By PETER JESSUP
Big prop Iafeta Paleaaesina has gone from KFC to skinless chicken and rice, but put on about 5kg in the off-season.
It's all muscle.
The 22-year-old is coming into his fourth season in the NRL and big things are expected of the giant. With his mentor Jerry Seuseu off to
England at the end of the year, Paleaaesina knows it's his chance to make a big impact and secure a place at the club where he is signed only until the end of this season.
"It's the hardest off-season I've had," he freely admits after moving in with captain Monty Betham.
"No junk food, high-intensity training. I feel better, I feel fresh and ready to go."
Paleaaesina, nickname "Feka", was dubbed "Mr Effective" after a debut in 2001 during which he skittled Northern Eagles players with a galloping charge which has become his trademark. In his fifth game he suffered a ruptured spleen.
The club had already signed him to the end of this year but after removal of the damaged organ he struggled through 2002.
Paleaaesina admitted he had suffered as much from a mental setback as he did the physical one.
But, smiling, he declares he's over that now. "I don't have a spleen to worry about any more."
He had learned how to manage the injury worry and how hard he had to work if he wanted to maintain his place in the team.
"It's all in my hands, it's up to me to work hard and perform."
Betham had helped with that, so had Seuseu.
"Jerry's the mark, he's been a real model for me. He helps a lot of the young guys and I'm keen to learn as much as I can from him."
The big Warriors forwards had been knocking each other around in pre-season, Paleaaesina said. He regarded that as a mark of the competition for a starting spot. He's aware he could be regarded as lucky to move up from the interchange because of the injury to Richard Villasanti, who returns in a fortnight. Others he has to watch are Karl Temata, Mark Tookey, new buy Matt Jobson and big frames from the development squad.
The Warriors' coaching staff are open about the expectation they have for the big man. He has lots of ball skills that will become more apparent, they believe, as he gets more comfortable in his role. His physique this year is way better; muscle build-up with no loss of speed. They expect him to play more minutes on the field and to expand the impact he's made coming off the bench, to make more carries and more tackles.
He may be a fan favourite and about to force his way into a regular berth at the Warriors, but back home nothing has changed. When he visits his parents and brothers Talavou (19) and Becoylee (13) he still gets to do the dishes. Both brothers play the game for his old club Otahuhu, the elder at centre and the younger at prop, with big bro on the sidelines when able, usually trying in vain to hide from autograph hunters and dads of the other players keen to talk football.
Crims will be happy if the big unit continues to make a success of league - his aim after football is to join the police.
Iafeta Paleaaesina
Born 8/2/82, Auckland.
187cm, 110kg prop.
Junior clubs: Papatoetoe, Otahuhu. Two seasons of Bartercard Cup for Hibiscus Coast. Junior Kiwi in 2003.
NRL debut 2001 v Northern Eagles in round 15.
* Visit nzherald.co.nz throughout the weekend for Warriors updates.
Warriors draw and results - 2004 NRL
Other NRL fixtures and points table
By PETER JESSUP
Big prop Iafeta Paleaaesina has gone from KFC to skinless chicken and rice, but put on about 5kg in the off-season.
It's all muscle.
The 22-year-old is coming into his fourth season in the NRL and big things are expected of the giant. With his mentor Jerry Seuseu off to
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