He didn’t grow up dreaming of playing in the NRL. He didn’t idolise rugby league stars or spend weekends glued to the TV watching games.

In fact, Simione Laiafi barely knew the sport existed.

“I never watched NRL, still to this day, I don’t watch NRL. I watch cartoons like Teen Titans,” Laiafi told foxsports.com.au.

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Unlike many of the young talents coming through the ranks, Laiafi’s journey began with the round ball rather than the oval one

But sometimes, all it takes is one moment to change the course of someone’s entire life.

On the lookout to join a local soccer club, he instead stumbled upon the Chester Hill Hornets and all it took was one training session to get him hooked.

“Before I started playing, I wanted to be a soccer player. I was playing soccer all through primary school and I just loved soccer so much,” Laiafi told foxsports.com.au.

“I was just playing it for fun. I didn’t know what I was doing on soccer, I was just doing whatever.

“Rugby league, that was nothing to me. It wasn’t in the picture but then I first found out about this one club in my area called Chester Hill Hornets and did one training session and after that I just love it.

“I was trying to look for a soccer club around my area but then we didn’t have any so I just wanted to try out league. Then, after one training session, I was like this is for me.”

Laiafi had no idea that rugby league existed growing up.Source: News Corp Australia

It was at that early stage that a pair of mentors helped shape his journey as well as his development – Musty and Omar Hawchar.

“They believed there was something in me and that I could be playing first grade. They never gave up on me,” Laiafi added.

“Even on time when I wanted to give up and I thought about getting away from the game early. They knew there was something in me that I could be playing here right now.

Since that spur-of-the-moment decision to take up rugby league, Laiafi has rapidly risen through the ranks at the Manly Sea Eagles.

That surge saw him make the Australian Schoolboys side, play nine matches in the NSW Cup and be promoted to the club’s Top 30 roster at the start of last season.

Having built a reputation as one of the club’s top emerging prospects and best young front-rowers in the competition, he came agonisingly close to making his NRL debut in 2025.

“To be honest, I just wanted to play my own game and just do whatever I could do and show them that I’m ready, but it wasn’t that hard,” he said.

“I knew there were other plans and just be ready whenever, so that’s what was going through my head.”

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That patience is now set to be rewarded.

After months of knocking on the door of first grade, Laiafi is within reach of running out onto the NRL field for the very first time in his career.

Entering the team after Siosiua Taukeiaho – a player that he named as his biggest idol – remains unavailable with a calf injury, the moment carries even greater significance for the young forward.

Listed among the reserves for Thursday night’s match against the Sydney Roosters, head coach Anthony Seibold confirmed during the week that there is a “good chance” he will earn his minutes at some point during the contest.

“It would mean the most to me because I’ve been praying,” Laiafi said.

“I’m a religious person, everything I do is for God so it will mean the most to me, especially for my parents who raised me up and did everything for me to be in this moment right now.

“I would’ve never been here if it wasn’t for my mum and dad. They are why I’m here.”

Laiafi can represent both Fiji and Tonga.Source: News Corp Australia

Not only would the moment mean the world to Laiafi and his family but also to those who helped guide him to this point.

In particular, a man by the name of Mr (John) Wilson, who brought him over to Bass High School after seeing him play for the Hornets.

“He’s been a big part of my life growing up in high school. He brought me over from Chester Hill and his like family to me,” he continued.

“He’s like another father, a white father. He knew as well that there was something in me that I could just play NRL by now and he never gave up me.

“He was just there for me whenever I needed him.”