LAS VEGAS — Picture a practice squad player, just starting to find his footing, making his debut in the Super Bowl.
For Setu Thu, that dream is morphing into reality as he prepares for his first game in the National Rugby League this week during a much-anticipated double-header at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday.
This year marks the third consecutive season the NRL has kicked off with a double-header, following the NFL’s overseas expansion strategy.
Thu will take to the field as a winger for the St George Illawarra Dragons, competing against the Canterbury Bulldogs in the final match of the double-header at 11:30 PM ET.
The journey to this moment has been quite unconventional for the 26-year-old rookie, filled with ups and downs along the way.
• At just 8 years old, he experienced a fainting episode during a youth rugby game triggered by an anxiety disorder, leading doctors to advise against contact sports for him.
• His mother, Tuna, passed away from cancer when he was 12, which left his father absent from the family picture. This turned Tu’s childhood into a shuffle between the homes of four different relatives.
• At the age of 15, he relocated to New Zealand with his older brother, Robertson, effectively starting a new chapter. “I feel like this journey is not just mine, but also my brother’s,” Tu shared, noting that his brother, only 21 at the time, was beginning his own family.
Having been raised by his mother in a small Samoan village, Thu didn’t even step onto a rugby league field until he was 18. He’s been chasing the dream of making it big in the league ever since.
• Just as he was set to make his NRL debut in 2024, an unfortunate anterior cruciate ligament injury forced him to sit out the week before.
Since last year, he’s been part of a “training and trials” program, trying to secure a role with the Dragons, all while supporting his wife and two daughters—making ends meet was a challenge.
“For me, this struggle isn’t about money,” Thu remarked after a practice session at the UFC headquarters. “I just wanted to be here, to make this dream a reality.”
After the preseason wrapped up, Thu was summoned to meet coach Shane Flanagan, expecting repercussions for a mistake made during a practice game.
“There were moments when I let the team down. I made a costly error,” he explained.
Instead of reprimanding him, Flanagan celebrated Thu’s achievements with a spot on the roster for Saturday’s game, prompting tears of joy from Thu. “I was overwhelmed. I told myself not to cry, but the emotions just hit me,” he admitted, recalling the encouragement from family and friends as they mentioned their upcoming trip to Las Vegas.
As they find themselves in Las Vegas now, Dragons captain Clint Gutherson commented on Thu’s inspiring journey. “He’s navigated through different systems, yet from the beginning, it felt like he belonged here,” Gutherson said. “It’s exciting to see him thriving.”
“He came ready to give his all, and he made the most of the trials. He’ll surely look back and treasure this opportunity at the end of his career,” he added.
When asked what was on his mind just days ahead of his debut, Tu said, “I’m filled with anticipation. I plan to absorb every second of it, to let the joy wash over me.”
Much of that joy is rooted in his memories of his late mother.
“I was very young when I lost her. I often found it hard to sleep without her,” he shared. His mother was a pivotal figure in his life. Losing her plunged him into a deep sadness, and he often found solace at her grave, reflecting on the impact she had.
“Rugby became my escape from that grief; it was a way to pull myself from the darkness,” he said.
Thu will also carry thoughts of his two little girls, Olive and Atahail. Olive was born during the pandemic, rendering him unable to return to New Zealand due to quarantine rules, so he had to witness her birth via FaceTime. He has been apart from his younger daughter, only 6 months old, for much of this time, only able to spend two months with her around Christmas while pursuing his dream.
These sacrifices often go unnoticed in the world of sports, yet they are part of the reality athletes face.
“Honestly, I don’t complain; I cherish what I do and the journey I’m on,” Tu stated.
On Saturday night, he will be playing in a stadium that previously hosted the Super Bowl, marking a significant milestone in his life, filled with rewarding moments amidst his challenges.
