Bureta Faraimo is a US International winger currently playing for English Super League side Hull FC.

Faraimo’s career started off quite differently to most who end up playing in England as he made his debut for the Wellington Orcas in the New Zealand National competition in 2010, a league he found great to play in.

“The New Zealand competition was pretty good back then.

“Tough, competitive and there was only just the provincial competition teams at the back end of the year playing in 1 division.

“We weren’t too bad from what I remember.” Faraimo told Everything Rugby League.

Following this, he had a stint at Intrust Super Cup side the Mackay Cutters that Faraimo got through a connection in Wellington.

When making the move to Mackay he was not expecting to end up playing for the Queensland Cup side.

“Our Wellington Orcas coach at the time had a mate who was going to coach a team (Mackay Wests Tigers) in the Mackay district competition and was looking for some players.

“I initially wasn’t going there for the Mackay Cutters but had every intention to climb as high as the ladder went in Mackay and the Mackay cutters were it.

“It was then in 2011 about mid-year I got an opportunity with them and that’s where I could say it all started pretty much.”

Faraimo would be selected to represent the USA Tomahawks at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, a milestone that the winger holds close to his heart.

“Playing for the USA Tomahawks in the 2013 World Cup was one of the greatest highlights of my life.

“It was an opportunity to showcase what I had to offer on the big stage. It was also then I signed my first professional contract.

“I was 23, had 2 kids and had no plan b at the time. I sacrificed a lot of time away from them to pursue a goal I set out for and to achieve it was worth it all.

“That 2013 World Cup will always be special to me because of that, and also playing with a great bunch of boys I call brothers now.”

Between 2014 and 2017 Faraimo would float in and out of first grade for both the Eels and Warriors.

During this time, however, the 29-year-old would be named NSW Cup winger of the year twice and represent the NSW Residents twice.

While Faraimo would have jumped at the chance to get more NRL playing time, he is grateful for the opportunities he did receive.

“Man, I would have loved to have gotten more of an opportunity. I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had.

“There would be a few things I would change If I could go back but in saying that I’ve learnt a lot of lessons along my journey.”

Faraimo currently finds himself at one of the oldest professional Rugby League clubs in the world, Hull FC, where he has played 56 games.

He as been amazed by the atmosphere Hull fans bring to home games and would love to one day to be remembered fondly by the Hull FC faithful.

“The fans here are crazy in a good way. They are the most vocal fans I’ve seen. The atmosphere playing on this side of the world is level 100 because of the fans.

“If I could retire a club legend that will be the icing on the cake for me. I just don’t think I’ve reached that status yet and don’t think I’m even close”

As things stand, Faraimo is under contract with Hull F.C until the end of the 2021 season.