'We have all got Tino's back': Maroons rally around mourning star

The Queensland Maroons rugby league team is offering unwavering support to prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui as he grieves the recent death of his father, Fereti Fa'asuamaleaui, after a battle with cancer.

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It is obviously a very tricky situation and all raw and emotional but we have all got Tino's back and the family's back.

Despite the profound personal loss, Fa'asuamaleaui has expressed his intention to join the team in Melbourne as they prepare for the second State of Origin clash. His teammates have conveyed their solidarity, emphasizing that his family's well-being is the priority.

"It is obviously a very tricky situation and all raw and emotional but we have all got Tino's back and the family's back," said Maroons hooker Harry Grant. "The best thing for him right now is being up with his family and supported by his loved ones and showing that care to them. If he decides to come and play we will have his back too."

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The best thing for him right now is being up with his family and supported by his loved ones and showing that care to them. If he decides to come and play we will have his back too.

Grant recalled Fereti Fa'asuamaleaui as a devoted Maroons fan who attended most of his son's matches. He noted the deep respect Tino had for his father, who he said "really paved the way" for him. The player acknowledged the significance of playing for his father and honoring the family name.

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Tino really looked up to him. He really paved the way for Tino and Tino has continually tried to pay that back over the years.

Recalling a similar situation last year when captain Cameron Munster played shortly after his father's death, Grant stressed that each individual's circumstances are different. He expressed gratitude that Fa'asuamaleaui's family has been nearby during the Origin camp, allowing him to visit them. The team's focus remains on supporting Tino and his family through this difficult time, recognizing that "Wednesday night is just a game of footy."

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I know that Fereti was so proud seeing Tino in a Queensland jersey with his last name on the back of the jersey and doing it proud but that's a little while away at the moment.