STANDING at 6ft 2in and tipping the scales at 136kg, Tai Tuivasa had all the makings of a future NRL star.

A junior representative player through every age group, the Sydney Roosters youngster was training with the club’s first-grade squad in 2012 and tipped for big things. That was until one day he suddenly quit football for a career in mixed martial arts.

A bold decision, but one he hasn’t looked back from. Five years on, one of Australia’s biggest MMA fighters will make his UFC debut in Sydney next month against American Rashad Coulter, after signing a life-changing four-fight contract.

Undefeated in five professional fights, all won by knockout, heavyweight Tuivasa – whose sparring partner and mentor is UFC legend Mark Hunt - has no regrets over walking away from rugby league.

“Growing up playing football, you play with mates, guys you hang out with every day,” he told foxsports.com.au.

“I was training with the Roosters’ first grade squad but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wasn’t enjoying it. I love the game, I love playing but it’s like anything. Once you get to a certain level, it became just a job.”

media_camera Tai Tuivasa in action for Sydney Roosters.

Tuivasa, who started his career at Penrith Panthers before being poached by the Roosters, says the culture for young players in rugby league didn’t suit him and was the reason behind his switch to the Octagon.

“Football is a sport where you get told what to do, what to say and told how to be. That’s not me. Sucking up coaches’ a**es, that’s not me,” he said.

The Mt Druitt product became unsettled after moving away from his family in Sydney’s west to Maroubra in 2010 and turned to gambling.

media_camera Tuivasa admits he wasn’t suited to the life of a rugby league player.

He admits his temper on the field wasn’t suited to a career in rugby league.

“I was known for getting sent off. Heaps of times,” he said.

“I’ve got a mouth on me too and I was trying to fight guys.

“I was an aggressive player. Trying to hurt in tackles and running hard. If someone wanted to fight, I was the first person in.”

Leaving rugby league didn’t end Tuivasa’s loose association with football. He fought former NRL bad boy John Hopoate in an exhibition event in Newcastle in 2012.

media_camera Knockout king Tuivasa says he could still make it as an NRL player.

Predictably, the fight didn’t last long, the younger Tuivasa dropping Hoppa inside 90 seconds, a result he admits raised his profile as a fighter.

“It was years ago. I like Hoppa. I’m friends with his son, Jamal,” he recalls.

“That (win) was good for me as he was a big name.”

Tuivasa has no doubts he could still make it as a rugby league player were he to make the move back to the code.

“Oh, easy,” he says without blinking an eye.

“But I’ve always loved fighting, since I was little.”

And since the introduction of the NRL’s no-punch rule, Tuivasa looks to have made the right move, a decision that will be fully vindicated with a debut UFC win on November 19.

Originally published as ‘Suck-a**’ NRL: Why giant star quit for UFC