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Although he only missed five matches due to the injury and returned in Round 16 before playing out the rest of the season, Pole is still working his way back to full strength.<\/p>\n
Speaking ahead of the upcoming 2026 campaign, the 23-year-old admits that last season was one of the toughest years of his career as he had to deal with an injury for the first time in his career, and it was a real \u201ccharacter-building\u201d moment for him both mentally and spiritually.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people used to talk about injuries and about hardships, you don\u2019t really think much of it until you actually go through it,\u201d Pole told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, when I went through it last year it was a real character-building moment for me and it\u2019s still frustrating because I\u2019m still dealing with it and I\u2019m still rehabbing and trying to get stronger.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reckon a lot of it is actually mental recovery because you can get your body fine, but if you don\u2019t actually think you\u2019re back a 100 (per cent), you are worse off than before.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of it\u2019s been mental stuff, but honestly, it\u2019s been my spiritual life that strengthens my mental.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s helped me a lot, and that\u2019s what I focus more on as well with all the extras and getting my body back to 100 per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n
The forward is not yet back to 100 per cent fitness.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Still on the mend and yet to get back to 100 per cent fitness, Pole credits his newly engaged fianc\u00e9e, Ilisia Haumono, as one of his biggest helpers and someone who helped him hold it down over the past 12 months.<\/p>\n
A member of last year\u2019s Tigers NSW Women\u2019s Premiership side, Ilisia is the niece of Solomon Haumono and cousin of Aaliyah Bula (the wife of Tigers fullback Jahream Bula) and is a talented rugby league player in her own right.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s been a big part of me. She\u2019s just been my anchor through it all and I went through a rollercoaster last year with my emotions and a lot of things with dealing with injury for the first time in my career and just off-field stuff,\u201d Pole added.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe held it down for me and she\u2019s been really good not only for my mental health but my spiritual life too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit scary because she was my first girlfriend so I don\u2019t know how to deal with other families or another person in my life so honestly everything was like new to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first time I met her parents, I was dropping my nuts. That was probably the most nervous I\u2019ve ever been, other than my engagement, but it was a good experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fonua Pole is entering the prime of his career.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Contracted with the Wests Tigers for another two seasons until the end of 2027, Pole has long been linked with a move to the Melbourne Storm, which would see him reunite with his family.<\/p>\n
Not only was he raised in Victoria, but his younger brother, Suli Pole, plays for the Storm, and his cousin, Stefano Utoikamanu, has made no secret of his desire to play alongside him again one day.<\/p>\n
A product of the Victorian Thunderbolts, Fonua rejected advances from the Storm to extend with the Tigers in 2024, but the dream of playing alongside his little brother may play too big a role in his next contract decision as he prepares to enter the open market on November 1.<\/p>\n
While he is aiming to persuade his sibling to make the move up to Sydney, it is more likely that he will eventually have to return to the Storm if he wants to achieve his lifelong dream.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would be lying if I said I didn\u2019t want to play with him,\u201d Pole said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, the Fainus and the Mays kind of ignited that passion for me and we talk about it all the time. Me and my brother talk every day and it\u2019s definitely something we want to achieve later down the track or even in the near future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been trying to get him here but he\u2019s actually the last boy at home so I don\u2019t think my mum wants to let him go anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n