BURETA Faraimo is much more than one in a million – he is roughly one in 447 million.
For the Hull new boy was able to move because of one of only 17 people on the planet.
The Black and Whites’ capture gained a visa after playing for the USA in a mid-season clash against Canada.
But the fact the New Zealand-born ace qualifies for America at all is down to his father hailing from Swains Island, population 17.
Part of Tokelau, an island group in the south Pacific technically governed by New Zealand, Swains is actually controlled by America – even though it is essentially a coconut plantation that is only a mile-and-a-half across and a mile wide.
However, that means Faraimo can play for the USA, for whom he is a current international after featuring in the World Cup despite never having played there, therefore he qualifies for a UK work visa.
Now he is a Hull player after switching from the NRL but he has never lost touch with his roots, even though hardly anyone has ever been there.
Winger Faraimo, who was at New Zealand Warriors after leaving Parramatta last season, said: “My dad is from a tiny place and I’ve never been there.
“Then again, I’ve never been to the USA for rugby league reasons. Whenever I’ve played for them, it’s been in England, Wales, Canada, Australia or Papua New Guinea.
“I’ve never played in a home game for the USA, they’ve always had them during the NRL season so I’d never been available.”
Now he is in Hull having arrived in the UK on Sunday, Faraimo, 27, is itching to show his quality in Super League after getting hints from former Black and White Frank Pritchard and USA boss, Leeds coach Brian McDermott.
And after seeing games on the TV down under, he is convinced he is heading to a better place for his game, even though its convoluted structure with Super 8s, Challenge Cup and Play-Offs is beyond him.
He added: “I’ve watched a little bit and the standard is fast and physical, they throw the ball about a bit more than the NRL.
“But I don’t really understand the structure – these guys play for a trophy every month or something like that!
“You need a degree or diploma to figure that out!
“Brian McDermott had a bit of banter with me about Hull and I know a couple of boys, Frankie was one one them, who are moving back from Hull and they’ve got nothing but good things to say about the place.
“But I know I have some really big shoes to fill. Mahe Fonua is a big loss to them.
“I’m not really there to make up the numbers of fill anyone’s shoes. I’m rocking up to be Bureta Faraimo. I don’t really talk about what I’m going to do. I will speak with my actions.”
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