SYDNEY >> The most popular attraction at the Taronga Zoo was a stunned University of Hawaii football player.

During a team outing to the zoo today (Australia time), the players gathered at the koala exhibit. Coach Nick Rolovich selected running back Ryan Tuiasoa, slotback Dylan Collie and defensive end Meffy Koloamatangi to pose for pictures with the koalas.

“Then one of the assistants for the zoo came up to me and gave me a letter,” Tuiasoa said. “I guess the letter was supposed to be from the koalas. I read it, and it was a (football) scholarship. I was stunned.”

Rolovich said he came up with the idea five months ago.

“I kept it in my memory bank for that long,” said Rolovich, who thought it would be a surprise to award a scholarship to Tuiasoa three days before the Rainbow Warriors’ season opener against California. “How else would you give a kid a scholarship in Australia? The koalas gave him the scholarship. The kangaroos are much more dangerous.”

Tuiasoa, a 2013 Punahou School graduate, attended Weber State for a season before deciding to relinquish that scholarship and join the Warriors as a walk-on.

“I wanted to give it a chance (at Weber State), but my heart was here,” Tuiasoa said.

Tuiasoa said his family “pitched in together” to pay for his tuition and school expenses. He said he contributed by working during the offseason, first in construction and recently as a server at corporate parties.

After receiving the scholarship offer, Tuiasoa admitted, “I wasn’t expecting it. It was so far out of my mind at this point. We were out on a trip. It was surreal. It was something I wanted so bad for so long. It was right there in my hands.”

Tuiasoa then called his parents, who had traveled to Australia for the game.

“They actually came to the zoo five minutes after I got the offer,” Tuiasoa said. “I told them. It was crazy. My mom and dad worked so hard to support me. I can only contribute so much. This is the fruit of their hard labor.”

Rolovich said Tuiasoa was a deserving choice.

“He’s proven he takes academics seriously,” Rolovich said. “I think he’s a wonderful teammate. He’s going to have a significant role on special teams. We like to reward guys. He’s earned it.”

Well, there was one final step. At the end of practice on a drenched field, Rolovich said Tuiasoa had to recover two “fumbles.” Rolovich then rolled two balls into a muddy patch. Tuiasoa slid for the recoveries.

“It was so great,” Tuiasoa said. “My teammates were there for me. I loved it.”