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Junior Paulo says leading the Samoan Siva Tau is an honour, but concedes it is starting to mess with his health – most notably his voice.
Paulo stands in the middle of his teammates before every international and is impossible to miss – and hear – when yelling as loud as he can to inspire his teammates and every Samoan at the ground or watching at home.
But the performance leaves him with a sore throat and unable to speak for days after each game.
Samoa had the week off after their 34-6 thumping of Tonga in the Pacific Championships, and Paulo drank copious amounts of lemon and ginger tea with honey to ensure his throat recovered in time for Sunday’s blockbuster final against New Zealand at CommBank Stadium.
The powerhouse front-rower has endured his share of muscular injuries playing for Parramatta, Canberra and NSW, but never did he anticipate falling victim to laryngitis.
Paulo lost his voice after leading the Siva Tau in Auckland against New Zealand, and apologised to this masthead when he flew back to Sydney last Monday and could only whisper during an interview after the Tonga clash.
Samoa’s Junior Paulo and Jarome Luai at CommBank Stadium, where they meet New Zealand in Sunday’s Pacific Championships final.Credit: Wolter Peeters
“I find myself really dialled into that moment [leading the Siva Tau], I put everything into it, and I know when I am calling out, I’m calling out to every Samoan around the world,” Paulo said. “That’s how much passion goes into it. But it does take its toll on the vocal cords.
“I lost my voice after both games. It takes away from me wanting to yell at the boys on the field, I’m not sure if they can even hear me, but it does take a lot out of me. I also wouldn’t change it for anything in this world.
“I had my Lemsip every night [last week], and I had lemon and ginger tea with a teaspoon of honey. I only got my voice back a couple of days ago.
“It didn’t help that I had kids’ sport, and I was yelling at them – if I’m not yelling leading the Siva Tau, I’m yelling at the kids. I’ve said it before, but it’s one of the proudest moments in my career to lead [the Siva Tau].”
Sunday’s clash is expected to be a sellout, with the Parramatta venue expected to become a sea of Samoan blue. The noise will become deafening when Paulo leads the Siva Tau, followed by the New Zealand Haka.
Fellow Samoan leader Jarome Luai appreciates the energy Paulo puts into the Siva Tau.
“I can’t speak highly enough of how powerful the feeling is [during the Siva Tau], and that comes down a lot to how he performs the ritual – the tone, the intensity, it’s a bit of a calling like you’re going to war, you see your leader, and you’re ready to die for him,” Luai said.
“There a lot of people I’ll make fun of, but ‘Junes’ is definitely a guy who isn’t on that list. We have a joke me and the big fella, but I have so much respect for him.
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“I can do it, but for me, in terms of preparation, performing on the field, that’s what comes first for me. If it doesn’t come natural, it plays on your mind before the game, but it comes easy for that guy.”
Paulo has been excellent for Samoa and produced big minutes playing at lock. The 31-year-old enters the final year of his Eels deal next season, which is worth more than $900,000, but is desperate to remain in the blue and gold, and at a cheaper rate.
“I started my career here, I’d like to finish here as well,” Paulo said. “The club has given me every opportunity that’s possible, on and off the field. With ‘Rylsey’ [coach Jason Ryles] coming in, it’s been a bit of a refresher for myself.
“You can see where he wants this club to go, and it’s only right we repay him by trying to drive those key messages and the standards on the footy field.
“I’ll do everything I can just to stay. I understand it’s a business, I don’t want to be that person who stands in the way of that next player coming through, but I do want to be a part of this club and help develop the next group coming through.”
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