Ioelu to go from fan boy to calling shots at Roosters

"If you heard my phone calls with my mum, oh, she would have all the receipts," Ioelu quipped.

"Playing Pacific Champs (for Samoa), even just wrestling against players, I'm still a fan boy. But I feel like that's the joy I have in the game as well."

At age 22, Ioelu will take on the Roosters' No.9 jersey on Friday night in his childhood town of Auckland, deputising for the injured Reece Robson.

"When I step on the field, it's hard to appreciate that I was watching them long ago," he continued.

"But it's when I reflect on my game at night and the players I played with, it makes you appreciate the discipline you have in your life. 

"You actually look back and you're like, 'damn, I played with my favourite player, Roger Tuivasa Sheck'. That's crazy."

Ioelu is a devout Christian, with religion playing a major role in his life.

It's why he says he is "much more than an NRL player", with his mission to encourage other young footballers to embrace their faith.

Beyond that, Ioelu reasons it leaves no space in his heart to envy or hate other players for their skills.

His own skillbase is also growing, trying to add a heavy defensive workload to crafty skills out of dummy-half.

It was enough to earn him a Samoan debut after 12 NRL games last year, and for Trent Robinson to turn to him to start ahead of Connor Watson with Robson injured.

Now he will not only play in an all-star Roosters spine alongside James Tedesco, Sam Walker and Cherry-Evans, but also have the responsibility to overcall them when required.

Not that he believes that will be an issue, ready to flick the switch again from fan to embracing the privilege.

"My journey …  it didn't just happen for me. I wasn't like a star out of school. I had to work for it," he said.

"Training with them, that's where I'm more appreciating it, I'm buzzed out. That's the fanboy moment. 

"Like, I'm doing short-side plays of DCE. I watched him play for Queensland, and it's crazy."