FEATURE: Toua calls time

Sun, Mar 21, 2021, 9:30 PM
Jim Tucker
by Jim Tucker
The Reds host the Force looking to keep their eight game home streak alive.

Aidan Toua made the snap decision to retire amid the euphoria of steering Easts to their first Australian Club Championship triumph since 2009.

The former Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies flyer is hanging up the boots at 31 with a final chorus of the club's "Tigerland" team song still fresh in his ears.

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Toua, playing at five-eighth, darted over on the short side for the Tigers' only try when they started igniting their rally against Sydney premiers Gordon at Brisbane's David Wilson Field on Saturday.

Halfback Eli Pilz made it an afternoon to remember with the penalty goal on full-time for a 14-13 win in wet conditions which often made ball-handling tricky.

"That's it for me. There was no big speech or anything. I just told (coach) Moses (Raulini) and Bart (assistant coach Mark Bartholomeusz) while we were enjoying things straight after the game," Toua said.

"I only made the decision in the week of the game. 'Look, if we win it's a good way to finish up' was my thinking if it came on top of our grand final win last season

"It was nice to score in the corner I did because my three kids were right there."

The Port Moresby-born Toua has IT and solar energy projects on the go for Papua New Guinea so he has a busy time ahead in business. He'll even have to trade-in shorts and gym shirts for his new life.

Easts fullback Aidan Toua with daughters Matilda, 5, and Leila, 3 | Brendan Hertel
Easts fullback Aidan Toua with daughters Matilda, 5, and Leila, 3 | Brendan Hertel

"I'm actually just back from buying some chinos and nice shirts for work, life on the other side," Toua said with a smile.

Toua won't be lost to rugby. He has already put up his hand to coach the Under-16s A-B squad at Churchie, his old school, in GPS rugby this season.

"I'm pretty passionate about helping give younger guys every skill they need so Colts coaching and dropping down to help the halves at Easts is something I want to do in the future," Toua said.

Toua won two premierships with Easts in 2008 and 2020 which shows he's getting out as a "young veteran."

No one forgets his exhilarating 55m try for the Reds against the Brumbies when he dashed onto a Quade Cooper pass at Canberra Stadium in 2014.

We thought we'd throw a few final teasers at the popular Toua.

Best Teammate: Liam Gill. Immense as a young flanker and it's just unfortunate he came through at a time when David Pocock and Michael Hooper dominated the No.7 jersey for Australia. He had certain skills neither of those players had.

Worst Roomie: Ed Quirk. The grub from Capalaba.

Favourite Reds' Moment: It's a tie. It would be the 20 minutes of my debut against the Western Force and that try against the Brumbies.

Favourite Brumbies' Moment: Beating the Waratahs (26-20) in Sydney in 2016 when Joe Tomane scored three tries was very special.

READ MORE:

EASTS STEAL IT: Club Champs return to Queensland

WINLESS WARATAHS: Rebels claim first home victory

KICK TO WIN: Eli Pilz secures Club Championship Glory

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