Mate Ma's "number one supporter" in Tonga passes the team's hair before the match against Australia

Auckland will be a busy city when Mate Ma Tonga will face the kangaroos, but maybe no one will have more than Melissa Kami.

She is an unconditional fan of Ma & n Tonga and has one of the toughest jobs "but most important" in the team's preparations.

Wearing a comb, a jar of gel and a set of acrylic nails, she will spend her Friday night at the team's hotel to tackle the gigantic task of taming the hair of the players, including Konrad Hurrell and Solomone Kata.

Kami, 29, braids the hair of some of Australia's best sportsmen, as well as Warriors stars such as James Gavet, Agnatius Paasi, Leivaha Pulu and Isaiah Papali.

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The former warrior, now Tongan center Hurrell, is one of Kami's most loyal clients. She often uses her services before major events. They are not bigger than the Saturday sale.

Hurrell, Kata, "and everyone who longs", will visit the field Saturday with unique hairstyles and the work of the team's number one fan will be thoroughly exposed.

For Kami, it's not just about keeping your hair close to the ground, braiding is an art and the players are his canvas.

"I have the impression that it is my vocation, my talent given by God," she said.

"And what better way to honor God than to make the most of it.I have always loved to style myself since my childhood, playing with dolls hair, etc. The countless creative things that I can do with someone's hair which is what made me love I've always thought that it was better to invest in your hair because that's the crown that you never remove. "

Living and working now in Sydney, the single mother traveled to Auckland this week for the test match.

"There are so many Tongan flags here that I was wondering if I had taken the right flight," she said.

"So happy to be here and so blessed with this opportunity … Honestly, one year at a time, I would never have thought it would be possible."

That's because a year ago, Kami was facing homelessness.

She was working in a hair salon but was struggling to make ends meet – until she met with Hurrell.

"We were in a bar and I saw it, and I just knew I had to suck it and get it," she said.

"I hit him on the shoulder and, in order not to lie, he pushed me aside.

"I just told myself," No way, I have to do this ", so I picked up the best picture of my work that I had on my phone and I basically pushed it to the face . "

Kami told Hurrell the next time he would be in Sydney, he should come to his studio for some braids. Hurrell was playing for the Gold Coast Titans at the time.

"Honestly, I really did not expect a call, but one day my phone fell and Koni asked if he could pass and I said, of course."

Hurrell arrived with a few companions – the warriors of the avant-garde Paasi and Pulu.

From there, her talents have spread into the world of football and she now has several regular NRL clients, as well as UFC star, Tyson Pedro, as clients.

"I'm always shocked at everything, doing what I love for a job and working with such great people has really been a blessing." My message to anyone who plans to follow your dreams is to just do it. , bite the bullet and go for it, "said Kami.

Even before tackling the locks in Tonga, she had Gavet come to her friend's house in Māngere for a quick braid before the long weekend.

"She's the best in the industry," said Gavet.

"Some of the boys, we come without any plan, we sit down and let her do what she has to do and she always kills him."

Kami's dream is to one day open his own studio and share his talents with as many people as possible.