Podcast #23 - Saia Fainga'a. Former Wallaby and Rugby World Cup squad member. Super Rugby Champion with the Queensland Reds, Managing Director of 100% indigenous owned and operated companies; Moonyah Services, Moonyah Workforce, and Madji Furniture.
A great story that started at a young age. Saia tells me that he signed with the Brumbies Academy at 14 years and 9 months old and was training with Wallabies greats George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and George Smith.
He lets us know how his Aboriginal mother and Tongan father met and married, then raised 5 boys while living in a pub. He shares about how his mother was their nutritionist, taxi driver, and confidante even to this day and how his father helped the boys into their first investment as 18-year-olds.
Saia shares his thoughts and memories of his time with the Queensland Reds, winning their inaugural Super Rugby title. And playing under Robbie Deans with Wallabies and what he thought about a Kiwi coaching the Australian Rugby team.
Saia and his twin brother Anthony, have founded 100% indigenous-owned and operated companies Moonyah Services, Moonyah Workforce, and Madji Furniture. The Fainga’a twins have a business goal to be one of the first indigenous companies for labour hire traffic control to be listed on the share market. With the passion and hearing their story, I’d bank on them achieving it.
Another awesome conversation with plenty of good learnings.
Make sure you listen to find out what they are.
Enjoy.
The twenty-third podcast is available now on the streaming services below:
