All Auzzie adventures for Norths Devils centre

Auzzie Tuwhangai has travelled the length and breadth of this country and beyond playing sport; but this season, he has found a home at Norths Devils.

Tuwhangai made his Intrust Super Cup debut in Round 10 against PNG Hunters alongside traveller Bernard Gregorius, after spending time this year impressing with both Valleys Diehards and West Brisbane Panthers in the Brisbane Premier A Grade competition.

While all Cup debuts are special with each player charting their own individual path to reach the milestone, it’s been a road less travelled for Tuwhangai, who was christened Auzzie because he was the first of his family born in Australia.

Picking up a rugby league ball in earnest while a teenager in New Zealand, Tuwhangai has played league in Sydney and has also had a run playing Aussie Rules in Western Australia. Last year, the centre dabbled in rugby union there before making the move to Brisbane to link up with the Devils.

“I started playing rugby league in 2014 as a 17-year-old at a New Zealand, Auckland. A club called Marist Saints, I was there for three years, growing up through the grades,” Tuwhangai said.

“I was actually an Aussie Rules player, I played Aussies Rules before I started playing rugby league … [at] a small great southern country team in Western Australia.

“I have been back and forth, I played in Sydney, played in New Zealand.

“I have been around; I have done a few different things; I was a shearer before I started playing rugby league.

“I just like trying new things, wherever the wind takes me really.”

However, rugby league became more of a focus for Tuwhangai this season and it paid off with his Cup debut.

“I grew up working, I didn’t go to school much, league was a different sort of pathway for me,” Tuwhangai said.

“League wasn’t really a career option until I got picked up to a few teams, I was a young fella that got picked up for the Warriors under 20s in 2016 I think it was, and it wasn’t since then that I thought I would continue to play. It’s taken me around a little bit, so I am grateful.”

When asked what he brings to a team, Tuwhangai - who was a "big fan of the competition" - said he tried to bring his own distinct playing style.

“I like to say flair. I bring a lot of flair,” Tuwhangai said.

“You wouldn’t think a quiet guy like me would have it, but that is what I got picked for.

“And I like to play hard.”

Off the field, Tuwhangai has a keen interest in art, and even designed his own tattoos that he sports on his legs.

“I like to get real involved in numerous hobbies – I am a bit of an artistic person, I like to get into the sketch book and draw up a few things, design tattoos, because that is what I do,” Tuwhangai said.

“This is where the emotions come out, it helps a lot with keeping myself sane and calm and it shows on the paper.”