Two unlikely encounters changed Paki Afu's life.
The most recent was at a church conference. Afu went into it single. Three weeks later, he was engaged.
"It was love at first sight," he said of Avish, his wife of five months. "When you know she's the one, you make sure you act on it."
The Roosters were also smitten with Afu after an encounter every bit as unexpected. The Auckland product had shown promise in a lower grader at Canterbury and Parramatta, but had long ago given up on his dream of an NRL berth.
"I got stuck in the wrong crowd and my mindset got away from footy, I started getting distracted by other things," Afu said.
With his love of the game surpassed by his love of God, Afu gave rugby league away in 2011 and embarked on a Mormon mission. For the next two years, his daily schedule entailed getting up at 6am, scripture and bible studies until 9am, then spreading the gospel for the next 12 hours.
"We were sleeping on mattresses on the ground," he said. "Eating rice every day, whatever what we could grab a hold of. I wouldn't say it was luxury, we lived how the people lived in the Philippines. Ate what they ate, did what they did. It was tough."
So, too, was shedding the extra baggage he brought home with him.
"I came home off my mission 138 kilos," he said. "I had to lose a tonne of weight."
Having not played the game for almost three years, Afu had given up hope of playing at the top level. But, at the urging of his father – "he encouraged me get back into it because he loves watching league, he kept taking me to the park" – he again began carting up the Steeden.
As time went on, word began to spread about the born-again footballer carving up for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the New Zealand local league. After all, it's not every day a burly forward is leading the Fox Memorial Shield's try-scoring tally. Afu's feats earned him a start in the Warriors NSW Cup side.
Roosters recruiter Peter O'Sullivan, the man who discovered fellow Otahuhu product Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, decided to see for himself what the fuss was all about. Acting on a tip from a mate, he flew to New Zealand and watched the "Pakisaurus" tear in against Mangere East Hawks. Shortly afterwards, a two-year contract was produced. Should the 25-year-old jag even a single first-grade appearance, it will be one of the most unlikely journeys to the NRL of them all.
"When I came back off the mission, my interest for the sport wasn't there any more," he said. "I put on too much weight and the mindset wasn't there to lose it all.
"But my parents encouraged me to get back into it and my wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, she pushed me even more because she's a personal trainer. She was all over me making sure I did extras.
"I count the [Roosters] opportunity as a massive blessing in my life, getting another crack at the NRL. It's changed my life around, being here and being married."
A handful of league players have cut short their careers to pursue missionary work. Rarely has their game been better for it. Jordan Rapana is a notable exception, making an impression since linking with the Raiders. Will Hopoate has resumed his State of Origin career since his sabbatical, but hasn't rediscovered his best form during his stint at Parramatta.
Afu, who will catch up with his fellow footballing missionaries over the weekend, believes his time away from the game has been beneficial.
"With me growing up, I always had the dream of being an NRL player and also to serve a mission," he said.
"Coming to that age, I felt I had to do my part because I'd been blessed with skill. I thought it was the right time to express my gratitude to God and giving my life to him for two years.
"People ask me if it's worth going on a mission and I would do it all over again. It's made me who I am now and placed me where I am in life at this moment. Everything I have right now is because of my mission."
