TIno Fa'asuamaleaui has capped a sad and traumatic season by winning the Gold Coast player of the year award as he prepares to join Australia's World Cup squad.
The Paul Broughton Medal around the Titans co-captain's neck at the club's presentation night on Tuesday was a tribute to the brave and brilliant way the rampaging prop coped with the death of his father Fereti Fa'asuamaleaui, who made his son's rugby league career possible.
When Fereti passed away days before the second State of Origin match, Tino left the Maroons' camp to grieve with his family before returning to play an awe-inspiring match at the MCG to spark a 44-24 victory.
It was a measure of the big heart of the man. Tino revealed after the match that his dad had uttered inspirational words to him on his last day.
"He said to me, 'Son, whatever happens next, you make sure you represent Queensland and play hard'," Fa'asuamaleaui said.
He did that and went on to have a barnstorming end of the season for the Titans to win the club's prestigious Paul Broughton Medal for the third time.
Despite the team finishing a disappointing 16th, Tino held his gloves up and was a standout in the final two months of the competition.
Fa'asuamaleaui was a key figure on the Ashes tour of England last year, helping inspire Australia to a 3-0 win over England.
He had earlier made the tough decision to stick with the Kangaroos, for whom he has played 10 Tests, after representing Samoa in 2019.
Fereti was a Samoan international rugby player who was recruited by Arthur Beetson to play for the Sydney Roosters, then known as Eastern Suburbs, for whom he played reserve grade.
His move to Australia paved the way for him to start a family and Tino credits the decision as a "butterfly effect" that ultimately led to him playing in the NRL, winning a title at the Storm and becoming a Queensland and Test stalwart.
Australia coach Kevin Walters told AAP that Fa'asuamaleaui would be a key figure in the World Cup.
"He was very instrumental in the success of the tour last year with his leadership," Walters told AAP.
"That will be no different for this year's tournament at the World Cup and we are very excited to have him on board.
"I'm looking forward to working with him again. He is a good fella and a great player."
