Vuna makes timely return with Tweed

It was the first football of the year for the forward, who was born in the United States of America, after he suffered an ACL injury in the first week of the finals last year when the Seagulls fell to the eventual premiers Norths Devils.

This week, Vuna has again been named for the Seagulls for their game against Townsville Blackhawks and is set to again come off the bench as he builds up to playing longer minutes.  

Speaking before his return to the field about his recovery process, Vuna said it was an experience he would learn plenty from, including the value of patience.

“This is the biggest (injury) I have done. The club has been really good, they have kept me around, kept me in the loop, just everything to do with my rehab has been pretty good,” Vuna said about his recovery with the Titans.

“Definitely the hardest thing (is) watching the boys play; you get itchy feet, so it’s something I have to be (careful) about, because I don’t what to do it again.”

Vuna, who made his NRL debut with the Warriors, moved to the Titans in 2021 and spent eight games playing with Tweed, a club he has enjoyed being around.

“My first season with them was last year, I like Tweed hey, Tweed are an awesome club,” Vuna said.

“It’s a mean family club, the boys get around it, so it’s pretty good.”

Growing up in Auckland, Otahuhu, Vuna – who is the brother of dual-code rugby international Cooper Vuna – played through the junior grades for Otahuhu before being signed with the Warriors.

After taking some time away from the game, Vuna was happy to get his opportunity to head to Australia to further his playing career and hopefully achieve his goal of returning to the NRL.

“I went from under 16, 17s to 20s with the Warriors in New South Wales Cup and first grade and I am now here with the Titans,” Vuna said.

“(An NRL return is) definitely something I will be aiming for; I have always got to put my best foot forward and hopefully get a shot.”

Vuna has also enjoyed the change of scenery and luckily for him, enjoys the company of his team mates.

“The Gold Coast is definitely a good place,” Vuna said.

“Who do I like hanging around with the most?

“Who I end up hanging around with the most is probably Esan (Marsters) and Herman (Ese’ese) and Sam (Lisone), Moey (Fotuaika), we hang around quite a bit; but Esan is probably the biggest pest in the team.”