Tui Lolohea learned he was leaving Leeds for Salford when in New Zealand
TUI Lolohea is ready to give his old club and a big pal a Tonga-lashing – after only finding out he was leaving when he was in the other side of the world.
When he left for New Zealand to represent his adopted nation last June, Lolohea was a struggling full-back at Leeds.
As he stepped on to the plane back, he had no idea what the future held after being told while out there he was heading to Salford.
Now after meeting boss Ian Watson when he landed back in the country, he is back at stand-off and hoping to wreck the Rhinos’ Challenge Cup hopes.
“I literally found out on the day I was leaving New Zealand,” Lolohea said.
“I flew back on the Sunday, got a call on the Tuesday then met Watto on the Wednesday, trained with Salford on the Thursday and played for them on the Friday!
“My partner and I were on the plane thinking, ‘What the hell is happening? What are we going to do?’
“Watto said he’d seen something in me, that he could help me and get me back to where I should be playing.
“He showed a lot of confidence in me and backed me. It was difficult at Leeds as I was playing full-back and half-back but he just said, ‘Come here and you’ll play at half-back.’
“It was good to go into a team and just focus on my job.”
Lolohea is used to upsetting the odds after almost inspiring Tonga to the World Cup final in 2017.
After beating his native New Zealand, they came within an inch of beating England in the semi-finals.
That did not stop him being feted on the Pacific island his father Paul hails from – for he was given land in the village of Lapaha by the king!
“It’s pretty special to receive a gift from the king,” Lolohea added. “And tomorrow is a big day for Tonga and I have a lot of family there. My dad’s sisters live there and I’ve cousins there.
“But the whole village turned out for the land giving ceremony, which was attended by the Prince. However, I haven’t seen the land, I just know there’s something there for me.
“And living in Tonga is like living in another world. You live off the land and money is nothing there.”
Lolohea is key to Salford’s hopes of a first Challenge Cup win since 1938 on their first Wembley appearance since 1969.
But this will be a battle born 10,000 miles away as fellow Tongan Konrad Hurrell faces him – and whatever happens there will be laughter.
“Konrad is just a funny guy,” Lolohea told SunSport. “Follow him on social media and for the last couple of months he’s been posting all kinds of stuff.
“I’ve played alongside him for most of my career but I try and give it to him in the games, even though he’s a bloody wrecking ball.
“And getting to Wembley is just crazy. I’ve seen comments from Salford diehards like, ‘I’ve been waiting so long for this day.’ They can’t be part of it either. I feel bad for them but it makes it more special.”
