Pio Seci’s National Rugby League (NRL) debut today should be a lesson to all players gunning for top level rugby league, says Fiji Bati head coach Joe Rabele. Rabele said the star player worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get to where he was today.
Seci encountered difficulties in obtaining visa problems a few years ago, but kept trying which included a stint in France.
He captained the Kaiviti Silktails team, made his international debut for Fiji in 2016 against Samoa in Apia and was named in the Fiji Bati 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad.
“I was shocked after my son told me the news of Seci’s naming in the Sea Eagles line-up,” Rabele said.
“At the same time, I am proud of Seci’s achievement. “He is one of the players who hardly give up on any task or assignment he sets upon himself.
“I am proud of him because I know, like Seci, I grew up in Nabua and I know the pressure to standout from the rest because of the community background.”
He said the 28-year-old deserved to be in the Eagles team. In 2011, he played for the Northern Pride in the Mal Meninga Cup and in 2012, he signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, joining their NYC side and played for Bankstown Sports in the local Canterbury under-19 competition.
He made his debut for the Bulldogs’ NYC side in 2013. Seci joined the Easts Tigers’ FOGS Cup side in 2014 and returned to Fiji in 2015 to play for the Broncos in the Fiji National Rugby League competition after one season with the Tigers.
“He was given an opportunity to be part of the Ipswich Jets Club, playing in the Queensland Cup, it backfired but he did not give up.
“I asked him to keep playing for Nabua Broncos and he accepted it.
“He was part of the Fiji Bati team against the PNG Kumuls during the June Test and the Eagles reserved grade signed him on.”
Rabele wished Seci the best in today’s clash against the Sydney Roosters.
“Everyone in Nabua will be glued on the television and this is the time for him to cement his spot in the team and give his best,” Rabele said. Rabele included Seci in his 30-member Fiji squad to the Rugby League World Cup in November.
