English Premier League signing continues family's proud sporting legacy

Kicking goals on a football field comes naturally for Marley Leuluai - but instead of rugby league like his dad he's found success in the round ball code.

“I was sort of like I guess you could say, forced to play football, but I enjoyed it anyway so I just carried on with it,” Marley Leuluai says.

The 17-year-old, who spoke to Willie Poching on 531pi's Saturday morning sports show Pacific Grandstand, is following in the professional sporting footsteps of his father, legendary former Toa Samoa and NRL player Kylie Leuluai, securing a contract with the English Premier League team Burnley FC.

“I just played rugby league and football at the same time. When opportunity came to football I couldn’t really turn them down. I mean my dad supported me as well I don’t think there was really a choice for me,” Marley says.

He is the second footballer of Pacific Island heritage and third New Zealander to be signed by Burnley and he is also a member of an exceptional rugby league family, which includes his cousins former Kiwi players Thomas Leuluai and Macgraff Leuluai and uncle A'au James Leuluai.

“They mention me quite a bit like Chris Wood. It’s good to know that people understand the culture in New Zealand and stuff especially with Chris Wood being there before," he says.

"Chris Wood obviously had a great time at Burnley, scored a lot of goals.”

Marley says that his first game for New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 World Cup felt much different to playing for his club , and his debut made him very emotional.

“When you got the fern on your chest it’s a different feeling from playing for the club because obviously I grew up watching the All Blacks. It’s a big step in the right direction for my career to wear it when I’m young and it’s an unbelievable feeling.”

He says being captain for the New Zealand Under-17 FIFA squad was an incredible experience, and his priority was to make sure his fellow teammates put on their best performance to show everyone what they were capable of achieving.

Leuluai has Samoan, Māori, and Dutch roots and was born in Australia and raised in Yorkshire, England.

He says representing his roots is the inspiration and motivation for him to play football.

“I think me and my brothers always grew up watching and dreaming to play for New Zealand or Samoa, obviously my dad played for Samoa. Yeah, that’s another country that I’m really proud to represent as well. In my photos, I had on the ulafala as well which I was proud to wear.”

Leuluai says his parents still have Kiwi accents, and although he has a very obvious Yorkshire accent he is a Kiwi and Samoan on the inside.

Watch the full interview with Willie Poching on Pacific Grandstand, which airs every Saturday from 8am on 531pi: