AS OFA Fainga’anuku reflected on his time at Worcester Warriors it was clear how much he was hurting.
The powerhouse prop arrived at Sixways from Glasgow Warriors last summer full of excitement and anticipation as he geared up for his first season as an Aviva Premiership player.
The 31-year-old was desperate to become a cornerstone of Warriors’ pack and he was determined to help his new club force their way up the league table.
But speaking to the Observer after Worcester’s dismal display against Sale Sharks last month it appears his dreams have turned to nightmares as he stewed over yet another defeat.
“Losing hurts, so to start my first Premiership season and to have lost 15 games in a row is really tough and it is hard to handle,” Fainga’anuku said. “So many things are spiralling around in your head.
“Some of us haven’t experienced anything like this before, so you are just trying to grab on to things to motivate yourself to climb through it.
“I am away from my support base back in Sydney. All the people who used to mentor me such as old coaches are not around. I have only got my wife, Christine, and my two girls here, which brings its own challenges.
“It is definitely a tough period in my career, but I know that brighter and greater things are to come. I have to believe because that is what I want to hold on to. I don’t want to give up because that’s not me.”
Fainga’anuku has been a regular feature for Warriors since making his debut in October, but he said he will not feel satisfied until he gets a win in the number one shirt.
To do so, though, the loose-head prop admitted he and his Warriors teammates must show how much they want it on the pitch as they attempt to avoid relegation.
“After the Sale game, Dean (Ryan) sat us down and said we have got to look within and see what kind of people we are,” Fainga’anuku said.
“We cannot hide away from the fact that this season is in our hands and we have to show character to fight out of the position we are in.
“We are not saying there is no fight in us, but we have got to express it and the next six games will be a testament to what we are.
“Hopefully we can regroup and show that there is a belief in the squad and go out all guns blazing.”