The Melbourne Storm five eighth had played nine games in first grade and his goal kicking statistics hovered around 58 percent, not great for a player Storm chief executive Chris Johns rated among the "best kickers" he had seen.
The reporter's question would have rattled a lesser player. But not Lavea. He just smiled into the camera and said: "Maybe if the blokes scored their tries closer to the posts, life would be a bit easier."
Lavea, 20, knew his form with the boot would improve. Now he is kicking two out of three attempts at goal. "The pressure and criticism over my kicking just made me more determined," Lavea said. "I was determined not to let it get to me. These days I can cope with pressure pretty easily."
Lavea also knew the call.up to play for New Zealand would arrive sooner rather than later. When it did he was not the slightest bit intimidated when Storm and Australian coach, Chris Anderson, said he would show the little man "no favors".
Some might call what Lavea has confidence. He calls it faith. The lifelong Christian prays up to 30 times a day, even while he is training. "It gives me the strength and power to do my best," he said. "And it helps me to do my best for God. I pray all the time. "I pray in the morning. I even pray while I'm training. And I always pray before I go to bed. "It's part of my life. It brings me ease."
As well as maintaining his strict prayer regime, Lavea does not drink "It's' hard not to drink," he said. "Especially in the environment I'm in. "I wouldn't compromise my belief in God by allowing myself to fall far something like alcohol that I don't believe in. "I've had to be strong. But I've been given a lot of help."
Lavea has many Christian mates in the New Zealand Test side and has been surprised by pockets of interest within Storm. "I've talked to some of the boys about it," he said. "And some of them are pretty interested. Even the ones who aren't interested, at least they respect what I believe in. "None of them would force me to drink, or do something I didn't want to do."
Lavea was selected to play for New Zealand after only 11 first.glade games. He knew the call.up would come, but was surprised it came so soon. "I sort of thought if I played well during the year I might get a shot at playing for New Zealand in the World Cup," he said. "But making the side for the Anzac Test wasn't even in my head: I couldn't believe it. It was a tribute to my parents for all the hard years they have put in for me."
It was Lavea's mother who negotiated his contract with Storm. She told Johns that if he took Tasesa, he must also take his twin brother, Tai. "Mum drives a hard bargain," he said. "She's pretty good at negotiating and stuff like that."
Matt Rogers
Brad MacKay
