DEECEES Buses Nadera Panthers Rugby League Club head coach and founder Vulaono Dakuitoga believe the club’s back-to-back success in three national junior grades reflects a culture built on discipline, hard work and teaching the game’s fundamentals correctly.
The Panthers won the under-13, U15 and U17 titles for the second consecutive year, reinforcing Dakuitoga’s belief that investing in young players today will secure the club’s future.
For Dakuitoga, one of the pioneers of rugby league in Fiji, the achievement goes beyond collecting silverware.
It is about shaping young players who understand the standards required to become champions both on and off the field.
“If we do things right for these youths, when they grow older, they will not walk away from it. They will understand it better,” he said.
Dakuitoga said the club’s approach began with getting the basics right, regularly working with the junior grades to teach correct tackling, catching and passing techniques.
He said the back-to-back achievement was the result of considerable sacrifice, with junior training starting at 3.30pm and sessions sometimes continuing until late in the evening with premier team’s trainings.
The challenge now is to ensure the young players maintain the hunger and discipline that brought them success.
With a busy playing programme expected next year, the Panthers have already begun their off-season preparations, determined to build on their junior development pathway.
For Dakuitoga, winning titles is only part of the journey.
The greater goal is to develop players whose discipline, respect, commitment and winning mentality remain with them long after their playing careers.
