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Let's be Frank... Why I chose to stay
Jared Coote
Wednesday 10 July 2013 2:00 PM
Frank-Paul Nuuausala is one of the most polarising figures amongst Rooster fans.
It's easy to have an opinion on someone looking through glass doors.
Following a superb start to 2013 'Franky' re-signed with the club this week for two more seasons.
One place where opinion is not divided is Roosters HQ.
The joy around the building however is not so much due to Franky the player, but Franky the person.
Nuuausala is a very in-depth and interesting character who is worth getting to know. He is arguably the most popular member of the playing group and is one of the most genuine people you could get to know.
Behind the tattoos and the fingers on Instagram is a passionate and incredibly loyal man, who has turned his life around.
Without the Tricolours Frank wouldn't be the person he is today and vice-versa.
Franky can throw out the footy cliches like the rest of them, but ask a real questions and you get some of the most honest answers to come out of anyones mouth, let alone someone in the public eye.
"The Roosters took a chance on me when I was younger, they were loyal and I wanted to show that back to the club," Nuuausala said.
"I came to the club as a boy with a chip on my shoulder."
"I just kind of had something against the world."
"Thanks to this club I have grown up and I am on my way to becoming a proper man and it hasn't been easy but the club has been here for me the whole way."
Sure it's common for a player to say a place feels like home, but in Nuuausala's case, the relationships, generosity and care that has been afforded to him really does make Frank feel like he is walking in to his house.
"Sure I'm from New Zealand and I will never forget that but Australia is my home and the Roosters are my family over here," he said.
"I even have the girls I call Mum and Sister here." (He really does, two of the lovely ladies in the office Cath and Deanne, who he sits and chats with every day)
That's not to say Nuuausala has forgotten about his roots and where he came from, in fact it is something he is extremely vocal and passionate about.
All you have to do is take one look at Roosters reception where you can almost guarantee there is a parcel down there waiting to be sent from Frank back to his family and friends back in New Zealand.
His story is not so much a rags to riches story but one about an athlete who despite a lack of opportunity, had the courage to avoid an accepted path of growing up in South Auckland and give himself a real chance to utilise his talents.
"Growing up in South Auckland was tough it was like you're either in a gang, a factory worker or unemployed," Nuuausala said.
"I'm really lucky that I stuck to what I was good at."
"A lot of people look down on us and our area in New Zealand but I'm proud of where I'm from."
"My immediate family is still there and that really helps to keep me grounded and I go back to see them as often as I can."
"They don't have much so I give them as much I can."
"I get proud when I go back to my neighbourhood as hopefully the kids back there can see what I have done and can then view a club like the Roosters as an opportunity."
An opportunity that even Franky still can't believe has been bestowed upon him.
"Sometimes I have to look in the mirror to really believe where I am and the people I am playing with," he said.
"To play with people like Mini, Fitzgibbon, Craig Wing and people I grew up watching has just been crazy."
"At times I feel like a shy kid still who's spinning out and I have to step back and just take it all in, it still feels like a dream sometimes."
When talk turns to football and his decision to continue with the club, despite offers from elsewhere, the determination and intent in Nuuausala's voice is obvious.
"I have unfinished business here," he said.
"I have been here for 8 years and I have been playing with some of the boys since we were really young."
"Boys like Skiddy, Pearcey, Aubo and I have been in teams together for years and despite going close in the 20's and close in 2010 we haven't won anything as a group."
"I really want to win something with these boys and everyone else that has joined this club."
"I want some rings with the boys and I want to finish what I started," he repeats.
Premiership or not, Nuuausala did reveal that he plans to add a Roosters element to his (depending who you talk to) impressive collection of tattoos.
"The Roosters logo and my playing number will definitely be added soon I just need to find some room," Nuuausala said.
Despite having plenty of footy still ahead of him, Nuuausala has already given thought to life after lacing on the boots and unsurprisingly it involves helping out kids who find themselves in a similar situation to what he did. (Although just quietly given the amount of haircuts he gets, we think he would be pretty handy with a razor)
"If I wasn't here I'd probably be a wannabe gangster, living on the dole or working in a factory so if I can I'd like to help to pass on my experience."
As you can see, Franky is not a polarising figure at Roosters HQ!
_____
Roosters marketing have finally stepped up their game. Well written article.
Let's be Frank... Why I chose to stay
Jared Coote
Wednesday 10 July 2013 2:00 PM
Frank-Paul Nuuausala is one of the most polarising figures amongst Rooster fans.
It's easy to have an opinion on someone looking through glass doors.
Following a superb start to 2013 'Franky' re-signed with the club this week for two more seasons.
One place where opinion is not divided is Roosters HQ.
The joy around the building however is not so much due to Franky the player, but Franky the person.
Nuuausala is a very in-depth and interesting character who is worth getting to know. He is arguably the most popular member of the playing group and is one of the most genuine people you could get to know.
Behind the tattoos and the fingers on Instagram is a passionate and incredibly loyal man, who has turned his life around.
Without the Tricolours Frank wouldn't be the person he is today and vice-versa.
Franky can throw out the footy cliches like the rest of them, but ask a real questions and you get some of the most honest answers to come out of anyones mouth, let alone someone in the public eye.
"The Roosters took a chance on me when I was younger, they were loyal and I wanted to show that back to the club," Nuuausala said.
"I came to the club as a boy with a chip on my shoulder."
"I just kind of had something against the world."
"Thanks to this club I have grown up and I am on my way to becoming a proper man and it hasn't been easy but the club has been here for me the whole way."
Sure it's common for a player to say a place feels like home, but in Nuuausala's case, the relationships, generosity and care that has been afforded to him really does make Frank feel like he is walking in to his house.
"Sure I'm from New Zealand and I will never forget that but Australia is my home and the Roosters are my family over here," he said.
"I even have the girls I call Mum and Sister here." (He really does, two of the lovely ladies in the office Cath and Deanne, who he sits and chats with every day)
That's not to say Nuuausala has forgotten about his roots and where he came from, in fact it is something he is extremely vocal and passionate about.
All you have to do is take one look at Roosters reception where you can almost guarantee there is a parcel down there waiting to be sent from Frank back to his family and friends back in New Zealand.
His story is not so much a rags to riches story but one about an athlete who despite a lack of opportunity, had the courage to avoid an accepted path of growing up in South Auckland and give himself a real chance to utilise his talents.
"Growing up in South Auckland was tough it was like you're either in a gang, a factory worker or unemployed," Nuuausala said.
"I'm really lucky that I stuck to what I was good at."
"A lot of people look down on us and our area in New Zealand but I'm proud of where I'm from."
"My immediate family is still there and that really helps to keep me grounded and I go back to see them as often as I can."
"They don't have much so I give them as much I can."
"I get proud when I go back to my neighbourhood as hopefully the kids back there can see what I have done and can then view a club like the Roosters as an opportunity."
An opportunity that even Franky still can't believe has been bestowed upon him.
"Sometimes I have to look in the mirror to really believe where I am and the people I am playing with," he said.
"To play with people like Mini, Fitzgibbon, Craig Wing and people I grew up watching has just been crazy."
"At times I feel like a shy kid still who's spinning out and I have to step back and just take it all in, it still feels like a dream sometimes."
When talk turns to football and his decision to continue with the club, despite offers from elsewhere, the determination and intent in Nuuausala's voice is obvious.
"I have unfinished business here," he said.
"I have been here for 8 years and I have been playing with some of the boys since we were really young."
"Boys like Skiddy, Pearcey, Aubo and I have been in teams together for years and despite going close in the 20's and close in 2010 we haven't won anything as a group."
"I really want to win something with these boys and everyone else that has joined this club."
"I want some rings with the boys and I want to finish what I started," he repeats.
Premiership or not, Nuuausala did reveal that he plans to add a Roosters element to his (depending who you talk to) impressive collection of tattoos.
"The Roosters logo and my playing number will definitely be added soon I just need to find some room," Nuuausala said.
Despite having plenty of footy still ahead of him, Nuuausala has already given thought to life after lacing on the boots and unsurprisingly it involves helping out kids who find themselves in a similar situation to what he did. (Although just quietly given the amount of haircuts he gets, we think he would be pretty handy with a razor)
"If I wasn't here I'd probably be a wannabe gangster, living on the dole or working in a factory so if I can I'd like to help to pass on my experience."
As you can see, Franky is not a polarising figure at Roosters HQ!
_____
Roosters marketing have finally stepped up their game. Well written article.
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