How one photo transformed Junior Tatola's career

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[{"selector":"#anim-0acbfb8e-8ed7-4d78-9fc9-da54855a0039","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c765a70-402d-45ea-801a-ca1710fb925b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-125.18248%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b21ff01d-e809-4153-acc4-66f1249415ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f79ec25-824e-4bf9-97cc-b584098bef50 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(38.43846147092792%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] South Sydney forward Junior Tatola once lugged around bags of cement for his uncle for a living, then a photo changed everything.

[{"selector":"#anim-64724ec4-e29b-46bd-8e93-f68865792e4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12ee7716-275c-4ae6-8907-3729003b0719","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-971d19dd-0939-48fc-8dd3-6360041ac622","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.93189%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e92f49e-b454-4047-8378-b9b62052329b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a09eaece-6f5d-41bf-8c5a-4039c4765fee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-755b9734-8e14-45b4-bcbb-486372ec3f6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.76922%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tatola was a concreter and played reserve grade for the Wests Tigers but after a lacklustre 2017 they didn't ask him back. That, however, didn't stop him. Video: YouTube | South Sydney Rabbitohs

I was cleaning up my room or something. I was looking at the picture and I was like, 'Everyone in this team had played first grade except for me.' I realised the opportunity that I had, and I felt like it was fading away at the time.

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[{"selector":"#anim-4921aee8-e0d9-42b6-869a-e02994843dbf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3321f9b7-894b-493b-8e15-17c2bdf43973","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.76922%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5a4e5c4-ca7f-4c63-a96b-c2d18fe702cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2cfb85d-1780-4c96-85c5-c6ef31d6fd99","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b845ef1a-03da-4385-bc84-4e39fa12dbeb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-129.11877%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Video: YouTube | South Sydney Rabbitohs In a stroke of luck, South Sydney rang Tatola offering him a train and trial deal.

I was just at home when I got a random call and my manager said Souths wanted me for a train and trial. I thought it was my last chance to try and play first grade, and see what I can do.

[{"selector":"#anim-e73787ca-7f55-4336-8221-a52250fa55c7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":11000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9274fc58-5e08-4897-8705-e2354af3c5f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5916f95-46b2-4aba-b2fb-8025b3d1eec5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.76922%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9940219e-7489-4886-8fc7-730e8ea10a82","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e15920bc-2dcc-4098-82bf-d24c07245656","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85088ca1-6d5c-4aee-a600-e2de90557393","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-789d4bbb-6899-4efc-b9e0-50e79b79c05d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-128.62595%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-203d47eb-40d4-4e43-84b7-17748282efaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eda6bea9-d8a5-4cc6-b40c-eefec1444697","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-1160.00214%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5626557-575d-422e-b630-ec25ac085815","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Video: YouTube | South Sydney Rabbitohs Junior Tatola

[{"selector":"#anim-fa2bdf08-acc2-4423-965c-bca0e0b05de8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce8a8771-768c-4449-a7d7-f7f68bcb273e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c48a10c2-dec3-4f44-a520-8719316622c4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.79152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78370228-f362-4f0c-b0a1-8fa4d9992f43 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(40.81999994754004%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Tatola arrived at Redfern with a lot of work to do, but the lifeline from then-coach Anthony Seibold changed the course of his life.

[{"selector":"#anim-793dda4c-b34a-4594-8d3d-b3e8a8383395 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(42.61999995879005%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d7378a2-7649-4628-bdf9-a15e4d038079","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e33d23d-ccfc-4978-96cd-235b1fdf14d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09f4272a-273f-461f-b5b5-a11c56ff2490","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.06803%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] His five years of hard work paid off after he was awarded the George Piggins Medal as South Sydney's player of the year for his 2022 season.

It's come with maturity and being comfortable in the NRL now and his role within the team. He's in our leadership group and it's brought out the best of him.

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[{"selector":"#anim-7561c59a-7758-4a1f-b044-f162af061673","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-142d1549-9c10-40c4-b507-ab40f4be8d6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd316d7e-4aab-46eb-b5d1-d6660b99e746","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.06803%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8800215-a11a-44fa-b816-06ef15b65228 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(24.5072838392%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] He is among the Rabbitohs' top five players in a range of statistical categories including runs, run metres and tackles.

[{"selector":"#anim-b4553be1-f6d8-4bd8-b453-155090c6bdd5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.59999997116505%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2231395-7e26-4f10-a275-f589559d75d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-faa02f11-e0b5-4b55-9a84-53666724f37e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-440d85c6-56e2-4c71-92bb-3cd1511b7b66","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.06803%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The award came as a shock to the 25-year-old, who looks back on that moment in his room with the picture of the Junior Kangaroos as a turning point in his career.

Producer: Stefan Centofanti

[{"selector":"#anim-9e1d1a02-1429-447d-a6f5-4374c348096b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a968148e-b998-48d7-a54e-1532095321c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-06ee86f7-bca8-4d06-9c2b-b1b473e389bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The thought behind sport Learn more

How one photo transformed Junior Tatola's career

BY Pamela Whaley

I was cleaning up my room or something. I was looking at the picture and I was like, 'Everyone in this team had played first grade except for me.' I realised the opportunity that I had, and I felt like it was fading away at the time.

“

I was just at home when I got a random call and my manager said Souths wanted me for a train and trial. I thought it was my last chance to try and play first grade, and see what I can do.

“

It's come with maturity and being comfortable in the NRL now and his role within the team. He's in our leadership group and it's brought out the best of him.

“

Producer: Stefan Centofanti