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A mentor off the field and a marauder. These are the two roles that Sam Tagataese, veteran of Brisbane, himself set for 2019.
The 31-year-old veteran is invaluable in guiding young Broncos forwards off the field, but he is also inspired to join him more in 2018 than in 2018 after an honest assessment of his season.
The Sharks Premier's winner in 2016 has played four games with the NRL for Brisbane in 2018, the most modest return of any season in his 13-year career.
It's a record that the player of the NRL 172 does not want to repeat and that's why he's returned to preparatory training in the best shape of his career.
Tagataese weighed 109 kg when he started the pre-season last, but he made an effort of 106 kg this year after losing three pounds.
He mentors Grade 12 students at Wavell State High where he talks about setting goals. Tagataese thought that it was essential to put into practice what he preached. He has therefore set some goals during the off season.
One of them had to travel 5 km for the first time in his life and he quickly lost five minutes of his best time in a few days.
Waiting for a Brisbane contract extension was "a trying time", but he intends to make the most of the signing of a one-year contract after describing the recent season as a "that was not what I wanted" .
"I'm really happy to have another chance and to do it according to my conditions, while changing a little mentality," said Tagataese after training Broncos on Wednesday.
"Even though I've been in the game for a long time, this year, I've met [the fact] I had to improve after watching the young guys arrive.
"I also looked at my career and there is a bit of inconsistency between injury and performance, so I thought," I could just as well put it all together and get a good shot. "
Tagataese is proud of its Samoan origin and the Broncos have an advanced series of Polynesian heritage such as Payne Haas, David Fifita, Tevita Pangai and Joe Ofahengaue who are turning to him for advice, but he He is not ready to give his place on the 17th to them on a plate.
"If I can get the best out of myself, I can challenge the youngest as well and if they train well, I can challenge myself to compete."
With the release of Josh McGuire to the Cowboys, there is a gap on the departure side at the lock.
It's a match for a young man, but Tagataese does not have to look further than his former Sharks prime minister, Chris Heighington, at the age of 34, at age 34, to believe that the years of year of an attacker's career can also be rewarding.
"Looking at Heighno, he was a good guy, a great mentor and I had a good time with him in Cronulla and seeing how he ended his football career as well," said Tagataese.
"For me it is another challenge to get the best of myself, I will take it from year to year and if the opportunity comes again in 2020, I will certainly take it in consideration."
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