Afoa grew up on the tough streets of south Auckland, and since relocated to Greenacre. He joked the western Sydney suburb reminded him of home, with a good sense of community and “good kebab shops around the corner”.
Kebabs and carbohydrates, and his favourite, sushi, have been kept to a minimum over the summer for Afoa who dropped to 115kg. Hunt has stripped down to 113kg after ballooning to north of 120kg.
Impact: Royce Hunt takes a carry against his former club the Sharks last year.Credit: Getty Images
By his own admission, Hunt fell short of expectations when he arrived from Cronulla last year, and Marshall made it clear he needed to get himself in peak physical condition for this season.
He trained nearly every day with former Cronulla teammates Sione Katoa, Oregon Kaufusi, Sifa Talakai and Perth-bound Chris Vea’ila, stopped eating after 8.30pm, spent time doing Pilates at his wife Shavaun’s studio in Blakehurst, and even completed an inflammation diet, where he gave up food for four days.
“I had a bit of hype around me coming here, but I didn’t live up to that expectation, which is on me,” Hunt said.
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“I got too big. Benji and I had some good words at the end of the year, and he wanted me to reach some targets. I’ve come back in so much better shape, and you notice when you run how your knees feel better and your body feels better.
“The quality and intensity at training has been through the roof. Fonua Pole is quite strong for his age. But Bunty and I are the ones who love coming off that back fence.”
Hunt, Afoa, workhorses Terrell May and Pole, plus Alex Twal, Sione Fainu and Alex Seyfarth – another forward who thrives on the rough stuff – have given the Tigers much-needed depth.
Another recruit, Ethan Roberts, will keep Samuela Fainu and former Newcastle Knight Kai Pearce-Paul on their toes in the second-row.