Canberra Raiders’ young star Savelio Tamale also dreams of playing for the Wallabies

But fear not, Raiders fans.

The breakout winger may not be shy about his dream that would eventually switch codes, but it won’t be happening any time in the near future.

“I’m pretty set on being a rugby league star,” Tamale said.

“But I’d love to later down my career hopefully get the chance to put on a Wallaby jersey. That dream is not over for me.

“But right now and for the next couple of years, I’m dedicated to the Canberra Raiders.”

Tamale had originally been signed until the end of next season, which coincided with the Rugby World Cup being played on home soil in 2027.

But earlier this year, he re-signed with the Raiders until the end of the 2028 season.

So while pulling on the Wallabies jumper might still be a dream – the next tournament is in the United States – it’s no pipe dream.

Not only a rugby union prodigy playing inside centre – a position the Wallabies are desperately short on – Tamale also had his sight set on the NFL.

“I was playing hybrid sports at the time,” Tamale said of his upbringing.

“Was playing rugby league, touch football, rugby union, even had a little stint with American football. I had so many different options.

“But the one thing that was on my mind was – whatever comes up, I wanna play it, and whatever opportunity comes up, I wanna play it.”

Which is the approach he’s taking now.

While he remains locked in as a Raiders for the next 15 months, nothing is off the table.

RED V NOT FOR ME

While most Dragons fans would hate seeing a junior star shine elsewhere, Tamale candidly admits he wasn’t ready for first grade at the Red V.

Stuck behind the likes of Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa, and Mathew Feagai, Tamale wasn’t surprised he only jagged one appearance for the Dragons before departing for Canberra.

It was, after all, his first proper crack in the 13-man game.

“2023 was my first year playing rugby league at a professional level,” Tamale said.

“And I feel like in my second year I was still learning the game — and that was probably the main reason why I wasn’t playing first grade.

“I really thought I hit my straps at the end of the 2024 season for NSW Cup. I got the opportunity to play one game of NRL with the Dragons.

“I really enjoyed my time down there but yeah, I just wasn’t getting the opportunity that I wanted to — and hence why I moved down to the Raiders.”

SEEING GREEN

The move to Wollongong was okay for Tamale. The move further south to the nation’s capital though, took him right out of his comfort zone.

Growing up in Manly with his mum, dad, and two sisters, homesickness was always going to be a factor — especially when his entire circle was seemingly a world away.

But any qualms were quickly allayed by a playing group that got close under Ricky Stuart, starting with Jamal Fogarty making a beeline for him after he signed with the Raiders.

“He came up to me and was like, ‘Hey mate, if you need anything just let me know’. It’s pretty cool to see when players come up to you like that,” Tamale said.

“And yeah, it just makes you feel welcome and warm inside.

“For the first couple of months I felt a bit homesick because there’s not much to do around Canberra other than football, golf, and you know, activities that you do day-to-day.

“The club and the players have made it really easy.

“Everyone cares and is genuine about your wellbeing.”

FATHER RICKY

It was one conversation that convinced Tamale the Raiders were the club for him.

He met with Ricky Stuart last year and, despite the Raiders’ disappointing 2024, he knew after talking to the Canberra legend that the club was destined for greatness.

“As soon as I walked out of the meeting with Sticky I was like, ‘Yeah this is where I wanna be, man,” Tamale said.

“It speaks volumes of him, because look at where we are today.

“The Raiders weren’t going too well last year, but it just proves to everyone that we’ve had a really good off-season and we just put our head down.

“No media, no talk, just us.

“I moved down here because of Stick and what he was saying about changing me not just as a player but off the field. He said, ‘You come here, I’ll treat you like my own son.’

“And that’s something that you wanna be a part of.

“That care factor he has for his players is just unmatched.”

KNEE DRIVE

Everything was going perfectly for Tamale at the start of the year.

He cemented a spot on the wing, was considered a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year honours, and the wins were coming thick and fast.

But it all came crashing down when he dislocated his patella and partially tore his medial ligament in Round 14 against South Sydney.

“I was in shock because I felt a popping. I’ve never felt that before. The pain I was feeling — it was just crazy, and I wish that upon no one,” he said.

THE BETTER HALF

If the Raiders continue on their merry ways and take care of business against Tigers this weekend, he’s going to upset more than the 17 players he’s playing against in Canberra.

It also won’t go down well with his favourite player and girlfriend, Wests Tigers NRLW star Evie McGrath.

“It will be a rough week, I wonder how the talk will be after,” Tamale joked.

But if he has a successful return, she’ll have no one to blame but herself.

McGrath has been credited with changing her partner’s game, giving him tips and advice on adapting his football.

“If anything, she’s actually improved my game this year because at the start of the year she said I needed to get around the ball on my kick chase,” he said.

“And ever since, I have been getting good touches.

“Credit to Evie for tipping me up.”

And while McGrath is already having her praises sung by Tamale, they’re only going to grow if he accomplishes his goal for the year.

“We have a set goal to win that premiership, but we’re taking it week by week, which is pretty good so you can just focus and have that bigger picture in the background,” he said.

“We’re just slowly ticking boxes every week, and the boys have been doing that for the past 25 rounds. So that’s our mentality going into the finals.

“We just wanna go in confident — getting the next two wins under our belt, giving us all the confidence we can get going into the finals.”

Originally published as Canberra Raiders’ young star Savelio Tamale also dreams of playing for the Wallabies