He’s the Auckland product who grew up a Hurricanes supporter, dreamed of earning a contract with the Blues and ended up making his debut with the Reds.
But Scott Malolua was so far from a Super Rugby contract last year that when the call came from Brad Thorn to invite him into the Reds squad he thought he was being pranked.
Scrumhalf Malolua took a break from the game last year but the thought that he had not yet achieved all he could in the game still niggled.
Working as a chippie, Malolua would take in the occasional game at Souths and knew the footy bug had not yet left him.
“I played my whole life and I got married two years ago and I think just fulltime working as an apprentice and having to work as well took a toll on my body and I thought this was the perfect time to step back, free up some time for work and marriage as well,” Malolua said.
“I thought it was a much-needed break.
“I tried to stay away from it as much as I could.
“But there was the odd game at Souths where I’d go and watch and just watching them at Chipsy Wood (Oval) gave me the itch all the time.
“I was keen to maybe give it one more crack, especially because now I’m 25 and I thought now or never.
“Then Thorny gave me the call while I was at work and it changed everything for me.”
Not that he believed it was the coach at first.
“I actually got a message before the call and I thought someone was trying to prank me,” he said of Thorn’s call.
“I tried not to buy into it too much, I tried not to be too excited.
“And the phone rang (again) and it went from there.”
Still on a break at that stage, Malolua was drafted into the squad as cover for James Tuttle, who had ruptured his achilles.
The Reds already had Tate McDermott and Moses Sorovi on their books and Malolua was happy to be a third-string half and work away in the hope of getting an opportunity.
His chance came last week against the Jaguares when McDermott limped off after 55 minutes with an ankle injury.
“(It was) a huge moment,” Malolua said.
“I grew up playing rugby my whole life and I dreamed of making a run-on for Super Rugby.
“And to do it with the Reds was huge. To be able to run out in that maroon jersey was massive.
“I had to snap myself out of just being in awe. I stared at the stadium and it really took my breath away but I loved it out there.”
The Reds hadn’t always been his first choice though.
Growing up in Auckland, Malolua was a huge rugby fan, although his favourite All Blacks players at the time were linked with the Hurricanes.
“It’s funny, I grew up loving the Hurricanes, that was my team,” he said.
“I loved watching Jerry Collins, Ma’a Nonu, Tana Umaga and all those stars.
“But it was always a dream to play for the Blues.”
Malolua will be plotting their downfall tonight though as he wears the no.9 for the Reds in their clash at Suncorp Stadium.
“What are the chances of this happening, it’s crazy how it all works out,” he said.
Malolua was pitched into the deep end against a quality Jaguares side last week and had little time for nerves.
And he’s confident he can thrive again tonight as Queensland search for their first win over a New Zealand side since 2016.
“I’d say I’m pretty confident.
“The boys have ripped in this week and everyone has knuckled down in their roles.”
Those around him have confidence as well, especially Reds captain and Malolua’s longtime mate Samu Kerevi.
“He’s been working extremely hard amongst the other guys that come into our squad – for him to get his opportunity last week and now he’s starting, I think it’s all in god’s timing and I’m really happy for him,” Kerevi said.
“He’s been working away this week to get his game right and take it to another level.
“It’s been a bit of a story and a journey for him but that makes it even more incredible.
“I think you come back really grateful. Guys looking from the outside, you have to take that into consideration and really be grateful for the opportunities you do get.”
Grateful is also a word Malolua uses.
“I still can’t believe it. I thought making my debut was big enough as it is but to run out is a dream,” he said.
“This time around, I’m a lot more grateful for the opportunity to be able to play.
“You can just go through the motions and your time is gone but I’m definitely embracing it this time around.”
The Reds take on the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, June 7, kicking off at 7:45pm, live on Fox Sports, Kayo and via RUGBY.com.au radio.
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