When 18-year-old NRL rising talent Heamasi Makasini was left out of Wests Tigers’ line-up to face the Canberra Raiders, initial speculation swirled that the omission was a disciplinary drop following a rocky performance against the Brisbane Broncos over the weekend. But the real reason for his absence has come to light: a nagging foot injury, paired with a strategic planned rest to reset the young centre after a meteoric rise to the top flight of Australian rugby league.
Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall confirmed Wednesday, on the eve of the Tigers’ clash with the Raiders at Leichhardt Oval, that Makasini has been diagnosed with bone bruising in his foot that would have ruled him out of selection this week regardless of form. Marshall added that the injury actually created a timely opportunity to pull the teen prospect out of the intense NRL spotlight, allowing him to heal physically and rebuild his confidence after a tough outing against Brisbane.
The young outside back made his NRL debut in 2023, and catapulted into public consciousness during pre-season trials when a barnstorming, try-scoring run that steamrolled Penrith Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards drew immediate comparisons to All Blacks rugby legend Jonah Lomu. This season, the still-growing 18-year-old has held his own against far more experienced, older opponents, while adjusting to the pace and physicality of top-tier rugby league. While Makasini posted solid offensive stats against Brisbane, he was let down by four costly unforced errors—including two late in the match that contributed to the Tigers’ one-point loss. The rough outing has left the young talent grappling with a dip in confidence.
Marshall, who burst onto the NRL scene as a teenage prodigy with Wests Tigers himself decades earlier, says his own early-career experience puts him in the unique position to support Makasini through this growing period. The coach has been quick to defend the young star, pushing back against unfair early comparisons to sporting legends that pile unneeded pressure on teen prospects, noting that the NRL’s high-stakes environment already brings enough pressure for young players new to the league.
“He’s got a bit of bone bruising in his foot, so he wouldn’t have been available this week anyway,” Marshall told reporters ahead of the team’s captain’s run. “But it was probably timely because I think he was ready for a rest. But one thing I will say about Heamasi is he’s such a bright talent and he’s got a great future ahead of him, and he’ll just get some confidence back and come back into the team.”
Marshall went on to praise Makasini’s start to the 2024 season, noting that starting out as an 18-year-old centre—one of the most defensively demanding positions on the field—was no small feat. “Part of my job as a coach is also to know when to take the pressure off him,” he added. “I just felt like he’s been up for so long with his intent and his enthusiasm, and players have been actually going after him, that it was a timely rest.”
Makasini is only expected to miss one top-flight game, but Marshall has not ruled out a stint in the lower-tier NSW Cup to help the teen rebuild his confidence before returning to the NRL lineup, with experienced centre Starford To’a set to step back into the side this week after his own period of time gaining match fitness in reserve grade. Marshall pushed back on the common perception that a spell in reserve grade is a demotion or punishment, framing it instead as a strategic opportunity for young players to reset and refine their skills away from the glare of first-grade scrutiny.
“A lot of people sometimes look at reserve grade for example, and if someone goes back to reserve grade, it’s looked at as a punishment,” Marshall said. “Sometimes it’s actually the best thing for you to go and learn your trade, get some confidence. Like for Starford’s case, going and getting some game time and some match fitness. So it’s not always a demotion, sometimes it’s what’s best for you at the time. And Heamasi is no different.”
Marshall stressed that the club views Makasini as a core long-term talent for the franchise, and he is confident the young prospect will bounce back from his current confidence slump once he has had time to rest and reset. “He is a unique talent and someone we see as a long-term future for us,” Marshall said. “He’s having a bit of confidence issues at the moment, but he’ll bounce back.”