SEMI TADULALA
Let's start with Semi Tadulala the player. Tell us about your junior days in Australia and why you played Rugby League ?
[iI never played junior rugby league. I came to Australia at the age of 15, I was playing basketball after school at my high school which I also was learning and enjoying playing at the time. My cousin played league for the school, someone didn’t turn up so my cousin asked me to fill in at fullback at training. End up sitting on the bench that weekend, played my first game and played the ball to the opposition. The rest is history hahaha…[/i
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You started off with the Melbourne Storm. How did the move to Wakefield come about ?
[iTo be honest, I really wasn’t committed as I should be in Melbourne. Bellyache ( Craig Bellamy) called me in at the end of the year and said that I have an option to look elsewhere for next year or stay but I will be staying in reserve grade. At the time my best mate John Wilshire got offered contracts by Wakefield and Warrington and he took up Warrington offer and asked me if I wanted to go to Wakefield. I had no idea where Wakefield was but I said yes and just wanted to get out of Melbourne and Australia to start a new life.[/i
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Can you remember your Wakefield 1st team debut, who it was against and how it went ?
[iMy first trial was Featherstone, it was freezing cold but enjoyed it. First super league debut was very special as I played against one of best mates John Wilshire who was the reason I was in the UK. I remember the atmosphere was so good to play in and realised how passionate, UK supporters were.[/i
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The Super League journey was far from easy. Can you give us some highs and lows of your time at Trinity ?
[iHighs were making the playoffs in 2004 with no one giving us a chance except for the playing group, staff and some of our faithful supporters. Surviving relegation was up there as well but a weird game to play in. Lows was when I broke my arm in 2007 Wakey didn’t offer me a contract so had to look elsewhere. I was attending a church in Bradford at the time and simply asked the lord to give me an opportunity to play for the Bulls. Long story short I got offered a two year contract after missing a whole year of rugby because god is faithful.[/i
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We had so many personalities in the squad when you played. Was there anyone in particular who you stuck around with during your time ?
[iDavid Solomona was one of my best friends maybe because his wife was a great cook lol or he enjoys teasing my English because I can’t speak it properly. Hahaha. On a serious note the way David lived his life as man of god was what caught my attention. How he loved his wife and kids was attractive to me and I use to think, that’s how I want to love my wife and children when I get married.[/i
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There was rumours of a move to Gloucester before you eventually departed for Bradford. How was your time at the Bulls ?
[iYeah there was talks with that happening but it fell through because I needed to play for Fiji rugby union to qualify to play in the Guinness premiership. Loved my time at the Bulls was a bit different to Wakey, seemed a bit more professional and well organised club which I hope Wakey is Nowadays.[/i
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And to finish your UK journey, you teamed up with Korki to join Jason Demetriou at Keighley. How was that for a final swansong ?
[iYeah that was not planned at all but it was great finish and closure for my UK journey. I would have loved to finish at Wakey but on my way back from playing for Fiji in 2011 in PNG. I was told that there was no contract for 2012 after being promised by the CEO at the time. It was really disappointing because Wakey offered me a role at the club instead. JD and I had a chat and I agreed to join him Korky and Obsty at the Cougars. Which then led to JD getting offered a contract to come back home to Australia and brought us back with him.[/i
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You scored almost 100 career tries in the UK which must be something you have been proud of, including many hat tricks. Do you have any favourite tries or hat tricks that you scored during your career ?
[iWow, I didn’t realise I scored that many. Probably would have scored more if Sid and BJ didn’t have webs on their hands hahaha. They are some good ones but running straight through the bulls defensive line on a kick return and scored it at Bellevue was special. Scoring against Hull in Hull during playoffs with a busted hamstring was also special. Stepping half of the Leeds team to score when I was at Bradford was also up there as well. Playing outside Dave Solomona he set me up tries in his sleep![/i
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And what about Semi Tadulala now, career wise after rugby ? What do you do and what keeps you busy ?
[iWe have our family business Turnkey Support Services. We are a fully registered NDIS ( national disability insurance scheme) company). Been in operation now for a year. We look after all disability clients that are on the NDIS, we can help people get onto the NDIS and help people understand the NDIS. My wife Sarah Tadulala and I have 5 children Josiah Samuel Tadulala 11, Zion Daniel Tadulala 10, Nevaeh Mele Tadulala 7, Olivia Coco Tadulala 5, Thomas Shane Tadulala 2. Our children keeps us busy, gymnastics, rugby, dance training for kids and our work keeps us pretty busy. I also coach a rugby league program at our kids private school here in Cairns.[/i
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Let’s finish with a chance to reflect on the players you played with in your career. Give us your dream team 1-13 of players that you played with ?
[i1. Billy Slater 2. Marcus Bai. 3 Sid Domic 4. Jason Demetriou . 5 Fifita Moala 6. Ben Jeffries 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Andy Lynch 9. Terry Newton 10. Sam Burgess 11. Dave Solomona 12. Gaz Ellis 13 Steve Menzies[/i
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And from that team, who would captain it and why ?
[iJD he proved it when we were fighting for Wakey to stay up. He kept us focus on rugby rather than external things.[/i
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And to end with, anything you would like to add to the Wakefield fans out there ?
[iTo all the Wakey fans, thank you for your support, encouragement and criticism when I was at Wakey. Wakefield will always hold a special part in my heart. It’s where I lived most of my life in the Uk and also the longest club I played with. Please reach out to me on Facebook Semi Lacabuka or instagram, email me on
semitadz@gmail.com if you make it to Australia and in Cairns reach out. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey and what an honour and prevelidge was it for me to represent the mighty Wakefield Wildcats. God bless you all, praying blessings, favour and the love of Christ for increase over you all in Jesus name. Amen.
Cheers !
Semi[/i