Every debut is special, but when Setu Tu walked the turf of Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for the first time Friday afternoon it dawned on the 27-year-old just how unique his long-awaited NRL introduction would be.
It’s been a big few months for the Samoan native – who has spent the preseason away from his wife and two daughters in a bid to achieve his dream of an NRL debut.
His dream will be realised the next time he sets foot on Allegiant Stadium, although this time he will be clad in the famous Red V with his name embroidered across his chest.
His birth name: Tulelei Tu.
The name comes from his grandfather who Tu wanted to honour as a nod to his late mother, Sinaletuna.
Whilst Tu never met his grandfather, he remains a part of the “village” that played a role in raising young Setu in Saleimoa.
A village that included aunties, uncles, grandparents, siblings and many others.
But Tu’s rugby league dream was born out of an overseas move to Auckland at age 15 with older brother Rob who put his own aspirations on hold out of love for his family.
“When Mum passed away, I was only 15. Tu was only 10,” Rob said.
“Being the older brother was really hard. I had three siblings. We moved over to New Zealand. [Mum’s aunty] goes to me, ‘when I pass away, who’s going to look after Tu?’ And I took that with me to New Zealand… It took a village to raise him.”
As a kid, Tu suffered from panic attacks when playing rugby union including an incident in which he blacked out and woke up at home being told he had almost died.
It prompted Tu’s mother to ban him from contact sport.
Tu’s toughest challenge came a couple years later however when he lost his mother to cancer which led to nightmares, moving between different homes, and his village elders coming together.
An NRL debut was on the cards for Tu in 2024 when at the Warriors. All he needed to do was get through his NSW Cup match unscathed and an NRL call-up would be waiting the following week.
A torn MCL in the first half of the NSW Cup game meant however that Tu’s NRL dream would be put on hold.
A lot has gone into this moment for Tu.
A lot has gone into this moment for Tu’s family.
Tulelei Tu may just be two words stitched onto the chest of his Dragons jersey come Saturday night.
But to some, it represents so much more.
