Super League reset helps freshen Mikaele's mind

Thomas Mikaele is ecstatic to be home.

Having completed a full circle journey with his fair share of ups and downs in 84 first grade appearances, the 25-year-old will return to the NRL this Sunday in the Titans' historic clash against the Dolphins full of zest with a new lease of life after his stint abroad.

Having made a shock switch to Warrington in the English Super League mid-last year after serving as a regular member of the Wests Tigers' engine room since 2019, the move was more about hitting the reset button to keep his career flourishing - something he hopes to now do upon joining the Gold Coast.

"The decision to go over there was just I needed a change to be honest; I wasn’t enjoying my footy and I didn’t really feel like playing anymore," Mikaele revealed.

"I needed to move over there to kick start my passion and love for the game again and I really enjoyed playing over there. It was hard to leave, I was very disappointed to leave but obviously happy to come home.

"It was more just my family was struggling over there, I’ve got a new born now so my partner and I needed support with the kids and that was that."

Whilst born in Ipswich and coming through the grades at the Goodna Eagles, his new NRL club isn't a sight unseen for the former Australian Schoolboy.

Finishing his final two years of education at local rugby league nursery Keebra Park, Mikaele happened to share the field with a number of his current teammates... something that has certainly assisted his introduction immensely. 

"There’s a few of us – obviously David (Fifita), Moe (Fotuaika), Tanah (Boyd), a couple of other boys in the younger grades," he said.

"It’s made it easy for me to slot in. I know how they play and they know how I play.

"There’s other boys I know here through junior footy as well."