He is already deemed royalty by Hull FC’s adoring fans.
But ‘King’ Carlos Tuimamave would love to earn the same legendary status as a returning trio of regal Kiwi stars. The classy New Zealander centre, who is nearing 150 games for the Black and Whites, will feature against Toulouse in Betfred Super League on Saturday. And some of the club’s Kiwi heroes of yesteryear - Dane O’Hara, Gary Kemble and Fred Ah Kuoi - will present the match ball before kick-off.
They are back in the city to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hull’s famous 1982 Challenge Cup success, one of many triumphs in a golden period for the club. Prolific winger O’Hara and full-back Kemble, along with Kiwi centre James Leuluai, joined Hull in 1981-82. They immediately helped them win the Cup for the first time in 62 years plus the John Player Trophy.
Stylish stand-off Ah Kuoi followed his New Zealand team-mates the following campaign when Hull also claimed the league title. The East Yorkshire club has not won it since. With three successive Yorkshire Cup glories as well, it is little wonder the Kiwis are so revered in the west of the city.
Aucklander Tuimavave, 30, enthused: “I definitely know a lot about them. They are all Kiwi and Hull FC legends. They were the first group of Kiwis to come over for Hull and had a big influence. They paved the way for those of us who’ve played for Hull ever since.
“They influenced that and you look at the long line of Kiwis who represented Hull over the years and it comes down to those guys. I’ve not had chance to catch up with them yet but I’m hoping to on Saturday and pay my respects.”
As part of the first Hull side to win at Wembley in 2016, lifting the Challenge Cup again 12 months later, Tuimavave is already entrenched in Black and Whites folklore himself. Such is the manner he is adored in these parts, you can see him making his own nostalgic trip back across the world years down the line for a similar reunion. Ideally, that would be having helped Hull finally win Super League - emulating those 1983 heroics.
Tuimavave, who joined from Newcastle Knights in 2016, admitted: “That’d be amazing - and the ultimate goal. There’s a long way to go but hopefully at some point in my Hull career that comes true. At this stage, though, my name is nowhere near compared to those legends. But maybe in 30 years time I can come back to Hull again. I’d like that.”
In terms of the great Kiwis who have come before him at Hull - and after the aforementioned trio - there has been the likes of 2005 Challenge Cup winning captain Richard Swain and the formidable ex-Melbourne second-row Stephen Kearney.
But who did Tuimavave admire when growing up?
"I’m quite young so the guys we've been talking about were before my time," he said.
"But I knew a lot about James Leuluai as he came from the same junior club as me - Mount Wellington Warriors. I watched Sonny Bill Williams a lot when I was younger and people like Ruben Wiki. They were the ones."
FC could move back into the top-four with victory over bottom-placed Toulouse.
Tuimavave added: “Saturday is definitely a big game for us, especially going into the week off. To pick up four home wins on the bounce has given us a lot of momentum going into the second half of the season. We can’t disrespect Toulouse at all, though. They have lost a few games but often only by little margins so we respect the opposition."
Win, lose or draw, with those VIP guests in attendance, it’ll be a special day regardless.
