Samoa halfback Scott Malolua feels like he’s been living a dream for the past year.
The 26-year-old will make his Test debut for Samoa this weekend against the Wallabies but just 12 months ago, he wasn’t even playing rugby.
Malolua stepped away from rugby in 2018, struggling to balance the physical toll of a full-time carpentry job and regular first grade training and thinking his chances of higher honours had eluded him.
“I'm still pinching myself,” he said.
“I didn't play rugby at all last year so I definitely feel lucky to be a part of this team.
“I took a bit of time off last year. With work, it was a bit full-on and it was taking its toll on my body, I was doing carpentry and training as well, it was pretty tough.”
He still had close ties with the Reds, a close mate of Souths teammate Samu Kerevi, with whom he shares a business venture, but Malolua wasn't expecting to be playing serious rugby anymore.
Then late in 2018, out of the blue, came a call from Reds coach Brad Thorn.
In the wake of an achilles injury to James Tuttle, Queensland were after a third halfback and Malolua was the lucky man on the other end of the phone.
“I got a phone call from Brad Thorn when I was at work, this was last year, end of last year,” he said.
“James Tuttle got injured and I got an opportunity through that to train with him and got lucky enough to play at the back end of the season so yeah.”
Malolua played the final three Super Rugby matches for Queensland this season, starting the last two, and his performances were enough for him to earn a berth in the Samoa World Cup squad.
It’s a whirlwind journey that he still can’t quite get his head around but one the 26-year-old desperately wants to make the most of it.
“I think for me it's just really growing in my position, being more of a leader within the team and the playing group,” he said.
“Taking the year off sort of put me back a few paces, so yeah just really want to be growing and embracing and driving the team I guess, that's what I'm looking forward to.”
Malolua will have a reasonable benchmark to measure himself against on Saturday night, lining up opposite Wallabies centurion Will Genia and he is happy to embrace the underdog tag.
“Especially growing up in Queensland he was one of the best halfbacks so for me to go up against him, it's almost a dream come true being able to test myself against one of the best,” he said.
Malolua is one of a handful of players in the Samoa team with Australian connections and the Wallabies have seven players of Samoan heritage among their 23.
Samoa might be $17 outsiders this weekend but Malolua said that didn’t worry them at all, with the side keen to take on a team like theWallabies.
“Obviously I know a few of the boys playing for Australia but it's all so exciting, looking forward to the challenge so it should be good,” he said.
“It'll definitely be niggly out there, we've got a few guys from Melbourne and Sydney obviously and the boys are just keen to rip in.
“We're excited about the challenge and especially being the underdogs we'll be riding that horse.”
The Wallabies take on Samoa at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday September 7, kicking off at 7:30pm AEST, LIVE on Network Ten, Foxtel, Kayo and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
