The saying that “actions speak louder than words” could easily apply to Waimea’s big ball-running blindside Peter Samu.
His game is all about physicality, making storming runs through the middle of the park and big hits around the ruck, and he’s certainly caught the eye during his first season in Nelson.
The 22 year old Melbourne-born loose forward arrived in the region with a one year Tasman Makos contract.
He’s played club rugby for Randwick in Sydney, and played trial games for the Waratahs, but Peter’s Makos deal is the first professional contract of his career.
“If I can get a few games then this will be the highest level I’ve played at,” Peter says. “I was playing up in Sydney and I thought I’d come over. My family thought it’d be a good opportunity.”
In Australia, Peter had been on a free training deal with the Waratahs, where he’d practice with the Super Rugby team in the hope of picking up a contract. “I was just doing it for free. I was trying to get one of the wider training spots. I played a few trial games, including one in Auckland which was pretty good.”
But that never materialized into a contract, and the player who is just as comfortable at the back of the scrum, is now eager to make a name for himself in Tasman.
Even though he had been living in Melbourne, England and Sydney, Peter is well aware of the Tasman Makos. His older brother Lualua Vailoaloa made six appearances at halfback for the Makos over two seasons.
He will have plenty of competition in his position, with the entire loose forward trio picking up Super Rugby contracts this year, but Peter believes that is a good thing and he was looking forward to playing alongside Tevita Koloamatangi, Shane Christie and Liam Squire. “It excites me. It’ll be good to test myself against those guys playing at that level.”
And while he’s only signed for one year, he hopes he can perform well enough to earn an extension and stick around long term.
