Vuna finding his feet after taking the long road

In a Titans pack featuring David Fifita, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika, Joseph Vuna finds it hard to believe he is one of the senior figures. 

That's because while those three have all played over 70 NRL games so far and earned State of Origin honours, at 24 years of age Vuna has only just made his 10th appearance in the top flight, despite debuting with the Warriors five years ago. 

A two-year Mormon mission between 2019-2020, followed by an ACL injury which ruled him out of most of last year, has meant for plenty of missed time on the footy field, and Vuna admits he's only now starting to feel at home in the NRL.

"I think the time off for me has showed how the game has changed, it's got a lot quicker since 2018 and is a lot more physical that I remember," Vuna told pan66.com. 

"So I was behind and I have had to work harder to get back. 

"I feel young in terms of footy... I still feel like a rookie and I still feel I have got to earn my stripes, but being 24 the next step I need to take is to show some leadership too. 

It kind of feels like my NRL debut just happened, because I have only played a few NRL games since then.

Joseph Vuna

Born in California to Tongan parents, health issues as a baby led to Joseph being adopted by his grandparents and brought back to New Zealand, where medical care was more affordable.

There he was raised as part of the Vuna family, which had nine children in it who are his aunties and uncles by blood, with former Warriors and Knights winger Cooper Vuna among them.

With Joseph a constant figure at league games growing up, it's little surprise that another of his goals is to one day follow in Cooper's footsteps by lining up for Mate Ma'a Tonga at Test level. 

"I feel like now I have got the opportunity to build some momentum, and if I can string a few more good games together hopefully I can nail down a first-grade spot and then push to put that Tonga jersey on," he said. 

"It would be a great story if it happened and it's up to me now."

Whether he achieves that particular goal or not, Cooper said he is in awe of Joseph for having the courage to complete his Mormon mission and trust he could make it back to NRL level. 

"It's massive he did that. That was something I could have done, and to see him do it, I was proud and I had a few tears in my eyes," Cooper said. 

"It's something I really wanted to do, but while he was brave to do it and know he could come back and play, that was always my doubt. I thought if I went to do my mission I'd come back and wouldn't play again. 

"He was a young kid who I took around with me when I was playing and he'd watch everything and he tried to follow my footsteps, so it's good to see him flourish."

Joseph is set to play his 11th NRL game on Sunday when the Titans play the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium, almost exactly five years on from his first appearance on Anzac Day in 2018.