Wests Tigers prodigy Heamasi Makasini will make his NRL debut this weekend, named on the wing to face Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.
At just 18, the outside back is already one of the most talked-about teenagers in Australian rugby league, with hype surrounding his potential long before his first-grade bow.
Makasini comes in for Jeral Skelton, who has been sidelined by concussion protocols. The youngster has already made a splash in the NSW Cup, where in just four appearances for Western Suburbs this season, he scored a try and averaged more than 100 running metres a game.
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Million-dollar schoolboy turned Tiger
The Campbelltown junior’s rise has been meteoric. While still in Year 11 at Newington College, he penned a three-year Wests Tigers deal reportedly worth over $1 million, holding off strong interest from rugby union.
His manager Mario Tartak said at the time: “Athletically, Heamasi is next level. He has just turned 17, is still in Year 11, has the world at his feet and wants to be a Wests Tiger. Honestly, he’s got it all. He’s definitely a gem. He reminds some of a young Folau or a young Inglis.”
Born in Orange, of Tongan heritage, Makasini has represented Australia in rugby union at under-18 level, famously scoring in a historic win against New Zealand Schools. But he made clear his heart lies in league. “I have been with this club since I was 14 and it has been so important to my rugby league journey over the past three years,” he said.
Now, with comparisons to greats like Greg Inglis and Israel Folau already swirling, Makasini steps into the NRL spotlight, with a fanbase eager to see if the hype translates to first-grade magic.