Words by Tom Connor.
New Western Force recruit Steve Mafi returned to Australia at the back end of 2014 following four seasons abroad with English powerhouse club, the Leicester Tigers. Born and raised in Western Sydney, Steve attended Westfield Sports High School where he was selected to represent the Australian Schoolboys in 2007.
The grandson of former Tongan captain Sione Mafi Pahulu, Steve impressed Waratahs selectors enough to earn an academy contract straight out of school.
Renowned for his rampaging carries and unprecedented ball playing ability as a Lock, it came as no surprise to see his club side, the Parramatta Two Blues, playing him in the Centres. Steve wasn’t your average Centre though; standing at 198cm tall, the Two Blues would have him jumping in the lineouts and packing down at No.8 come scrum time.
Joining the Tahs’ in 2008, he added to his Australian honours, representing the Australian U20’s at the Junior World Championships in Wales. The only obstacle standing between Mafi and a full time contract was his weight. At only 100kg he was well short of the 120kg benchmark that most modern day Super Rugby Locks set for themselves in order to be competitive.
Unable to put on the weight, Mafi was released by the Waratahs in 2009. He received a lifeline shortly after though when he got the call to join the Leicester Tigers in 2010 as injury cover, and he made haste in taking advantage of the opportunity. Putting on 15kg in two months, following an intense conditioning program, Mafi reaped the benefits on the field as defenders struggled to contain the 10-Test Tongan International.
Quickly becoming a fan favourite at Welford Road, Mafi played 85 matches for Leicester over four years, an innings which included 11 tries and an Aviva Premiership in 2013.
The recent birth of his son, Fine, saw Mafi travelling back and forth to Australia in 2014, so when an opportunity to join the Western Force presented itself, he decided to return home with a year to run on his Tigers contract.
Prior to linking up with the Force though, Steve represented the Greater Sydney Rams in the inaugural NRC, returning home to Western Sydney where it all began.
Quickly adapting to the speed of the Southern Hemisphere game, the towering Tongan made his Super Rugby debut in the opening game of 2015, ironically against the team that released him all those years ago.
It’s almost impossible to miss his hulking figure, and the fact he wears a single glove only adds to the intrigue, but Steve Mafi looks set to be an integral figure for the Western Force for in years to come.
