Sporting future
IF yesterday’s grandfinal of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League Under 19 competition was anything go by, then the sport is in good hands. Nasinu secondrower Josefa Gaunavinaka was eventually named the best player of the final.
He was quoted saying there was no sweeter way to remember winning the 2021 Vodafone Trophy, than doing so alongside his twin brother.
The twins immediately looked for each other for a brotherly embrace after the last play of the grandfinal at the National Stadium.
Nasinu defeated hot favourites Ratu Kadavulevu School Eels 12-8. The match was tied at 4-4 at halftime, with the teams scoring a try apiece.
RKS had dominated proceedings though towards the end of the first spell, keeping the Panthers’ defence under pressure deep inside their own 20m line.
While Gaunavinaka earned the highest accolades at the end of the tough encounter, both teams came off with some breathtaking rugby league.
Defences were tight, and the teams displayed natural skills that would have easily attracted international scouts. They were picking gaps on the run, and showed confidence in attack and defence. Players did not hesitate under pressure and appeared to enjoy the hard hits.
With a bit of work around the play-the-ball area, and some attention on the running lines of line-breakers, the sport is set for big things when these youngsters come of age.
It’s the base that matters, and that’s in abundance at schoolboy level.
The onus now is on the powers that be to chart a pathway that carries these fresh and enthusiastic youngsters all the way to the Fiji Bati.
Incentives are there in the form of the Silktails now engaged in the Ron Massey Cup competition in New South Wales, Australia.
The fact that the Fijian Drua have now been given the opportunity to participate in the Super Rugby competition from next year, opens up another door for our young ruggers.
As national 7s rugby icon Waisale Serevi said the other day, sports can be an avenue that enables youngsters to live their dreams. It’s a means to an end.
In the end yesterday, Nasinu showed what quick play in the rucks could do. It showed what you could reap off a condensed opposition defence.
Good peripheral vision, and the willingness of players to probe gaps and take their chances eventually stood out.
In a nutshell though, we have an abundance of talented youngsters who have the ability to play at the highest level of the sport they choose.
Their challenge will be to stay focused, enthusiastic and committed. The powers that be must then engage them, empower them and assist them to keep their passion alive. What a future!