Player Profile - Viliami Lolohea

MEET THE MAKO NEWBIES

This week we talk to Viliami (Vils) Lolohea, the Makos winger from Waimea Old Boys club.

Congratulations on becoming Tasman Mako # 134. You have previously played rugby league for the Junior Warriors. How have you found the transition to rugby union, and what is the major difference in playing the two codes?

Prior to joining Waimea Old Boys and now the Tasman Makos I had never played Rugby Union. It’s been a really big challenge to learn everything from scratch. A winger in rugby has to have many more skills, both in attack and also doing the hard work cleaning out at ruck time. I also have been learning how to kick which I never did in league.

I saw moving here and playing rugby as an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, away from family and friends, and to grow as a person. It was really, really hard at first but I am now enjoying the challenge as rugby and the environment is now becoming more familiar.

You set up a lovely try for Pete Samu against Manawatu, first collecting a high kick then a deft off load. Talk us through that.

When Jimmy Cowan put the kick up I chased and at first thought the gather would be uncontested. Then their winger also went up and I was lucky to beat him to it. I wasn’t expecting the ball to come back to me so quickly but managed to fend off their rush defence and slip a ball to Pete Samu who I saw had some space. He did the rest. Sweet.

At what age, where and at what position did you first play rugby league?

I was 14 years old at Otahuhu club and played second row mainly but also some time in the centres.

Who has been your biggest influence on life away from the game?

My family headed by mum Meli and dad Maka. We’re a close Tongan family and I have 3 sisters and 3 brothers. Also my friends from childhood and at Otahuhu club have been a strong influence.

Who have you buddied up with in the squad?

I’m close to my club mates from Waimea Old Boys – Pete Samu, Jeff Lepa and Billy Guyton. Billy has helped me out from day one when we met in Christchurch at Crusaders pre-season camp.

Is there anyone in the team you look up to or most want to play like?

Shane Christie is who I admire as a leader and as a friend. He has taken time out to gee me up to get stuck in to training and allowed me to feel like I belong as a player.

Name any player in world rugby who you would most like to be like and why?

My favourite player is Ma’a Nonu. He keeps getting better and his year he has carved up with his skills and hard running. I want to play like him.

What is the one thing that people don’t know about you?

Ever since I was in our school production of Lion King, as one of the hyenas, I want to be an actor.