VETERAN Fiji Bati player Akuila Uate said one of the best memories for this year’s Rugby League World Cup was when they defeated New Zealand 4-2 in the quarter-final.
The Votua, Nadroga player said it was one of the toughest games he ever played in his second World Cup.
“Beating New Zealand was a history in the making for us even though we lost the last game against Australia but we made history in a very long time,” Uate said.
“It is going to be a memory that will last long.”
He said his next step would be concentrating on his family and preparing for the next NRL season.
“This is just to keep my game time going and preparing myself for the next World Cup.
“One of the things that I will miss is being around the boys especially during the morning and afternoon devotion, the singing and the sharing, I’ve adapted to it in the past weeks and it seems like it had created a bond between the players.
“A big reminder for me because it’s hard going to church because I am always busy and when you come to camp here at home it just brings you down and take you back to all the memories when you were a little kid going to church and that is one of the my best memories.
“Also having talatala Ilaitia Tagituimua there, every single step of the way, helping you lift up your spiritual life was the best experience I’ve ever had.”
Fiji made the semi-finals at the 2008 and 2013 world cups and now the 2017 world cup, Uate believes they have strike power in reaching the final for 2021.
