League: Tuakura revved up and ready to go

Sitting in George Tuakura's garage is a 1973 Jaguar. It shows a few signs of age and doesn't have the sleek lines of modern versions but under the bonnet is a V8 engine.

"It's a bit like me," Tuakura said with a laugh this week from the Warriors' camp in Queensland. "I like to think I've got a V8 inside me."

At 30 years old, Tuakura isn't exactly the youngest player on the Warriors' books. But , extraordinarily, he's yet to make his NRL debut.

In this era of young and athletic league players who know little more than the game itself, Tuakura has, well, a few life skills.

When he found out a little over 12 months ago that he was going to be signed into the Warriors' extended squad, Tuakura immediately packed in his job with the state housing corporation cleaning the backyards of state houses.

"I didn't care about the terms the Warriors were offering, I just wanted to play for them," Tuakura said with the enthusiasm of a teenager. "Just the opportunity to be there, at my age, is awesome."

Tuakura was brought into the training squad after impressing for a President's XIII against the Warriors last season. While he was still quite some way down the pecking order, the departures of Iafeta Paleaaesina and Karl Temata at the end of last season opened the door a little - an opening Tuakura has now put his enormous 112kg frame through.

He's even vying with Richard Villasanti and Evarn Tuimavave to be regarded as the No 3 prop at the club - behind automatic selections Steve Price and Ruben Wiki.

"I'm looking at a lot of game time this year," Tuakura said with more expectation than hope. "I'm definitely pushing for selection each week. Villa and Evarn know we're all in the same boat and fighting for that position."

How much Tuakura features might depend on who the Warriors play and whether they want to opt for an intimidating pack or a more mobile one.

What he brings to the equation is an explosive game, in the mould of Paleaaesina.

In the Warriors' opening trial against the Raiders this season, he earned rave reviews for his powerful running and punishing defence. He then backed it up with a try in last weekend's 26-10 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in Cairns.

"I can be a handful for because I not only run at 100mph but I've also got good footwork and ball skills," he said, sounding a little bashful about talking himself up.

In many respects, Tuakura thought his chance of playing NRL had passed him by. Various coaches had massaged his ego throughout his career suggesting he was good enough to play at that level but nothing ever came of it. Instead, he played in local leagues in country New South Wales, the Queensland Cup and in France with Limoux in-between stints with Otahuhu.

"When I hit 27 I thought, 'that's it, she's all over now'. I thought everyone would go for the younger guys. I still gave it my all because all I ever wanted to do was play NRL but I really believed it was a long shot."

The fact that it is happening is in no small part related to his shedding of a significant amount of weight in the past year. Previously tipping the scales at a massive 133kg, he's now a more mobile 112kg.

"I've always had problems with my weight but when I started training with the Warriors I realised I couldn't do it with all that weight on," he explained. "I could feel it on me and it drove me to lose the kilos."

Even the events of the past week haven't seemed to dull Tuakura's enthusiasm and it's something his team-mates would do well to emulate in what looms as a difficult season ahead.

But for the man himself, there is still one major goal to tick off.

"I haven't really made it until I've played an NRL game," he said, keeping things in perspective. "If I did, I'd be the happiest man in the world - but I would want more after that. To play a whole season of NRL..." Tuakura trails off, thinking about what this would mean to him.

Once he's achieved this, as he seems certain to do, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the affable prop forward driving off into the sunset - in his 1973 Jaguar, of course. 

George Tuakura

* Age: 30
* Tuakara was signed after impressing during a pre-season game for a President's XIII against the Warriors.
* Tuakara played for the Cook Islands at the 2000 World Cup.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY