Caius Faatili: From breakout star to Wakefield Trinity's cult hero and community champion

Eight tries in 28 games are numbers most front-rowers can only dream of.

That he achieved them without a pre-season behind him only underlines the scale of his impact.

Wakefield Trinity gave Faatili his big break – and he repaid that faith in emphatic fashion.

"It was an awesome season," said the 24-year-old, who was plucked from the Queensland Cup on the eve of the campaign.

"I didn't really know what to expect coming over here but it did surprise me how well I went. I came quite late and didn't have a pre-season.

"I feel like I found my feet pretty easily. The club and the boys definitely helped me settle quickly.

"I was always looking to come over here. There were some talks with other clubs but they fell through.

"I thought I'd be staying in Oz to play Q Cup but these guys came knocking and it was a bit of a whirlwind."

Remarkably, only Tom Johnstone, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley scored more tries than Faatili in Trinity's run to the play-offs.

With fellow props Mike McMeeken and Caleb Hamlin-Uele contributing 11 between them, Wakefield's big men put some of their team-mates to shame in the try-scoring stakes.

"I like to contribute that way," added Faatili.

"Trying to find the line is a good attribute to have but I'd say most of it comes down to luck and being in the right place at the right time.

"I love to see the big boys get over the line. To be fair, we've got quite a few try-scoring middles. We punched the backs a bit."

Faatili has wasted no time in capturing the hearts of the Wakefield faithful, quickly filling the fan-favourite void left by David Fifita.

The popular New Zealander does not take that support lightly.

"It means everything," he said.

"The fans are a massive part of how easy I fitted in. The crowd, the community and the buzz around Wakey have been awesome. You see fans at the shops and they want to take a photo with you and have a chat.

"The atmosphere here at Belle Vue is crazy. It's amazing to play in."

If his exploits on the field have quickly earned him cult hero status, his generosity off the pitch has shown the heart behind the mullet.

Faatili has thrown himself into the local community, demonstrating his compassion for those who need a lift.

When asked to support a young fan who is suffering from leukemia, Faatili did not hesitate.

Sammy Balmforth, battling the effects of chemotherapy, decided to shave his hair into an arrow and Faatili happily followed suit, raising thousands for children's cancer charity Candlelighters and giving his new friend a memory to cherish.

"That connection with the community is massive," said Faatili.

"I like to be a people person. It's awesome to be able to put smiles on kids' faces.

"I still remember being in their shoes having idols so it's not hard to give back. I'm blessed to be in this position.

"Things like the head shave are nothing. It's just hair to me and doesn't take anything away from me. I'll always do my little bit to help someone else."

The mullet may have returned but the impact of that gesture remains.

Now, as he gets stuck into his first pre-season at Belle Vue, Faatili is looking forward to reaching new heights on the pitch.

"I definitely do feel like I've got another level to go to," he said.

"I didn't have a bad year last year but there's always stuff to work on. A pre-season with the boys is just going to help me grow."

Faatili's immediate impact helped Wakefield mark their first season back in Super League with a rare play-off appearance.

But nobody at the club will be satisfied until Trinity are competing on the biggest stages.

"We've spoken about what we did last season and how unhappy we were with how it ended," said Faatili.

"A lot of people might have been surprised by how well we did but that wasn't the case inside these walls; if anything, we were a bit disappointed.

"There's a buzz around the club and we've got the belief to go up and up. We want to be in the big games. That's definitely the goal."