Kalolo Saitaua will join an exclusive list when plays his 100th Hostplus Cup game for the Seagulls this Sunday in Papua New Guinea.
A fan favourite for many years, Kalolo has been a stalwart in the Seagulls team since he arrived at the club.
When asked about registering his 100th game for the club, Kalolo said: “It’s massive to play 100 games for Wynnum. Especially to get here from where I started.
I had some setbacks at other clubs and struggled for a little bit, before Brido (former Seagulls coach Adam Brideson) brought me over to Wynnum. He was my Broncos U20s coach and gave me the opportunity to play here.
His words were: nothing is guaranteed, but if you work hard, you’ll get the chance to play some Cup games.”
Having recently registered his 100th Hostplus Cup in Round 3, Kalolo will now cement himself in Wynnum Manly history as a 100-game player. Given the fluid nature of the competition, he may be one of the last few players that reach this milestone for the club.
“It’s been a long road, but I’ve really enjoyed my time at the Seagulls and I connected with the boys as soon as I arrived. That first group of guys like Sammy Scarlett, Aaron Rockley, Matiu Love-Henry, Max Elliot, Mitch Cronin, Junior Pauga, Jayden Berrell, Pat Templeman, Mitch Frei, Delouise Hoeter and Daniel Ogden, all welcomed me in. I admired them and appreciated that they had been at the club for a while before me. I wanted to carry on their legacy as they left over the years.
Even the staff during my first few seasons, guys like Kev Creese, Binga, Seigey, Razy, Steve. They also made me feel welcome and made it feel like home from the start. I knew this was a good club because of the way I was treated when I arrived.
I originally came in as a hooker, but I was stuck behind a couple of talented players in Jayden and Mitch, so Brido converted me to a middle forward and a utility player. And now under Heady (current coach Mat Head), I’ve played second row and centre as well. I’m happy that I’ve been able to help the team with my versatility over the years.”
A tackle-busting machine, you always know that Kalolo is going to give 100% on the field for the Seagulls. He has been a part of some great teams, including the 2019 and 2021 Grand Finals, and has now moved into a position of leadership as one of the older players in the squad. He also won our Player of the Year award in 2022.
“My love for Wynnum started with that first group of guys and has grown each year. Wynnum is home for me and I love playing for the Seagulls.
We’ve got a really good group this year that can go all the way. Every team has quality players though, and it’s hard to win every week. But if we stay focused and enjoy our footy, we can have a good season.
I want to focus on our game against PNG Hunters this weekend, rather than myself. But I appreciate everyone that has helped me along the way.”