FOUR years ago, Lautoka Crushers’ prop and second row, Tikiko Noke, was barely 19 when he had the biggest break in his rugby league career.
He was the selected as the second Fiji-based player alongside Ilisavani Jegesa among National Rugby League (NRL) stars for the Fiji Bati in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in England.
Noke was raw and unknown, a dangerous combination in sports because the opposition did not know anything about him.
Fast forward to yesterday, Noke is 69 kilogram and 23 years old.
He is a member of the Vodafone Fiji Residents team to meet the Overseas Bati in Suva on Saturday to select the Fiji team to the RLWC in Australia. It starts on October 27 between hosts and world champion Australia and England. The Fiji Bati team plays its first match the following day against USA.
“I was young then,” Noke said after the morning run at Bidesi Ground under coach Jo Dakuitoga.
“Peni Botiki, Ilisavani Jegesa and I are now the senior players in the team. We are there to guide the young players and also fight for contention for the world cup.”
Noke was shouting words of encouragement to young players when the training session got tough under hot sun yesterday.
“O cei o ratou? Kedatou qo na Bati. Tou na vala (Who are they, we are the Bati and we will fight),” he yelled out with heavy breath during training.
He plays in an important position, a second row, who, like the prop forward, is stuck in the deep end of the game. He is the battering ram of the team. He makes tackles and breaks down the opposition’s defence apart from providing the power behind the front row in the scrum.
“I have to lead by example because we are playing against professional players. I want to go to the world cup and I will give my best. I know age has caught up, but the Fijian spirit in me will be the difference on Saturday.”
