Agnatius PaasiNext time you turn on the television to watch the Junior warriors play in the Australian rugby league competition NYC for children under 20 years, wait the names Konrad Hurrell, Agnatius Paasi and Visesio Setefano.
In a team with talent observed probably already the names of Tongans which indicates the strong lines Tongans in the champions of the Toyota Cup (competition of degree of age junior to the NRL). Names like Lousi, Palavi, Fotofili, Taukeiaho, Houma, and Likliki are immediately recognizable to fellow Tongan.
What is less recognizable however is Konrad Hurrell, Agnatius Paasi and Visesio Setefano are also Tonga and specifically the three are born Tongan. Although their names are not your typical monikers of Tongans, are certainly stories about how they got to be in New Zealand and play rugby league.
In interviews Konrad (from Ngele'ia) and Agnatius (of Lapaha), while his travels may be familiar to many of us, is also curious how similar yet contrasting each of them is each other. Both are a family of seven children, but while Konrad, a center of blockbusting, is the youngest of children of 4 and 3, Agnatius, which is a powerful built forward, is the oldest of a family of 5 boys and 2 girls.
Konrad moved to New Zealand 3 years with a rugby scholarship; Agnatius moved to the 3 years of age with the rest of his family.
Both boys played Rugby at secondary schools in the central city: Konrad in the powerful Auckland Grammar rugby union; Agnatius in rugby league fortress St Pauls. Both changed to the League of rugby to the recognition and the highest honors in the National Rugby Union team were not so close as the Warriors club Scout.
And while in the form typically Tonga both players come from religious families, Agnatius reflects his Catholic land to be named after a Saint while Konrad may be the first Warrior Junior from a background of Baha ' I.
However when it comes to the business of rugby league, both players are entirely in agreement to pursue a career in sports requiring commitment, sacrifice and discipline.
Warriors Junior Team Manager and former warriors duro-hombre, Jerry Seuseu, speaks highly of their charges born Tongan and is particularly pleased with the attitude and the ethics of Konrad, Agnatius and Visesio work to his training and his performances.
Konrad HurrellSeuseu, as players, however admits that there are no guarantees in professional sports and that there is enormous competition for places in the squad of game and ultimately for fulltime professional contracts in the Senior ranks.
Konrad and Agnatius are in their final year of eligibility for the Junior warriors and, with a number of members of his team-mate, he has established his eyes pick up a contract of full-time next year, if not with the Warriorsthen hopefully with one of the other NRL clubs.
Konrad has been in outstanding form this season winning criticism for his strong performances while Agnatius has played in every game this season, a feat that given the high level of competition among the forwards.
When asked what that so many in the Warriors Tongans Junior, both players laughed and said that it was "impressive". However they were quick to add that Warriors Junior all configuration was as a family atmosphere, which helped "all the guys treated each other as brothers".
And one final thing that both players agreed - I'd love to represent Tonga a day and play for Mate Ma' Tonga. It is hoped that someone in the Tonga Rugby League is looking at the Junior warriors game and noting.
-By Essendon Tu'itupou
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