Lolesio chasing fairytale finish with Redcliffe

Tray Lolesio was raised in rugby league.

The second eldest of five kids, Lolesio spent his childhood in South Auckland, running around as a ball boy on the sidelines of his parents’ footy matches.

His mum played the game, his dad played the game, his three brothers played the game.

Rugby league was in his DNA.

“I was pretty much born into it,” the Redcliffe Dolphins forward said.

“Mum and dad played… We were always there at the games, me and my brothers. Mum played for the local football team and my dad, he was brought up playing rugby (union) but he transitioned to league and we followed in his footsteps.

“I started when I was four and I know nothing else but league.”

It’s no surprise then that the 23-year-old has made the game his present and future as well.

At just 18, Lolesio moved from New Zealand to Sydney to play with the Wests Tigers in SG Ball.

Last year, he headed north and found himself in the red and white, a proud Dolphin.

And once this season at Redcliffe comes to an end, he’ll pack his bags for the UK, where he will join Wakefield Trinity on a fulltime Super League contract.

“It came out of nowhere,” Lolesio said.

“I was enjoying playing my footy and my manager got in touch with me saying Wakefield were looking at me. I was shocked.

“I’ve always aspired to play in Super League or NRL and I’ve always looked to play on that side of the world.

“For them to look at me, I didn’t think I would have this opportunity. Someone like me – I’m from New Zealand and I never thought I’d go this far.

“It means a lot because this will be my first fulltime gig and I’m excited.”

For Lolesio, one of the most special moments of earning that contract was being able to tell his parents, who started his journey with him, and his partner, who has been with him since his time in Sydney, of what he had achieved.

“My parents have been a big part of my journey, with their sacrifices and their discipline,” he said.

“They’ve taught me a lot and I still carry that now.

“My partner has been a big part of my journey in Australia. She’s been my support and my backbone.

“It’s just me and her here so I only have her to fall on and she’s been there from the start. I owe her a lot. She means the world to me.

“To tell them all and to make them proud, to see them happy for me, it makes everything worth it.”

But before Lolesio makes his way overseas, he still has his eyes firmly set on the end of the 2025 season.

The prop missed last week’s Finals Week 1 win over the PNG Hunters, sidelined through a one-game suspension.

“It was a bit scary, knowing it was do-or-die and it might have been my last game,” he said.

“But I had no doubt in the boys that they would get it done. It was different watching from the sidelines.

“It was good to see everything coming together towards the end. We’ve been training hard all year and it’s showing now at the right time.”

With his second chance in his pocket, Lolesio will head north with the Dolphins for tomorrow’s semi-final against the Townsville Blackhawks.

A member of last year’s Redcliffe team that sadly lost the grand final, Lolesio wants the fairytale finish.

He wants to hold the trophy high and he wants to do it for the club that gave him his first opportunity at the Cup level.

“I find this club like home now,” he said.

“I’ve known these boys for the last two years and Redcliffe gave me my first opportunity to play Cup. I had a few injuries but they believed in me.

“Being around the boys, learning off them, it’s helped my game a lot. It shows today how far I’ve come with their help and having that guidance.

“I like the type of footy Redcliffe plays – aggressive and tough.

“I want to do my best for the team and hopefully we can make that grand final and do one better than last year. I didn’t expect I’d play last year’s grand final.

“I want to feel that atmosphere again, especially for Redcliffe. The fans, they deserve to see us up on the big stage.

“It’s going to be tough but I just want to enjoy every moment at this club. Hopefully get it done this year. It would be a good to end with a fairytale.”