PLAYING alongside the big three of Australian rugby league has been a dream come true for Fiji Bati’s Melbourne Storm try scoring machine Marika Koroibete.
Billy ‘The Kid’ Slater, Cooper Cronk and Kangeroos captain Cameron Smith are three of the biggest and finest National Rugby League superstars in Australia.
For young Koroibete, the learning process in a dynamic environment involving Slater, Cronk and Smith, has not only helped him maintain his status as a feared try scorer in the game but also made him a better professional player.
“As a kid growing up in Fiji, I used to look up to them. It’s a privilege to play with them. I call myself a lucky person to be playing with them,” he said in an interview during a social visit to the children’s ward at Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva last week.
“I have learnt a lot from them. I try to get tips from them and they have been helping me a lot.”
The big three of Australian rugby league have many things in common.
They are all Queensland boys and 32 years of age. In fact Slater and Smith were born on June 18 while Cronk (December 5) is a few months younger.
In the NRL, the trio have only played for one club — Melbourne Storm. They have three NRL titles and one world cup medal to their names.
Super Slater has been the best fullback in the NRL for a number of seasons. Speed, agility, being strong under high balls and having the ability to squeeze in the narrowest of gaps during play are some traits that helped make Slater a genius and fan-favourite.
Top hooker Smith never smiles during a television interview or when he is on the pitch playing. He always has a stern look.
Smith is a goal-kicking forward and long-time Kangeroos captain.
Champion halfback Cronk is a delight to watch in motion. He has the keys to carve open the meanest and strongest defences around. Cronk’s exceptional vision during play is what makes him a very special player.
“Cam Smith —— He’s a friendly bloke. Not the always serious and stern looking as seen on the television. He’s always cool as a countryman,” Koroibete said.
“Billy’s a superstar. He has been helping me out a lot especially with the high balls. He’s a champ.
“Cronk is a really good player. He’s very smart. He can counter, attack and defend. He’s a very good player. I don’t have words to explain how good he is. Everyone knows how good he is.”
In Fiji, it seems just like yesterday when Marika Koroibete used to lace-up for his Nasinu Secondary School team in the local schools rugby league competition. Even back then, clearly Koroibete was a class above the rest.
It was soon after his two years at NSS in 2009 and 2010, he left for Australia to join the West Tigers in the Toyota Cup competition. His two tries in the 2011 grand final helped the side win and after 22 tries in 26 Toyota Cup matches, he was offered a three-year NRL deal in 2012.
Koroibete debuted against South Sydney Rabbitohs in late 2012 and in his second game the following weekend, he scored four tries in the 51-26 thrashing of Parramatta Eels to equal the club’s record for most tries in a match. Between 2012-2014, he scored 12 NRL tries in 16 matches for Tigers. During this time, he suffered serious injuries as well, including a fractured eye-socket and a dislocated elbow.
Once signing a two and half year deal with Melbourne Storm during mid-season in 2014, he joined coach Craig Bellamy’s squad immediately, scoring six tries in 10 games.
Since then he has scored 22 tries in 33 matches for the Storm. An Achilles injury marred his 2015 season where he was ruled out for a number of matches but still managed to score 16 tries in 23 matches to become famous in the NRL for his strength, power, pace and spectacular tries.
Having overcome injuries and making a full recovery, Koroibete, who is from Naivucini, Naitasiri but grew up in his mother’s village in Naraiyawa in Namosi, has been enjoying pre-season training and hoping for a strong 2016 season.
“I had a thumb surgery. They have put a plate and it is all good now. I had another surgery for Achilles,” he said.
“I just want to lift my performance a bit and be more consistent.
“The main thing is working a bit hard and being consistent.”
Koroibete debuted for the Fiji Bati in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
To some he is the fastest player in the NRL.
Many league pundits also believe he can be bigger and more devastating than the legendary Noa Nadruku.
No doubt, at only 23, the soft-spoken Koroibete is a major asset for Fiji National Rugby League as Fiji Bati gets ready for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
