THE Vodafone Fiji Bati team is among national teams which have sets of brothers in the same team at the same time.
Names like the Sims – Ashton, Korbin and Tariq, the Naiqamas of Wes and Kevin, Saifiti twins Daniel and Jacob, and Alipate and Kaliova Tani, the sons of former Fiji 7s rep and league convert, Viliame Tani of Namatakula, Nadroga.
Fast forward to next month’s Rugby League World Cup, another set of brothers is in the limelight. They started chasing their RLWC dream four years ago, after the Fiji Bati finished in the top four in England.
Welcome Kumi, Verata’s Mosese and Etuate Qionimacawa. Mosese was born June 7, 1993, and is a student of the University of the South Pacific and plays for the USP Islanders Rugby League Club.
Etuate, a former soldier, was born December 15, 1990. They both play for Nasinu Titans.
They are close. Etuate is his brother’s keeper. At training at the Fiji National Rugby League headquarters a fortnight ago, Etuate, now unemployed and who travels to Suva daily to train from their family farm at Lokuya, Verata, tossed a Fiji Residents’ training vest at Mosese. The exchange meant a lot. Elder brother caring for his sibling, and the recipient’s face while catching the vest showed acknowledgment, gesture, pride and respect
The younger brother knows he is protected, cared and mentored by his elder sibling. There’s a sense of pride in it because he knows his protector is keeping him safe. The elder brother is also proud because he knows he is fulfilling his duties.
“Our parents’ advice most of the time is to care and love each other,” Etuate said.
“I live in Lokuya in our farm and travel every day. All our parents want is for us to succeed in everything we do, whether in trying to be selected into the Fiji Bati team, work or education. They know that we want to play for Fiji.”
Etuate made global headlines for the Fiji Bati in his debut when he scored three tries against Papua New Guinea in Australia last year.
But unfortunately for him, he will miss this world cup after he fractured his thumb in the Vodafone Inter-Zone grand final last week.
“He was one of the best local players who could be included, but the injury has ruled him out. We are observing him and if he misses, he still remains as one of the top prospects for future internationals,” Fiji Residents coach Jo Dakuitoga said.
Mosese is in Rabele’s list as one of his halves against the Overseas Fiji Bati to select the national side to Australia.
“We are close and we share training tips and talk about our mistakes on the field and how we can improve,” Mosese, a five-eighth and who was a member of the Queen Victoria School’s Deans Trophy champion side in 2011.
“I am proud that my elder brother is there to guide me along all the time.”
So with Mosese carrying the hopes of their family and Verata into the Battle of the Bati and hopefully the RLWC, Etuate, despite the shortfall, will never back out as his brother’s keeper.
