SINOTI TAKING TO LIFE ON TYNESIDE
The Samoan international winger, 28, had less than a week to get used to his surroundings before locking horns with the Greater Manchester club at the weekend.
And Sinoti has already been exploring Newcastle, whether it be having a ride on the Metro or paying a visit to the MetroCentre with his partner.
“When we first landed, myself and my fiancee hopped on a Metro train to have a look around the city,” said Sinoti.
He added: “That was good, but when we got to the MetroCentre we got completely lost and had no idea where we were or how we get home! It might have just been the jet-lag, or at least that is my excuse, and we were always asleep by about 6pm every day in our first week just because it’s so dark over here so early.
“It’s not something I’ve really experienced before and it just makes me feel like it’s really late at night when it’s only the early evening.
“I’m sure I’ll get used to it, the early impressions of the whole place have been extremely positive.”
Joining the club following stints with the likes of Toulon, Castres and Aironi, the Pacific Islander made quite an impression on his debut at Kingston Park. Sinoti caused havoc for the Sharks defensive line with a series of barnstorming carries.
Sinoti admits he seeked advice from fellow Samoan and former Falcon Taiasina Tu’ifua prior to his switch to the North East, saying: “I know Tai [Taiasina Tu’ifua] well and he said it was a really good club and had a lot of nice things to say about the area. Other than that it’s just been finding out about the whole place as I go along.”
Admitting that the sheer physicality of the Premiership is the main ingredient of rugby in England, Sinoti is relishing the prospect of showing what he can do between now and the end of the season.
“I’m not trying to change too much straightaway because it takes time to settle in,” he said.
“I hope I can offer something a bit different to the team if I get the opportunities, and hopefully I can bring something new as well as we try to turn our situation around,” he added.
After their back-to-back Premiership outings on home soil over the festive period, the Falcons host Brive this Thursday to decide which of the two teams will progress through to the quarter-finals of the competition.
“Physicality is one thing Brive will always bring, no matter what the competition,” said Sinoti.
“Like most French teams if you can shock them and take the first 20 minutes away from them, they will tend to put their heads down.
“From there we can fully press the accelerator and if you do that, then by the second half they do not want to know.
“Home advantage will be a big thing, because French teams do not tend to like playing away from their own ground,” added the Samoan flyer.
Tickets are still available for the game by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or [click here][1] to purchase online.
[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/details/event.aspx?itemref=2568
