Agnatius Paasi was singled out by Rabbitoh Sam Burgess for tonight’s game when the Rabbitohs and Titans meet in their final pre-season clash at Pizzey Park.
Paasi has been described as impressive and was the right player for the clash.
Nominating him for the tournament’s top individual gong two week’s ago Fox Sports News said: “While his offload and his hitting ability are the first things that stand out in the big prop when you watch him play, it was his enormous motor — a trait even more valuable in Nines than in the 13-a-side game”.
Paasi also revealed in the interview earlier this pre-season, his partner Chloe and their three-year-old son Manatoa were an inspiration to him in his career.
“My partner told me to stay at it one more year and give it a crack”.
This means Paasi had to face certain obstacles such as leaving behind his family while he was in Australia to join his team.
He said he almost gave it up.
Last year he was contacted by Australian immigration officials and informed there were complications with his visa.
“It’s been hard being without my family”, he told Courier Mail.
‘‘I get lonely sometimes, I text or call them every day, but the boys at training are really supportive and they keep me company which is good”, he told the mail.
“I’m currently in the process of applying for a new visa, the Titans have sponsored me so it’s great to be back on the Gold Coast.’’
His committment to the sport was described as “From sleeping on the floor for an opportunity to arguably the Auckland Nines player of the tournament, it’s fair to say Agnatius Paasi has come a long way”.
Agnatius Paasi is from Lapaha in Tonga and he is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. A second-rower and prop, he previously played for the New Zealand Warriors. He was born in Tonga. He is 24 and has height of 1.84 m
