac while making it clear they'll support whatever choice he makes.

"At the end of the day, Wednesday night is just a game of footy," Grant said, putting everything in perspective. The team experienced something similar last year when captain Cameron Munster's father Steve died days before a championship match. Munster played and led Queensland to victory.

Grant noted how fortunate they were that Tino's family lived close to their Sunshine Coast training camp, allowing him to drive up and spend precious time with them during his father's final days.

Whether Tino decides to play or stay with family, his teammates want him to know one thing: he's not alone in this grief, and his father's legacy lives on through the name on that jersey.