The Players' Record: Junior Sa'u

"Every day is a learning day for me, it’s about not being afraid of making mistakes, and having the accountability to own your mistakes."

I recently got asked a question … what is the secret behind Salford Red Devils’ success so far?   

I could have given a long-winded response with the intricate details and technical ability of a rugby league player. The truth is, it’s not as complicated as that. 

It’s one thing that everyone is capable of – HARD WORK. 

And it’s not the hard work you see on game days – that helps – but you know, it’s the work you don’t see, that’s where our success is made. 

And it’s tough – especially pre-season – if it was easy there’d be a lot more people doing it, that’s the thing you don’t see, what we do away from the field. 

Recovery. 

That’s the most important thing, after a game I feel good, two or three days later, BANG! It hits you like a rock. 

I try to keep myself moving – ice baths, pool and cryotherapy chambers – and I look up to Lebron James and Odell Beckham Jr. They’re superstars but it’s the work away from the court and field that makes them the best, to be the greatest you have to look after yourself.   

Even as a professional athlete you look up to someone, different people have their different role models – I look up to Lebron and Odell – they’re at the top of their game and I look at how they’ve got there.

Follow them on Instagram, and you’ll see what they do – that’s what I feed off – they give you positive vibes and a glimpse of how you can take your game to the next level. 

One thing that’s important – in all walks of life – is that you never stop learning, I learnt that at Melbourne Storm; I asked Billy Slater for some his advice and he said: “You never stop learning.??

That’s the thing, it doesn’t matter if you’re at your peak - at the top of your game - you’re still learning. 

Every day is a learning day for me, it’s about not being afraid of making mistakes, and having the accountability to own your mistakes. 

The accountability to own your mistakes is crucial, it allows you to learn from those mistakes and enables me to assess what I need to work on. The next day I’m going to come into training and nail those things that the previous day I struggled with. 

I’m proud to be part of a team that wasn’t given a chance at the start of the year. 

I’m proud that we are proving our doubters wrong.

And I’m proud that the players who’ve come in have stepped-up and delivered for Salford. 

For any athlete it’s frustrating watching from the side-lines when you’re injured, but it’s the actions you take in this time that can help or hinder the team.

Those actions to support and advise the team may seem small but they go a long way into helping the team dynamic, team morale and most importantly, the team’s performance. 

I’m a senior player now, and I can use my experience and dare I say it, wisdom, to help the youngsters excel at their game. 

But in the meantime, I’ll be patient, waiting, and when the time comes, I’ll be ready. 

One last thing, I’ve got to give credit to Jackson Hastings, he’s been on fire since he’s come in. 

He probably doesn’t realise it, but he’s helped me up my game and his competitive nature pushes us to another level. 

J.S #TogetherStronger