Setu Tu, a 27-year-old winger for the St George Illawarra Dragons, stands on the brink of his National Rugby League (NRL) debut in Las Vegas, a culmination of a remarkable journey shaped by personal loss and family sacrifice. Raised in the small Samoan village of Saleimoa, Tu faced adversity early in life when he lost both parents to cancer by the age of 12.
Reflecting on those formative years, Tu stated, “That’s life, I guess. It was pretty tough, but having family around helps.” His older brother, Rob, took on the responsibility of caring for Tu and his three siblings. At just 15, Rob made the significant decision to move the family to Auckland, New Zealand, in search of better opportunities. “He could’ve been playing footy,” Tu remarked. “But I feel like he sacrificed his dream so I could live mine.”
Tu’s journey to professional rugby has been anything but easy. He has spent the majority of his reserve-grade career with the Warriors, making his NSW Cup debut in 2019. To support his dream while living in Auckland, he worked part-time delivering doors and windows to construction sites. Despite the challenges, he remained determined to succeed in the sport.
In the offseason, Tu secured a development deal with the Dragons, bringing him one step closer to his long-awaited NRL debut. His personal sacrifices have continued; his partner and two children are still in Auckland, but they hope to reunite with him soon. “They’ve made a huge sacrifice for myself,” he noted.
With the season-opener against Canterbury fast approaching, Tu finds himself in a competitive battle for a starting position on the wing. Alongside him in the selection race are Christian Tuipulotu, Mat Feagai, Tyrell Sloan, and David Fale. Coach Shane Flanagan has expressed his satisfaction with Tu’s performance during the pre-season. “At training, they’ve been great, real good, probably exceeded my expectations,” he stated. “One of them or two of them could force their way into the round-one game.”
Tu’s determination shone through during a recent pre-season match against Newcastle, where he scored a runaway try and amassed an impressive 154 run metres. The prospect of making his NRL debut fills him with excitement. “I don’t have words for it,” he said. “Obviously it’s been a journey for myself, me and my family. It means a lot for myself, and mostly for my family as well.”
As he prepares for this pivotal moment in his career, Tu is eager to share his progress with his brother Rob, who remains in Auckland. “I know he’s proud of me and I’m pretty sure he watched our game tonight,” Tu remarked, looking forward to their conversation about his performance.
For Setu Tu, the chance to debut in Las Vegas represents not just a personal achievement but a testament to the sacrifices made by his family.
