Paul Tuala remains focused on milestone despite Illawarra Rugby shutdown

The veteran underwent surgery last July in order to revive an illustrious career that has taken him from Wollongong to Sydney, Edinburgh and back to Wollongong.

Read more: Wollongong's James Turner claims Paralympics gold

The operation came as he pursued his dream of playing 100 first grade games for his club.

Tuala returned this season, but injuries and COVID-19 have conspired to prevent him from reaching his milestone.

The loose forward has played 99 games for University and 96 in first grade.

With this season abandoned, the 35-year-old will have to return next year to hit triple figures. That is easier said than done, however, with the footballer moving back to New Zealand in 2022.

"I'm one game away from 100 club games and four away from 100 first grade games," Tuala said. "My wife has said we'll stay for one game and then we'll go.

"I've still got three to go after that, so I'm hoping to stay to get those games away. I am pretty gutted to be so close and not know what will happen."

Given the lengths Tuala went to revive his career, the news of the COVID shutdown was hard to take.

Initially the loose forward was in high spirits, confident the season would resume after a brief stoppage.

However, as the lockdown dragged on, reality started to sink in. When the decision was eventually made to cancel the Illawarra Rugby competition, Tuala was left devastated.

"It was pretty tough knowing it wouldn't happen this year. We did well to get through 12 rounds.

"I also feel for teams like Shoalhaven, they haven't won a competition for a long time and they were a good chance of winning it this year before the season was cancelled."

Tuala was also one of five Illawarra players preparing to represent the NSW Country Cockatoos at the Australian Championships in South Australia, however those plans have also been decimated by coronavirus.

Officials looked at every avenue to send a team to the competition, before it became logistically impossible. Eventually, as Victoria and ACT were plunged into lockdown, Rugby Australia cancelled the tournament.

There are hopes the competition will be held in early 2022 once state borders reopen.

If that does not occur, NSW Country Rugby Union has pledged to arrange fixtures for both the men's and women's teams. Those matches will most likely be against Queensland Country.

The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.