Does anyone remember the name of Tabua Cakacaka? A young man born on Matuku island in Lau who travelled the world playing rugby league and now lives in Newcastle, UK.
Cakacaka is a former professional rugby league footballer who played prop/second row.
He left Fiji at the age of 17 years when he was scouted by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Since then he held professional contracts in Australia, France and England.
This is the story of how he started his career, one which he says was carved out of perseverance and the drive to reach the top.
Cakacaka, now 44 years old and with three children, was brought to Suva from the islands for a better education.
Like most Fijians, he had only one passion — to play rugby. After finishing his formal education at Nadi College, he joined the Nadi Herons Rugby League Club which had one of the pioneers of the game in Niko Baleiverata.
“When I started playing we were getting about $50 a week. But to us, it wasn’t about the money — it was because we wanted to play,” he said.
“Me playing with some of the legends of the time in Savenaca Taga, Niko Baleiverata was a great enough feeling.
“Those were people who played for Fiji at the time and who I watched growing up.
“It was more about the journey and experience of playing.”
At Herons he teamed up with Samisoni Rabaka, another famous name in rugby folklore, and they strutted their stuff until Cakacaka was finally noticed in 1996 and awarded a scholarship to play in Australia with the Rabbitohs.
“I joined South Sydney with the juniors.
“I didn’t make it at the time and went to play in the NSW Cup,” he recalled.
Four years later, he was named in the Fiji squad for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup tournament in the UK which was the big break he needed.
He had caught the attention of rugby league scouts and was invited to the Raiders training camp by Don Furner, who was the head coach of the Canberra side in the mid-1980s.
After a number of stints with clubs, he made his way to England from France, joining the Gateheads Thunders in Newcastle where he has lived since.
“It was a journey for me. It’s had its fair share of ups and downs.
“I’ve been grateful for the opportunity being given — I was born on the island, came to Suva and that’s where my journey started.
“It’s a lifetime journey and I’m always thankful for what I’ve achieved.”
