"Playing for the Tuis is way easier than school rugby. It's faster and more fun. Back in my school days I got injured a lot because it was stop start and I was targeted because of my workload," Tuala recalled.
New Hawke's Bay Tuis coach and former captain Chanel Huddleston has had her eye on Tuala for a couple of seasons and gave her the nod for the Tuis' return to the National Provincial Championship after a season out after close scrutiny for the winless NOBM side.
"We might have gone all season without a win but next year we will be right up there," an optimistic Tuala predicted.
A former East Coast Secondary Schools athletics star, Tuala, cleared nine metres in the shotput, 21 in the javelin and was just as dominant with the discus. She intends to return to the athletics scene if she can secure a coach.
Another priority is to score a job as a gym instructor. "I want to help people maintain and improve their fitness levels. They can do it with me so I can improve mine too," Tuala said.
However her immediate priority is the Tuis' NPC opener against Waikato at Napier's Park Island on Saturday.
"I'm not sure whether I'm starting or coming off the bench but I'll be ready for either role," Tuala said.
"I know I need to work on my fitness. I'm probably around the 80 per cent mark at the moment."
A former member of the Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools High Performance Academy, Tuala, is the oldest of three children. Her sister Maoneisa is a Year 8 student at Tamatea Intermediate School where she is a keen netballer and her brother Toavalu will start Tamatea Intermediate next year.
"I will encourage him into rugby," Tuala said.
During her time on the sidelines after her knee operations Tuala impressed as a rugby, volleyball and athletics coach. She won't be short of the nous required to make the step up to first class play on Saturday. Everything going to plan Tuala will be sitting down to a celebratory meal on Saturday night ... yes, one which is likely to include some taro and corn beef.
