Imagine a player from a developmental squad suddenly thrust into the starting lineup for a Super Bowl—an underdog story so extraordinary it feels like something out of a movie. But this isn’t the NFL; it’s rugby, and the star of this tale is Setu Tu, whose long-awaited NRL debut is finally here. This weekend, in the dazzling lights of Las Vegas, Tu will step onto the field for the first time as a professional in the National Rugby League’s season-opening doubleheader at Allegiant Stadium. It’s a moment that mirrors the NFL’s global spectacle, but with a twist uniquely Tu’s own.
For the third year in a row, the NRL has kicked off its season with a high-profile doubleheader in Sin City, a move that echoes the NFL’s international expansion. Tu, a 26-year-old rookie, will start as a winger for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, facing off against the Canterbury Bulldogs in the finale at 11:30 p.m. EST on Saturday. But here’s where it gets controversial: Tu’s journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary, and it’s a story that challenges the very definition of perseverance.
Let’s rewind. At just 8 years old, Tu suffered a seizure during a youth rugby match due to an anxiety disorder. Doctors told him he’d never play contact sports again. At 12, he lost his mother, Tuna, to cancer, leaving him the third-youngest of four children without a parent. With his father absent, Tu shuffled between four different relatives’ homes during his formative years. At 15, he moved to New Zealand with his older brother, Robertson, who became his guardian. And this is the part most people miss: Tu didn’t even start playing Rugby League until he was 18, yet he’s spent nearly a decade chasing this dream.
His path hasn’t been without heartbreak. In 2024, on the brink of his NRL debut, a torn ACL sidelined him just a week before the big game. Since then, he’s been grinding through the ‘train and trial’ program, fighting for a spot on the Dragons roster. Married with two daughters, Olive and Atahail, Tu’s financial struggles have been real. But here’s the bold truth: Tu isn’t in this for the money. ‘I’m not chasing money,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to get here. I wanted to fulfill that dream, whatever comes with it.’
After a preseason where he feared he’d blown his chance with a costly mistake, Tu was called into coach Shane Flanagan’s office. Instead of criticism, he heard praise—and the news that he’d earned his spot in Saturday’s game. ‘I was lost for words,’ Tu recalled, tears welling up as he reflected on the sacrifices. ‘It still hasn’t hit me.’
Dragons captain Clint Gutherson summed it up perfectly: ‘He’s turned up ready to train and he’s trained hard. For him to get this opportunity—especially here—it’s something he’ll look back on and say how special it was.’ But here’s the question: Does Tu’s story redefine what it means to overcome adversity in sports? Or is it just another tale of resilience in a world full of them?
As Tu prepares for his debut, his mind will be flooded with memories—of his late mother, whom he lost too soon, and of his daughters, whom he’s sacrificed time with to chase this dream. Olive, his firstborn, was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Tu witnessed her birth via FaceTime due to quarantine restrictions. His second daughter, just 6 months old, he’s seen for only two months during Christmas. These are the sacrifices fans rarely see, but they’re the backbone of every athlete’s journey.
‘I love what I do, so I’m not complaining,’ Tu said. And on Saturday night, under the same stadium lights that once hosted the Super Bowl, Tu will play in his own version of a championship game. It’s the biggest moment in a life that’s been anything but easy—a moment he’s more than earned.
So, what do you think? Is Setu Tu’s story a testament to the power of perseverance, or is it a reminder that sometimes, the odds are just too stacked against us? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
