DOMINIC Feau'nati has paid tribute to the Worcester Warriors backroom staff for helping him turn around his Sixways career.

The powerhouse Samoan centre, who signed for Warriors from London Irish in January, was below peak fitness when he arrived and failed to sparkle, making just two low-key substitute appearances.

However, after a summer of hard work in the gym and changes to his diet, Fau'nati now cuts a much more lean figure and he even came off the bench to score a crucial late try in Saturday's 24-24 draw with Wasps at Sixways.

The 29-year-old said: "To be fair, last year I was carrying a lot of weight.

"I turned up unfit so I owed it to the fans to get fit and turn it round.

"The facilities and trainers are good at Worcester, they have really helped me out. I was 125kg last year and I'm 110kg now.

"I have dropped a lot of weight but I knew at the end of last season I had to do that and get ready for this season.

"I have been doing a lot in the gym and working with the nutritionist here.

"I started before the season was over, when I knew I was not going to play again.

"It's hard to carry all that weight as a back, but losing it makes my job a lot easier.

"I cannot blame anyone for not picking me last season. I can't saying anything about the coaches, the structure, the system, the other players, not anything.

"It's down to the player himself and I blame myself.

"I had to see a nutritionist. I wasn't sure what I was eating wrong or if I was eating at the wrong time of day.

"It was hard at first but it has started to come right.

"I rate myself as a player but I have to sharpen up and do my best.

"My wife gave birth to a little boy in the summer so we couldn't fly home to Samoa or New Zealand and that was good because it would have been hard to keep up with the regime.

"We stayed in Worcester, did a bit of travelling and I spent a lot of time in Cannons - I was beating myself up.

"Everyone knows what I can do but I hadn't proved it for a long time.

"You can't base your reputation on what you've done in the past.

"You have got to show it every game."

Feau'nati admits that the pace of life in London didn't suit him and living in the capital prevented him from finding his best form.

He added: "I didn't play a lot at London Irish but I found the London life a bit too fast.

"The Midlands has been good for me, my family is happy here.

"For me that's the most important thing. There's more time to relax."