Battling Agnatius Paasi makes most of chances at Gold Coast Titans
TRAVIS MEYN GOLD COAST BULLETIN JUNE 05, 2015 12:00AM
AGNATIUS Paasi is the NRL player who catches a bus to training.
In what has been an inspiring turnaround, Paasi has risen from the rugby league wilderness to Titans first grade team this season after joining the club from New Zealand.
But he isn’t living the lavish lifestyle like some of his teammates.
Paasi arrived at the Gold Coast on a “train and trial” contract and is on a minimum second-tier salary of $50,000.
The 23-year-old sends much of his earnings to partner Chloe and three-year-old son Manatoa in New Zealand.
Paasi lives alone in Broadbeach and doesn’t own a car, meaning he has to catch public transport to get to training at Pizzey Park every morning.
It’s far from the glitz and glamour NRL players are perceived to be a part of but Paasi knows the rewards will come if he continues his resurrection.
The Tongan prop is on the cusp of inking an upgraded two-year deal with the Titans and may be thrust on to Leichhardt Oval tonight to face Wests Tigers, the first NRL club he was signed to.
“They’re (Chloe and Manatoa) still back home. It’s still hard but hopefully I can go back soon and see them,” he said.
“I haven’t been back for a few months. We’re looking at the end of the season (for them to move to the Gold Coast).
“It is (tough). It gets a bit lonely sometimes. You’ve got to find something to do.
“I’m trying to find a car at the moment so I’m catching the bus to training. It’s not too bad.”
Paasi is quickly becoming somewhat of a cult hero at the Titans.
He stripped 9kg from his imposing frame in the off-season to make an unlikely Round 1 debut for the *Titans and has impressed with his barnstorming runs.
He’s in a battle with Mark Ioane for the final prop spot on the bench tonight after overcoming a foot injury and Paasi said he was ready to return to the NRL.
“I’m just trying to do all the right things and hopefully get that chance again,” he said after missing a month of action.
“I felt good out there playing with lots of experienced players. If they call me up I’m ready.”
Paasi joined the Tigers in 2010 after winning the national schoolboys title with Keebra Park the previous year but the association didn’t last long.
He was forced to return to New Zealand because of visa issues and managed just one NRL game for the Warriors last year before being cut.
“He was with the Tigers and they’d done a good job with him but he had to go home after school because he didn’t have a visa to stay,” his manager Simon Mammino said.
“He’s worked extremely hard. He left his family and young one behind to come across with no guarantees.
“His work ethic, desire and self-belief has got him to where he is. We’re in the process of re-signing but it looks like he’ll be a Titan for another two years. The club’s been good to him.”
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Love this bloke. I hope he plays tonight and cements his bench spot for the rest of the year. Another young player I think we can build the team around going forward.