Salesi began his career with the Canberra Raiders,[2] and played in the Tonga national rugby league team at the 1995 World Cup.
[5] Finau made 203 appearances for the side over the next six-year, becoming an instrumental team player, playing in 3 European Cup semi-finals and 2 Celtic League Titles, before ending his contract by mutual consent in September 2005.
[6] He then signed for Bath Rugby under John Connolly,[7] spending a season at the West Country club before moving to French side Bourgoin.
[8] Finau had a successful season at Bourgoin, and on completion announced that he had signed a 2-year contract for Cornish Pirates.
[9] However, in June 2007, the club announced that they had agreed to release Finau from the deal when a family illness obliged him to return to his native Tonga.