Macquarie Fields in Sydney’s south-west is the not most well-known area, particularly by tourists or outsiders. It is 38km from Sydney’s centre and a long way from its many beautiful beaches.

But it is known in Australia as one of the most deprived places in the country’s biggest city, with a large amount of housing commission and unemployment, and as one of the most dangerous.

Nineteen years ago Macquarie Fields was hit by five days of riots after a high-speed police chase that saw a 20-year-old man crash a stolen car into a tree and kill his two passengers. In the bitter protests and violence that followed 300 residents clashed with police and 55 arrests were made.

It was in that suburb, in those difficult surroundings, that Sauaso “Jesse” Sue grew up. Born in Auckland, Sue moved to Macquarie Fields as a child and was 13 when the riot overtook the area.

“It was a tough place to grow up, we grew up real tough,” he admits to Everything Rugby League.

“We’d just moved there and the Macquarie Field riots happened. It was a pretty big eye-opener for me.”

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That hard, unforgiving environment helped form the young forward, both on and off the field. Sue attended James Meehan High School, played his junior footy for the Macquarie Fields Hawks before joining the Wests Tigers pathways system.

“It was a tough neighborhood but I had a good group of friends and we all still catch up,” Sue says.

“It’s only as tough as people make it.”

Sue was a promising prospect who starred at youth level, winning an Under-20s competition alongside David Nofoaluma, Marika Koroibete and Jacob Miller. He then broke into the NRL with the Tigers in 2013 and was on his way.

He represented Samoa at the World Cup and impressed in first-grade with his physicality and defence.

But the Tigers went from bad to worse. Over six challenging years at Wests the club went through five different coaches and never finished higher than ninth place.

In 2019 the prop shifted to the Bulldogs but little improved there. Canterbury struggled on the field, missing the semi-finals, and towards the end of his debut year he tore his ACL. Not wanted by the Bulldogs at the end of 2020, he then made the switch to Newcastle.

There the hulking front-rower came across then-assistant coach Willie Peters. The two developed a friendship and now, just three years later on the other side of the world, the pair are headed into the Super League grand final.

 
“I’m pretty tight with him, I’m happy for him,” Sue explains.

“Willie’s journey from an assistant coach to adapting to a full-time head coach role, and I’m so happy for him. I hope we can do it for him as well.”

After two seasons with the Knights, Sue brought his family, including his two young sons, to the UK. One of Peters’ quota signings at Hull KR, the hard-working Samoan international has helped push the Robins up the table.

On Friday night he made 21 tackles and 98 metres from 15 carries as Hull KR edged Warrington to create history with a place in the club’s first grand final. It was a bruising, lung-busting display for those in the middle, a contest especially suited to the gritty forward.

“We made it hard for ourselves,” Sue admits.

“We didn’t complete, didn’t get to our set ends. Credit to the boys, we bit down on the mouthguard and just scrambled well and got the job done.

“It was ugly but that’s our way – just effort, effort, effort. It got us the win. We’ve got there but we’re not done yet.

“We need to get the job done and bring that trophy back to the town and enjoy it with everyone here.

What it means 😤

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Despite his Polynesian roots and Australian upbringing, Sue is fully aware of what reaching the grand final means to Hull KR’s fans and the east Yorkshire city.

“That’s why it’s special. Not just for us but for the town and the area as well.

“It would be good to bring the trophy back for them…. I’m proud for the club and the city. It’s massive.”

Two years ago Sue was sat in the stands of Old Trafford as Samoa took on Australia in the World Cup final.
It was the first time he visited the hallowed turf of Manchester United.

“I went to Old Trafford that year to watch the World Cup. That was a good watch.”

Twenty-four months on he returns with his Robins teammates, eager to lift some silverware.

At 32 years old and after more than 200 professional rugby league games, a grand final ring would cap off some journey for the man from Macquarie Fields.