TOUTAI KEFU

WOULD YOU want to move back into the house where a violent home invasion took place? It’s a question most of us never have to consider. But in 2021, the Kefu family suffered at the hands of a group of teens – unfathomably young offenders for such a vicious crime – and according to Wallabies legend and current Tonga head coach Toutai, the time between then and now has had its setbacks.

“Initially, my wife didn’t want to come back to the house – she wanted to sell it,” Kefu begins of the aftermath of the horror in Brisbane that left him in critical care with abdominal wounds, wife Rachel with a savage arm injury, and two of his children, Joshua and Madison, also hurt. All four required surgery. “It took a while for her to get back in. And during that time it was normal stuff happening. Spontaneous bouts of crying. Not sleeping properly.

“The professionals told us that with time, things will heal. So we’re doing really, really well at the moment. My wife, she won’t get full use of her arm and she’s still battling away, just trying to improve it every day. She’s having little wins here and there. She’s a trooper, she is just battling on. She has raised five kids, so she is pretty staunch. She