Mata’utia mum to decide sons’ future

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TEENAGE sensation Sione Mata'utia says the motivation and inspiration behind his remarkable rise to Test football — his mum Matalena — will have the final say in his long-term playing future and the future of his brothers Chanel and Pat.

And in a stunning admission which underlines the level of respect he has for his more experienced teammates at the Newcastle Knights, Australia's youngest ever Kangaroo star expects to start next season in either NSW Cup or Holden Cup Under 20s because he claims his Test selection has "guaranteed me nothing" at club level.

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In his first major interview since debuting for the Kangaroos in the Four Nations tournament, the humble kid Wayne Bennett hailed as a future Knights captain and great of the game before he had even played NRL, opened up exclusively to The Daily Telegraph about playing for his country, his love for his family, the Newcastle Knights and why what is best for his mum will ultimately determine his long-term future.

Sione Mata'utia is back into training ahead of the 2015 season. Source: News Corp Australia

THE DREAM

Sione still finds the feeling of being selected for Australia and becoming this country's youngest Test player hard to put into words.

"It's all happened so fast. Getting some games in the Four Nations was awesome," he said.

"I don't know what to say about it — how to express it. I'm just truly honoured, truly blessed from above. All I try to do is make my mum proud and I guess she was and that makes me happy.

"Just to rub shoulders with those senior players. Six months ago, I'm watching them on television and supporting them and the next thing I know, I'm in the same room playing cards with them.

"I know why all the veteran players hold onto that kind of stuff. You just get addicted to it.

"Coming away from camp, I just want more of it now but I'm not getting too far ahead of myself."

Sione Mata'utia enjoyed his first taste of Test footy. Pic: Annette Dew Source: News Corp Australia

THE EXPERIENCE

Sione said he initially felt "scared" to be in the company of the game's elite players but playing cards and table tennis with his idols helped break the ice.

"Josh Papalii was great. He sort of took me under his wing and Cameron Smith and GI (Greg Inglis) were others but I guess the whole camp was a really tight-knit group," he said.

"All the boys played cards. Greg Bird's probably one of the funniest and Beau Scott.

"We played in partners and "Birdman" wasn't too happy with me because I had no clue and struggled at the start so I had to get good fast."

FAMILY

Nothing is more important to Sione, who has a twin sister Sylvia, older sisters Jana and Josephine and three older footballing brothers Peter, Chanel and Pat.

He says his mum Matalena is his inspiration, raising seven kids on her own after separating from Sione's father and moving the family to Newcastle in 2000.

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"We didn't have a whole lot growing up but we had each other and that's why we are all so close now," Sione said.

"My father passed away last year of heart disease. I wasn't as close to him as my older brothers and sisters and it hit them pretty hard but I always knew that he was my father and it was a sad loss for the whole family.

"Mum took care of us and had a really hard time of it working three jobs back then. I'm truly thankful for what she did.

"She was doing it tough back then, dropping us off to training with one car — four boys who had different training times at different grounds. I don't know how she did it but she did and I guess that's where we get our motivation to train hard and play hard and be good at what we do because it's an opportunity for us to pay back our mum now.

"We can now let her rest up and have some time to herself. Give her good things and let her celebrate her life a little bit."

Despite becoming a Kangaroos rep, Sione Mata'utia doesn't think he's guaranteed a start with the Knights. Pic: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

NO GUARANTEES

Despite making his Test debut, Sione says he is not expecting to start next season with the Knights in the top grade.

"It's good to go on an Aussie tour and be recognised but coming back here, you've got plenty of players who still have the drive to get a spot in the first grade team," he said.

"So it brings the best out of everyone. It brings the best out of me too and it's why I came back to training two weeks early. I didn't want to fall behind.

"I'll probably play a little bit of NSW Cup or Under 20s. As weird as it sounds an Aussie Kangaroo player playing 20s, that's how we are here.

"Just because you are an Aussie player, doesn't mean you get a spot straight away."

THE FUTURE

Despite signing a letter of intent that could see them join the Bulldogs on a four years deal from 2016, Sione says he and brothers Chanel and Pat remain keen to stay at the Knights long term.

But when it comes to a final decision, mum's the word.

"There are some obstacles in the way but we want to get it sorted out as soon as possible," he said.

"We all want it to be here (Newcastle) but if it takes us elsewhere, it takes us elsewhere.

"It will come down to what suits my mum best. She will have a talk to the club and let them know what she thinks and if she is happy with that, we'll take it.

"To be honest, wherever we go, footy is always going to be there. We just have to take care of our mum first because she is our number one priority."

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