Just like that, the Reds 2020 season is ready for take-off! The Reds first trial match, against the Rebels, is up in Gladstone in 1 week!
And while we all get pumped for the new season, I thought it would be awesome to catch up with one of the Reds stand-out player, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. My last interview with him for Reds Rugby Rules was back in 2017, during the Reds visit to Samoa! Since then, a lot has happened for Lukhan. He's played some amazing rugby, but for sure, the best is yet to come!
I hope you enjoy reading our conversation as much as I enjoyed talking to him!
Happy 2020! It’s been a while since we officially caught up for Reds Rugby Rules. It’s a new year and new decade! How are you feeling about it all?
Yeah, I’m feeling good! A new decade. Hopefully it’ll be a better 10 years than the previous ones… it’s good to get a fresh start. I’m looking forward to kicking things off things well with the Reds, but most of my focus is off-field. Just continuing to grow as a person, as a man, do things for my family. If I can get that stuff all right, for me, when I’m good off the field, it transfers on to the field.
Since our last interview, you’ve played a lot of rugby and you’ve played at the highest level, even in a World Cup! What was a highlight of your time in Japan last year?
Yeah. Last time we spoke like this, it was, if I recall correctly, a day before I got selected for the Wallabies squad. That was almost 3 years ago now! It’s a privilege to represent your country, especially for my family to see that, representing us and our last name. And like you said, it was an awesome experience in Japan, especially at a young age. I’m pretty lucky, because I’ve still got a long way to go in my career.
The highlight was probably being a part of the quarter-final. It was the biggest game I’ve been a part of so far. Just getting experience and growing as a player, surrounding myself with the best players in the world, from more than one country… Looking back now, I know what I need to do, in order to be considered, you know, pretty good in the world.
Can you highlight a Reds and a Wallabies game that have been particularly memorable from the last few years?
Hmmm. Yep, I’ve got a few. I think the year we had our first interview, about 3 months after that we played the All Blacks and we beat them up at Suncorp. That was my first time playing them and knocked them off in the third Bledisloe test. That was probably my most memorable game. Another one… actually that Samoa one was a big one, personally for me. I got to play in front of my family that I’d never seen before. So to go home and visit and play in front of them was awesome.
My first start for the Wallabies was a big one… that was 2018 against the Irish, down in Sydney. Probably one of the best games I’ve ever had.
There’s been a fair few memorable games! One more was playing Samoa, down in Sydney. Playing the country where my family is from, was a very big thing for me! I had 20 family members there with me (and that wasn’t even half my family). That was a very big thing for me.
It must be nice being back at Ballymore and settling into training back home in Brisbane?
Yeah it’s good. We spent a lot of time away in Japan which was good, but you know being away from family and your familiar surroundings can be a bit hard. So, it was good. Good to be back at Ballymore. Young squad, new faces. Coming back with a bit more experience, a bit more to share, bit more to offer around the place and also be back here and get good training under my belt and just continue to grow. So yeah, I love being at Ballymore, hence why I signed for three more years. I always love being back here.
What do you like and dislike the most about preseason training?
Yeah. I dislike the fitness. It’s always hard, I don’t think anyone likes it. (Laughs) What I like about it… the opportunity to get better. As players, we use pre-season to add to our arsenal, add a few more skills… and also just spending time with the boys, creating new friendships and building on older relationships.
It’s a fresh start, where we can dump what happened last year and focus on a new opportunity. We’re doing everything we can to do better and hopefully make everyone proud.
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| Lukhan with Reds team-mate James O'Connor |
Before the Christmas break, you and James traveled up to Townsville for a “Reds to Regions” visit. What did you guys get up to and what was the highlight from the trip?
Yeah it was good. It was my first time up there, it’s a lot hotter up there. We spent some time with our billets, a few families and got an insight into what their life is like, day in, day out.
We just mingled with lots of kids. It was just a good experience overall! It was humbling. It’s a good initiative by the people who put it in place, hopefully it’s one of many more things to come.
These days, what you like to do with your free time, away from rugby?
These days, most of my free time is spent chilling with my siblings. I’ve got a few dogs at home, they use a fair bit of my free time too. Whenever I have the opportunity, I like to go down to the beach, I listen to a lot of music, play playstation, put the feet up, nothing too stressful. Overall, I love to spend time with the family, that’s the thing I love to do the most.
For our last interview, we were in your home country of Samoa. Have you been back to Samoa since then?
No, I haven’t been since. But I’m planning to go sooner, rather than later, with all my family. I enjoyed it, it was probably the most memorable highlights of my life, going back and seeing where my family stemmed from, going back a few generations. It was a humbling experience. It made me grateful for the job that I have and the life that I have. You see what your families done back then to support us now and put us in a better position, you know, to live a good life. Hopefully I can go back and give back to my family and go back with my nana.
Thanks heaps for your taking time to chat today Lukhan. It’s always a pleasure!
All good Tom! Thanks for having me. It’s always good to see you around here!
I’m cheering you on big time in 2020. Go Reds!!!
Thanks mate.
