Man on a mission
Fiji rep Nakubuwai out to find own footy path Need for Mead to remain Kumuls captain
emma.greenwood@news.com.au HE’S being hailed the next Petero Civoniceva but Titans squad member Ben Nakubuwai just wants to be his own man.
The giant front-rower – who stands at 194cm and weighs 110kg, stats close to those of his idol Civoniceva in his prime – is in camp with the Fiji Bati this week ahead of their Test against Tonga at Campbelltown on Saturday.
A former Melbourne Storm under-20 player, Nakubuwai is yet to break through in the senior NRL ranks.
But he made the move north to join the Titans this year, with the coaching staff seeing plenty of potential in the gentle giant. DAVID Mead remains committed to captaining Papua New Guinea at the World Cup and has set his sights on replacing James Roberts in the Broncos backline.
Mead withdrew from selection for PNG’s Test against the Cook Islands on Saturday to rest a rib cartilage injury.
Mead suffered the injury in AGE.........................................21 BORN.................LEETON, NSW POSITION.........................PROP HEIGHT...........................194cm WEIGHT........................... 110kg players were nearing an NRL call-up. But it was something he would continue to work towards with the Seagulls.
If he makes Fiji’s final 17, Nakubuwai is likely to come up against Titans teammate Vaha Pulu in the clash against Tonga on Saturday.
“We always go to (church) connect every Thursday, he’s one of my good mates at training,” Nakubuwai said.
“It’ll be different (coming up against him).
“But I guess when it’s game time, I’m sure he won’t be having any mates on the field, so I’m sure I’ll have to take the same approach really.”
Nakubuwai gained practice at coming up against one of his idols at the weekend when New Zealand international Tohu Harris lined up for the Storm’s Queensland Cup feeder side Sunshine Coast in his comeback from injury.
“When I was in Melbourne last year Tohu was one of the guys I looked up to really because he was one of the top back-rowers in the game and one of the top guys in Melbourne.
“So I always tried to see what he did and tried to learn off him,” said Nakubuwai, who made 25 tackles in 65 minutes on the field as Tweed fell to a 58-0 loss.
“I tried to (put a few hits on him). In the scrum he was giving me a bit of a tickle in the face, so I was sort of laughing at him.”
Nakubuwai has been toiling with Tweed and like coach Aaron Zimmerle, believes they can turn their fortunes around.
“There’s a lot of young boys in our club, we’ve got a lot of talent, it’s just we need to channel that talent into getting results on the field,’’ he said.
“We need to just keep playing together, doing the little things right and hopefully we can get some good results.” his Round 6 Broncos debut and has received painkilling injections before matches since.
With Roberts suffering an ankle injury that will sideline him for a month, Mead has an opportunity to secure a regular starting berth in Wayne Bennett’s team.
He has played two matches off the bench and is hoping to return to the starting side. 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOST CITY
“It’s unfortunate Jimmy,” Mead said.
“I don’t think he’ll miss too many games but it opens up an opportunity for me to do what I can. My rib cartilage is still playing up. I’ve been getting a needle every week and it hasn’t settled.
“I spoke to Wayne and we thought it’d be a good time to give it a rest. Hopefully this weekend will do it some good.” for
Jordan Kahu is likely to shift to right centre to replace the in-form Roberts, allowing Mead to come on to the wing.
Mead, 28, played five matches at centre for Wynnum-Manly in the Intrust Super Cup and said he was prepared to play wherever needed.
The former Titans flyer is hoping to be retained as Kumuls captain and play games in the country of his birth.
“I would have liked to have played (against the Cook Islands),” he said.
“We had to make sure the Broncos come first and everything else comes second.
“There are a couple of games in PNG that I would love to be a part of.
“I was pretty happy about it, re-signing with the Broncos. Brisbane made an offer and I was pretty quick to jump on it.”