Afoa does not know what his future holds beyond Sunday's State Championship match after the cult hero was told there was no room for him at the Warriors next season.
But the 29-year-old prop is adamant he has more to give in the NRL and is open to exploring options in Australia for the first time as he prepares to say goodbye to the club he has served for the last 16 years.
Afoa may not go down as one of the greatest props of his generation, but his eye-catching hair and trademark kick-off returns have made him a fan favourite.
"You've got to be the guy who goes hard … I don't have the footwork of Shaun Johnson or Roger Tuivasa-Sheck so I had to lean on my strength - running it straight," Afoa told AAP.
"It's about inspiring the boys when times are hard, to carry it like that and show you're not scared can encourage the boys to keep going.
"You've got to take the fear out of it and challenge yourself, I know it's a bit of fun and entertainment for the crowd too."
And as for the hair?
"I needed to save money rather than going to a barber every week and spending $50," he said.
"It's something different, I always admired Fuifui Moimoi and Steve Matai and I wanted to jump on that.
"I've got to do a wash twice a week and after gameday you've got to do a big wash after, there's a lot of hard work and maintenance that goes into it, but it's a lot cheaper than paying $50 every week."
Afoa has played 145 NRL games for the Warriors and also represented Samoa, but first-grade opportunities have been harder to come by over the last two seasons in a stacked forward pack.
The prop is happy to have been the senior head in the young Warriors outfit, who took out last week's NSW Cup and will look to add the State Championship crown to their trophy cabinet with victory over Queensland Cup winners Burleigh Bears at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
But Afoa still sees himself as a player who can contribute in the NRL, even if it means he might one day line up against the Warriors.
"The (Warriors) jersey means so much to me and I want the club to be successful over the next few years," he said.
"I'm enjoying the moment with a smile on my face. I've only just turned 29 and my body is still healthy.
"My preference is always to play in the NRL, it's the best comp. It would be different to see me back-fencing for another team."
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