Western Force winger Samu Wara to inflict more pain on the Waratahs
Jamie Pandaram The Daily Telegraph April 09, 2012 12:00am
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Gold mine: Sam Wara was nearly lost to Australian rugby. Picture: Paul Kane.
Source: Getty Images
THE man responsible for the Waratahs' most humiliating result this year was hours from giving up his professional rugby career to work in a mine.
Western Force winger Samu Wara, who scored the match-winning try against NSW in Sydney last month, has been forced to leave his family behind in Sydney as he seeks to establish a full-time career in Perth.
But Wara, planning to break NSW hearts twice in five weeks when the Force host the Tahs on Friday, could have easily been working at a mine in Orange with his uncle rather than crossing the paint at Allianz Stadium to give the Force a 21-20 win in round four. "I was offered an EPS (extended playing squad) contract at the Force, but that is not a lot of money so I was going to ask my uncle if he could hook me up with a job at a mine in Orange," father-of-three Wara told The Daily Telegraph.
Terrible Tahs hit a new low
"I met my manager (Calum Morrison) and told him I wasn't going to play anymore, that I would work at the mines, and he said that I would have my whole life to work, but in 10 years' time I might look back and regret not having a go.
"I thought about that, and I knew I would regret it in 10 years, so I decided to give it one last go."
But that also meant leaving behind partner Sally and their three children Shanae (eight), Semi (two) and Summer (one), who now live with her mother in Port Macquarie, due to the uncertainty of his future which remains unclear beyond this season.
Wara, 26, was born and raised in Leichhardt and has ridden an extraordinary journey through league and union so far.
He was a junior representative at Wests Tigers before joining South Sydney's feeder club North Sydney Bears, where his long-range tries feature on YouTube.
Wara was supposed to have made his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs in 2008 against Newcastle but was told before the game they had reached their second-tier salary cap after blooding several rookies throughout the season. "They said they couldn't play me, I would have made my NRL debut that day," Wara said.
He lagged with the Bears for another season, before deciding to switch codes last year.
Brought to the Brumbies academy by then coach Andy Friend, Wara was told he could expect big opportunities, but when Friend was sacked weeks into the season Wara languished in the reserve team.
"I had relocated my family to Canberra, then there was no more opportunity for me at the Brumbies so we had to move back to Sydney," Wara said.
"When I decided to go to the Force I couldn't take my family because I didn't know if we would have to relocate again. It is tough at the moment because they are on the other side of Australia, but we Skype and call each other every day."
" I send back as much money as I can.
“I wouldn’t mind returning to league one day, but at the moment I am really enjoying rugby – I’ve only been playing it for two years.”
Due to a string of injuries, Wara activated a full-time contract with the Force with his third match – and first start – against the Waratahs.
“Hopefully I can make some money here and support my family and set up something for them after,” he said.
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