Salford Red Devils’ Tim Lafai has been one of the signings of the season in the Betfred Super League but, according to him, he wasn’t always destined for a career in rugby.
The strong centre has not only become one of the Red Devils‘ main attacking threats since joining back in December 2021, but he has also proved to be one of the league’s biggest hitters.
However, speaking on an episode of BBC’s Super League Show which aired earlier this week, the 31-year-old revealed how nearly gave the sport up entirely after having “fallen out of love with rugby league” and putting it aside to focus on providing for his family.
As he explained on Monday night’s show, the Samoan-born bruiser was busy “doing construction work… a bit of traffic control and labouring here and there” for a number of years before he made his move to the UK and the Super League.
👷♂️ From construction work to the @SalfordDevils, it's hard not to love Tim Lafai’s story 🥰
Lafai had more than 10 years of NRL (National Rugby League) experience in Australia and New Zealand before rocking up at Salford, not to mention several caps for his country, but as the father of four recently told The Sportsman, going back to any old day job nearly became permanent.
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Lafai went on to explain that “having a year off from playing professionally, just working like an everyday Australian back home made me a lot more grateful coming back into the game, of what I actually had and what I could have lost.
“It was anything I could get to provide for my family and I was just about to give rugby league up. There was nothing in the NRL and I didn’t really think of Super League.
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“It put my vision into a different perspective with how I see the simple things, and having four kids and a wife makes me more determined, mature and have that passion for the game again.”
Cut to his debut season and the end of last year, the Samoan international was playing in the final of the Rugby League World Cup and, in his words, back to “doing what [he] loves again”. Things you like to hear.
“I’m just out here living my best life,” says Lafai, “doing the best for my team and my club.” It certainly seems to be appreciated as well, with head coach Paul Rowley dubbing him one of the “signings of the season” and among many people’s dream team picks.
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Lafai went on to insist that as long as “I’m doing what I love again and if it brings a smile to the people and makes them feel a certain way that’s fine by me.” What a guy.
You can watch the full episode of Super League ShowHERE.
Featured Image — Salford Red Devils (via Twitter)/BBC iPLayer
Sport
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
Sport
Manchester City release limited-edition Blossoms shirts exclusively in new flagship store
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have released a limited run of special Blossoms shirts, which will be available exclusively at the new flagship City Store.
Etihad Airways has donated the front-of-shirt space for the special drop, which celebrates the Stockport band’s lifelong support of Man City and will fundraise forCity in the Community’s 40th anniversary.
The Manchester City x Blossoms collab features the band’s logo across the chest of the 2024/25 season’s away shirt – one of the Club’s most popular designs in recent years.
Profits from sales of the shirts will be donated to CITC to support its 40th anniversary fundraising, which empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Blossoms have just secured their fifth UK number one album with their latest release, ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’, and will soon be heading on an arena tour that includes two massive shows at the Co-op Live.
There’s a very limited run of the Man City Blossoms shirts, available in sizes small to large, which will exclusively be sold at the new flagship CityStore.
The shirts have dropped in-store this morning, with further drops to be released around the band’s tour dates this November and December.
As for that new City store – it’s a whopping 21,000 sq ft, three-floor space at Medlock Square, right beside the Etihad Stadium, and is the biggest shop in the club’s history.
The new flagship has opened today in collaboration with PUMA and Stichd, and features a new, interactive ‘Make It Yours’ customisation station as well as an expanded range of Manchester City products.
Danny Jones -
22nd February 2023 
