Leicester Tigers have given me back my roar – Telusa Veainu

Leicester’s try-wizard Telusa Veainu reckons he owes the Welford Road outfit a huge debt of gratitude for handing him a post-World Cup lifeline.
Tongan star Veainu, 25, looked set for rugby‘s scrapheap when he returned home to New Zealand after last autumn‘s global gathering with no club to play for.
One phone call later, however, he was on his way back to England and 12 tries in 25 matches have made him a firm crowd favourite – some turnaround for a man who managed just 16 appearances in five disappointing Super Rugby years.
After being crowned Tigers‘ player-of-the-year last Tuesday, former Highlanders, Crusaders and Rebels flier Veainu told The Rugby Paper: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it at Leicester and they really threw me a lifeline after the World Cup with Tonga.
“I had nothing sorted. Tonga gave me a foot in the door for the World Cup and I put all my eggs in one basket there, and then I went back to New Zealand not knowing if I was going to play again. Next thing, I’m flying back!
“It’s been a bit of a dream really and Richard Cockerill, Aaron Mauger and the coaching staff put their faith in me. They gave me a spark and an environment to really settle into and be myself, to be able to go out and play my natural footy. They’ve given me belief and have been really on my side. Even when I haven’t played well, they’ve been really encouraging and given me a lot of confidence, not just the coaches but the whole playing group here as well.
“Hopefully, I’ve been able to repay that faith with the way I’m playing and to be acknowledged by the fans is tremendous. Welford Road is a special place and you’d never get these crowds in Super Rugby, so you want to play well for them.”
A try-scoring prodigy when New Zealand U20s lifted the 2010 Junior World Cup, including a hat-trick in the final against Australia, Veainu had looked set for stardom alongside Julian Savea and Charlie Ngatai.
The dream turned to dust, however, with Veainu admitting: “I probably took my time at those Super Rugby franchises for granted. I’ve always been a player that’s had the talent and potential to do well, but my head wasn’t in the right space.
“I was low on confidence and self-belief. There was a lot of self-doubt and, as time went on, that rocked me to the bottom. But going away with the Tonga team last year rekindled my spirit, my hunger and gave me a chance to reassess.
“That gave me some confidence, and, coming to Leicester, the playing group and fans have made me so welcome. It’s been good to feed off those positive vibes and it makes things a whole lot easier when you come into something new.”
Leicester’s Champions Cup hopes ended against Racing 92 in Nottingham last week but Veainu is determined to make amends.
Premiership glory is the target now and he added: “Last week hurt, and what made it worse was knowing it was our own mistakes that cost us. In perfect conditions we didn’t get a good flow in our game and that was very hard to take.
“But that makes us doubly determined now and the league is the big target. We’ve got to work hard on individual skills and be mentally focused, because this club’s got huge history and you want to do well and be part of that legacy.”
NEALE HARVEY
Leicester Tigers have given me back my roar – Telusa Veainu
LEICESTER’S try-wizard Telusa Veainu reckons he owes the Welford Road outfit a huge debt of gratitude for handing him a post-World Cup lifeline.
Tongan star Veainu, 25, looked set for rugby’s scrapheap when he returned home to New Zealand after last autumn’s global gathering with no club to play for.
One phone call later, however, he was on his way back to England and 12 tries in 25 matches have made him a firm crowd favourite – some turnaround for a man who managed just 16 appearances in five disappointing Super Rugby years.
After being crowned Tigers’ player-of-the-year last Tuesday, former Highlanders, Crusaders and Rebels flier Veainu told The Rugby Paper: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it at Leicester and they really threw me a lifeline after the World Cup with Tonga.
“I had nothing sorted. Tonga gave me a foot in the door for the World Cup and I put all my eggs in one basket there, and then I went back to New Zealand not knowing if I was going to play again. Next thing, I’m flying back!
“It’s been a bit of a dream really and Richard Cockerill, Aaron Mauger and the coaching staff put their faith in me. They gave me a spark and an environment to really settle into and be myself, to be able to go out and play my natural footy. They’ve given me belief and have been really on my side. Even when I haven’t played well, they’ve been really encouraging and given me a lot of confidence, not just the coaches but the whole playing group here as well.
“Hopefully, I’ve been able to repay that faith with the way I’m playing and to be acknowledged by the fans is tremendous. Welford Road is a special place and you’d never get these crowds in Super Rugby, so you want to play well for them.”
A try-scoring prodigy when New Zealand U20s lifted the 2010 Junior World Cup, including a hat-trick in the final against Australia, Veainu had looked set for stardom alongside Julian Savea and Charlie Ngatai.
The dream turned to dust, however, with Veainu admitting: “I probably took my time at those Super Rugby franchises for granted. I’ve always been a player that’s had the talent and potential to do well, but my head wasn’t in the right space.
“I was low on confidence and self-belief. There was a lot of self-doubt and, as time went on, that rocked me to the bottom. But going away with the Tonga team last year rekindled my spirit, my hunger and gave me a chance to reassess.
“That gave me some confidence, and, coming to Leicester, the playing group and fans have made me so welcome. It’s been good to feed off those positive vibes and it makes things a whole lot easier when you come into something new.”
Leicester’s Champions Cup hopes ended against Racing 92 in Nottingham last week but Veainu is determined to make amends.
Premiership glory is the target now and he added: “Last week hurt, and what made it worse was knowing it was our own mistakes that cost us. In perfect conditions we didn’t get a good flow in our game and that was very hard to take.
“But that makes us doubly determined now and the league is the big target. We’ve got to work hard on individual skills and be mentally focused, because this club’s got huge history and you want to do well and be part of that legacy.”
NEALE HARVEY