Source :- THE AGE NEWS
As a fired-up Spencer Leniu was swearing in his face, throwing the ball down in anger and apparently wanting to punch on, Keaon Koloamatangi could only think of one thing.
“There was so much more to play for,” Koloamatangi told this masthead on Monday. “I knew we had finals, and I was happy with myself because I didn’t put myself in the position to get suspended or anything like that.
“Maybe if we weren’t in the top eight it might have been different. Because we were in the eight, it didn’t cross my mind [to retaliate]. Laughing was a good way to [defuse the situation].
“He was screaming at me. He didn’t say anything crazy. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and you have to give credit to him. That’s how he plays. He doesn’t back down from anyone.
“But it takes a lot for me to get angry. I don’t even remember the last time I got angry. It’s a footy game. I’m not there to go out and fight people. Violence isn’t the answer. It’s better to be a lover and not a fighter.”
Koloamatangi, South Sydney’s unofficial pack leader, shot out of the line from the kick-off on Friday night and tried to put a monster shot on Roosters firebrand Leniu.
He missed, but later smashed Leniu, then a second time with the help of David Fifita – which tipped Leniu over the edge.
The cameras zoomed in as Leniu screamed obscenities and Koloamatangi stood there smiling.
Leniu was substituted a few minutes later, and did not return. Koloamatangi said there were no dramas afterwards, and he even laughed about the incident with his NSW Origin teammate.
Koloamatangi was praised for keeping his head and maturity, qualities which partly explain St George Illawarra’s readiness to offer him a five-year deal worth around $5 million from next season.
The 28-year-old will have the job of leading Souths into battle against an injury-ravaged Newcastle pack missing Jacob Saifiti (suspension) and Trey Mooney (shoulder) on Friday night.
He senses he can achieve something special in the red and green before pulling on the Red V.
“You want to leave the jersey in a better place, and I feel like I’ve done that,” Koloamatangi said. “It’s a big credit to the support I have at home, including my partner, Heavenly. It’s not an easy job being the partner of a rugby league player.
“They do a lot of solo parenting while we’re away or doing extras at training. They sacrifice their life for us to live our dream. You want to repay them by being the best player you can on the field.”
Souths skipper Cameron Murray, who won ten premierships with Koloamatangi as a junior with the Mascot Jets, praised him for improving every season.
“I was proud of him the other night,” Murray said.
“He could have lost his temper, but he stood his ground, represented himself well, and didn’t do anything that hurt his teammates. I’m keen to soak up these last few games with him, and I’ll be there fighting hard in the trenches with him to get the wins.”
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