Tui Lolohea reveals past problems, honesty on Brett Hodgson and spills all on Leeds Rhinos exit

When Tui Lolohea made his move to the Leeds Rhinos ahead of the 2019 Super League season, the West Yorkshire club looked good value for a play-off spot.

The Tonga international, along with Konrad Hurrell and Trent Merrin, made the move from the NRL to Headingley, but things soon started to turn awry.

Throughout the 2019 year, Leeds were consigned to the bottom half of the table and were within danger of relegation.

And for Lolohea, a move away from the Rhinos during mid-season, seemed to be the best thing for both parties with the deal with the Salford Red Devils being completed quickly.

“Coming to Leeds was a massive thing, me, Konrad and Trent were the faces of Leeds,” Lolohea told the Say Less podcast.

“On paper we had a mean team, but we were facing relegation – we were even bottom at one stage in mid-year and we just weren’t winning any games.

“I came back to New Zealand to play a game for Tonga and my agent rang me and told me about a move to Salford.

“When I came back I went into Leeds and packed my stuff up and signed for Salford over the weekend and was playing for them the week after.”

For Lolohea, however, the rugby league career may never have come about had it not been for an incredible family sacrifice from his father.

“My mum passed away when I was 1 and I grew up with my old man who sacrificed a lot to give me a better life.

“Footy was what my talent was, it made me a better person and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without him.”

At times, Lolohea has been subject to a number of rollercoaster years, but it was during one down period where he encountered Brett Hodgson – and he helped the playmaker find his love of rugby league once more.

“I played in the halves the whole year in 2017 for the Wests Tigers and then after the World Cup I became a fullback.

“I got injured in round one in 2018 and I was forced to play injured and was playing reserve grade.

“But, I actually enjoyed that a lot because I was under Brett Hodgson who used to be the Wests Tigers fullback back in the day.

“He understood players and we had a really good connection – there was no pressure on me, and I was enjoying playing footy.”