Rugby Player Ofahengaue Learned a Lesson in British Culture through a Shopping Bag.

Joe Ofahengaue's Impressions of Life in Great Britain

According to The Sun: Joe Ofahengaue wants the Leigh team to succeed since he has had a unique experience of British life thanks to a popular character from the show "Coronation Street" — Roy Cropper.

The Tongan player was initially surprised by fans' reactions to him using a plastic bag to transport his sports gear.

Fans quickly began to compare him to the character known for his "Roy Cropper bag", but because Joe arrived in Great Britain only in April, he had no idea about it.

Now he realizes that circumstances require him to make efforts to lead Wakefield to the Super League semifinals.

“I didn't know who this was,” Ofahengaue said, explaining why his bag caused such a stir.

“I asked my wife, but she didn't know either, so I just googled it. Then I wrote to the club, and we laughed about it — it’s a joke.”

“Everyone gets sports bags, but I don’t like cotton ones because they quickly gain a bad smell — plastic ones are easy to wash.”

“I sweat a lot. So I don’t want to carry a smelly bag when I can just wash my regular plastic one. That’s why I use it, it’s convenient.”

Ofahengaue's Ambitions for the Season

“I’m a simple guy, so I don’t worry too much about these things, but the main reason is — I sweat a lot. If I had a regular sports bag, I’d have to wash it every two days, so the plastic ones save me time.”

Ofahengaue, 30, has become a real star for the Leigh team since his arrival and has helped them reach third place in the Super League.

As noted by his nephew — well-known rugby player Willie, this is just the beginning, as he aims to reach the top with thirteen wins that will lead the team to the Super League trophy at Old Trafford stadium.

“This is a base camp,” he said.

“Over the last six to eight matches, my task has been to stay in the moment. Third place is good, but we live for today.”

“At the beginning of the season, I wasn't here, but I’m sure that as a rugby player, you should always have a goal — to win the competition. However, our story and the path we are on together are still impressive.”

“We aim to win the big final, and all our little achievements are just milestones on that way.”

Moving to England

Moving from Australia to England with his wife and three children mid-season might seem like a tough step.

But Ofahengaue, who considers himself a 'Baron of Brisbane', even though he was born in Auckland, New Zealand, had already gone through a similar experience, and this time everything went well.

He told SunSport: “I’m from Brisbane in Queensland and have previously moved my family to Sydney, which is a 12-hour drive from us.”

“We lived in isolation from our family and spent five years away from those we loved the most. It wasn't easy.”

“So, coming here felt like an easier decision as I realized those five years we spent in Sydney prepared us for such changes.”

“The transition went as smoothly as I had hoped. England is a wonderful country with a great history.”

“It’s interesting — to learn about everything, for example, about the funds of all the castles in England.”