sport, raiders, canberra raiders, nrl, jj felise, jj collins, rugby league

JJ Collins will never forget the sound of his mother in tears on the other end of the phone. But they were flowing for good reason. They were tears of joy, tears of pride, tears brought on by a letter Collins' brother was supposed to hide. His mother Suinu'u had stumbled upon a letter addressed to her son back home in Logan. It was the name that got her - instead of "Felise", the last name read "Collins". Her son, the promising rugby league player set to make his Canberra Raiders debut against the Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium on Sunday, had changed his last name. Collins had tried to keep it a surprise, "but my brother didn't hide the letter". "She ended up finding it, she was really happy, she called me as soon as she saw it and she was over the moon. I'm just really honoured and privileged to have that last name and carry on my mum's side of her family," Collins said. "Felise was the old man's last name. My old lady raised me and my two other siblings pretty much on her own, the old man was in and out of the picture but [he had not done] as much as my mum had done. "I just give credit to her for the hard work she put into us when we were younger, I just thought that was the right thing to do. It was really important. "It didn't really hit until the birth certificate got sent out. That's when it just cemented I did take on my mum's last name, which I have been meaning to do for a while now. "Now that it has officially changed to Collins, I am very privileged and honoured to take on the name and hopefully get to run out in the Raiders jersey under 'Collins'." NRL football will be nothing new for Collins, who played 15 games across three seasons at the Wests Tigers and Newcastle Knights. He might only be 23, but the Logan product feels like he has been doing this for a while now. After all, he did move out of home as an 18-year-old. Collins had graduated on a Friday, moved to Sydney on the following Sunday, and reported for pre-season training on the Monday. For him, it's time to prove himself as a bona fide first grader. "My only job I've ever had was rugby league," Collins said. "At the same time I am very honoured and privileged to say that. Some people out there will do anything to be in the position I am in, so I consider myself blessed and grateful for all the opportunities I have." But football is, and never will be, the be all and end all for this promising forward. His high school sweetheart and fiancee Aleshia Potaka is the one bringing balance to Collins' life. She has been since they got together six years ago. She will be cheering Collins on when he makes his Raiders debut on Sunday, in a game that may well draw those tears of pride out of his mother once more. "It would definitely be good to have [mum] down for a game, it's always good seeing her come down to watch as many games as she can," Collins said. "For her to come down and watch a game of mine, NSW Cup or NRL, it's always special for me."

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