ILISAVANI Jegesa has one aim in mind, and that is to make the Vodafone Fiji Bati team in the next Rugby League World Cup.
Today, Jegesa is the lone player who went with the Bati in the 2013 RLWC, who is training with the Fiji Residents as they prepare for Tonga next month.
With many new players working with assistant coach Josaia Rabele as he concocts a battle plan against the Mate Ma’a for August 12, Jegesa is the old warhorse in the squad.
“After 2013 RLWC, I went to the Cook Islands and came off the final with a broken ankle which got me down for six months in 2014 and only started playing competition again in 2015 for the Nabua Broncos and played against the NSW Country club last year,” Jegesa said.
“I learnt a lot from that RLWC tour in 2013 and am aiming to be in the Bati team for next year’s world cup.”
Being with the Fiji Residents, Jegesa said it would be another new beginning for him as he attempts to return to the world stage, but first things first for him and that is to perform well against the Tongans next month to be able to get the nod to make the final team to travel to Hawaii for the Test against the Wolverines of Canada..
“I believe the best that I can offer this team is to lead the way in being attentive because only then would I be able to do well in my positional play as centre.
“That is also what we have been working on and I am happy to be in the mix again with many new players that have made the squad,” Jegesa added.
Jegesa was a Class Six dropout but it has not prevented him from achieving his dreams as he is one of the only two local-based players that made the RLWC team coached by Rick Stone.
