Heamasi Makasini

groucher said:
Can anyone post what this article says?
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Wests Tigers rookie Heamasi Makasini opens up on rugby league journey ahead of NRL debut​

If Wests Tigers had their way, Heamasi Makasini would have played first grade before his 18th birthday – and it was not like the Tigers did not ask. But Makasini had one goal to tick off before heading to the NRL.
Michael CarayannisMichael Carayannis

@mcarayannis

5 min read
September 3, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
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If Wests Tigers had their way Heamasi Makasini would have played first grade before his 18th birthday.
It wasn’t like the Tigers didn’t ask. But Makasini wanted to play out his final season with his schoolmates at Newington College before embarking on what is expected to be a long sporting career.
Makasini has been named on the wing for the Tigers against the Titans on Saturday when one of the most talked about junior talents will join a small group of rugby league prodgies including Brad Fittler, Tim Brasher and Wade Graham to have made their debut while still at school.
Makasini’s Tigers coach Benji Marshall was another who crammed in his final year of schooling with the bright lights of first grade.
Heamasi Makasini is set to make his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers’ Round 27 clash against the Titans. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Heamasi Makasini is set to make his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers’ Round 27 clash against the Titans. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
“The Tigers wanted me to do full-time this year after pre-season and forget about school,” Makasini said.
“But my parents wanted me to finish school so I had that talk with the Tigers. I wanted to graduate at Newington and play my last year of rugby at the school. It’s something I’ll never have the chance to do again. These are my best mates and people who I’ve played most of my school rugby with.
“My goal this year was to win a GPS title. That can’t happen now. My goal after that was to play in the NRL.
“I’ve dreamt of playing in the NRL since I was a kid. I’ll be very nervous and excited at the same time. “When the time comes I’ll be happy to take the opportunity.”
That time will come on Saturday having been named in the Tigers’ extended squad last week to travel to Canberra for some experience being in and around the NRL players.
Makasini wanted to finish his schooling at Newington College before committing to the Wests Tigers full-time. Picture: Supplied by Newington College

Makasini wanted to finish his schooling at Newington College before committing to the Wests Tigers full-time. Picture: Supplied by Newington College
Had the Tigers pushed for Makasini to play sooner they would have needed the NRL’s approval with the rules stating you cannot play first grade until you turn 18. They made an exemption for fellow private schoolboy rugby star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in 2021 to allow him to play for the Roosters.
Makasini though turned 18 in July so he won’t be the subject to an NRL clearance. There are a long list of recent Newington graduates who play in the NRL including Cameron Murray, Bailey Simonsson, Toluta’u Koula, Kaeo Weekes, Nathan Lawson, Joey Lussick, Casey and Jesse McLean.
Makasini is used to headlines. The 108kg giant was last year compared to All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu.
He was involved in a code tug of war with his services heavily desired not just between the two rugby codes in Australia but with overseas franchises. Makasini met former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans last year who tried to entice him to Japan.
“Robbie Deans flew over to Tokyo to get me to the Panasonic Wild Knights,” Makasini said. “We thought it was a good opportunity but not for me just yet.”
The pressure of his decision weighed Makasini down after it was revealed he had opted to stay in rugby league and become the richest schoolkid in the code’s history with a three-year $1 million deal.
Heamasi Makasini: The Next Big Thing

Heamasi Makasini: The Next Big Thing
Heamasi Makasini at Newington College. Pic: Supplied by Newington College

Heamasi Makasini at Newington College. Pic: Supplied by Newington College
His Tigers contract was announced just a day after he starred for Australian under-18s rugby union who had a historic win against New Zealand.
“I sat in the room crying,” the softly spoken Makasini said.
“I haven’t told too many people this. But I was reading the comment about me going to rugby league. There was big pressure. I spoke to my mum and had a meeting with my manager about it.
“It was a decision I made before the tournament. I need that family support with the media.
“My family, friends and my manager told me to try and stay away from the media and not read anything. I’ve dealt with it well. I feel like I’ve done the right thing to keep pressure off my shoulders. “To get my mind off the media and newspapers as much as I can.
“I’m on social media a lot and Instagram. Friends are sending me quite a lot of stuff about me and I just write back saying ‘that’s good to hear’. I try to brush it away. Trying to keep my mind off it and not read much of it.”
Newington’s director of rugby Ben Herring was full of praise for Makasini.
“He leads without fuss, trains without ego and treats those around him with genuine respect,” Herring said.
Heamasi Makasini playing for Newington College. Pic: Jasen Begetis

Heamasi Makasini playing for Newington College. Pic: Jasen Begetis
“There’s a steadiness to Heamasi, a sense that he knows who he is and that’s what makes him such a powerful example to others.”
“At Newington, we value balance and Heamasi embodies that.
“Alongside rugby, he’s thrown himself into athletics, embraced life beyond sport, developing a real interest in carpentry through his VET Construction pathway in Years 11 and 12, and been a prominent part of school life.”
Makasini has already had a taste of senior rugby league. He played three NSW Cup games during his school holidays when Newington gave him the green light to briefly return to the Tigers while the school rugby competition was in a hiatus.
Makasini played one more NSW Cup game – scoring a try against the Bulldogs two weeks ago – after his commitments to Newington’s first XV ended.
“Physically I am ready for the NRL,” Makasini said.
“Obviously when the time comes I’ll be glad to take the opportunity. I’m not too pressured. I had three games of NSW Cup and I was confident and comfortable with my second and third game. My first game was pretty nerve-racking but physically I did pretty well.
“I did a full pre-season with the Tigers this year. After that finished, they had some chats with the school if I could come in during my holidays.
“It was pretty amazing training with the players I’ve watched on television like Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau. I was trying to make the most out of it. Being around the older boys in first grade and trying to learn as much as I could and pick their brains.
“People in my position too like Starford To’a and Brent Naden helped me out a lot.”
Makasini playing for the Wests Magpies in SG Ball. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Makasini playing for the Wests Magpies in SG Ball. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Makasini only stumbled into rugby league by chance. He played rugby in Orange and continued to play rugby when his family relocated to Camden in 2018.
Makasini was playing for the Camden Rams before a primary school friend asked him to give rugby league a go.
“I went back home and asked my parents,” Makasini said.
“They were a little off it because we were a rugby union family but they let me play. I was 11 and playing for the Campbelltown City Kangaroos where (ex-Tiger) Shannon Gallant was the coach.”
Makasini has continued to play both codes but that will stop now he has played his final game for Newington. He was picked as 18th man for the NSW under-18s Origin team despite being a year young.
Despite the fanfare and headlines he will attract this week, Makasini is pretty clear on how he will celebrate his NRL debut.
“I will be at school on Monday,” Makasini said.
“A lot of people will be asking me about it. It’ll be a good feeling.”
 
Tom Shines said:
interesting the Tigers asked him do drop out of Year 12 … that seems unusual to me ?
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Yeah that stuck out like dogs balls to me..i wonder if nicolussi is using journalistic licence when he.said "tigers wanted me to forget school"

You dont go to a school like that to drop.out a year before finishing....it wouldve been lunacy and such a wasted opportunity
 
innsaneink said:
Yeah that stuck out like dogs balls to me..i wonder if nicolussi is using journalistic licence when he.said "tigers wanted me to forget school"

You dont go to a school like that to drop.out a year before finishing....it wouldve been lunacy and such a wasted opportunity
Click to expand...

I dunno mate…isn’t he quoting what Maka said ? Seems a pretty direct statement to me …”the Tigers wanted me to do full time this year …” so possibly there was a misunderstanding on Maka’s end perhaps ?
 
Looks like the boys have taken him under their wing, plenty of positive social media posts from them about his debut. I think Galvin's personality did not really gel with the team...seems a bit of a snake and not very genuine. I'm confident Heamasi will hang around.
 
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