Marika gets a warm 'bula vinaka' from team-mates

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Marika gets a warm 'bula vinaka' from team-mates
By Wayne Cousins

Wednesday 8 August 2012 5:09 PM

Chris Heighington couldn’t help but grin when asked how his communication skills were going with very shy Fijian winger Marika Koroibete.

“I just go ‘bula vinaka’. I think that means hello, how are you going?,’’ the second-rower quipped.

“And he just goes ‘bula’ back. He’s coming out of his shell a little bit but still got a long way to go but he’s going to be the future of the Tigers.

“He’s a legend. He’s had one pre-season behind him and he’s put on a fair few kilos and I think he’s got a fair few kilos to go. He’s good young kid, really quiet fella with a massive future.”

For the record, Heighington was right. Bula vinaka translates to a warm "hello".

Prop Aaron Woods said the flying Fijian offered little after his sensational tryscoring feats at Campbelltown Stadium on Monday night in the 51-26 win over Parramatta. It was just his second game in the NRL after scoring 22 tries in 26 games over the past two seasons.

“He’s a man of few words. After the game he just goes “four”,’’ Woods said.

It was left to captain Robbie Farah to offer more of an insight into the ‘new kid on the block’.

“He is a good player. Very raw still. Learning the game,’’ Farah said.

“He’s got speed, he’s good strength and he puts his body on the line. There’s a lot of potential there.

“Hopefully we can continue to shape him as a footy player. He’s going to be something exciting for us not just now but hopefully get even better in the next couple of years.”

Wests Tigers fans will be able to give Marika their own warm 'bula vinaka’ when he lines up against St George-Illawarra Dragons at Allianz Stadium this Saturday night. Kick-off 7.30pm.
 
It wasn't his 4 tries that were impressive it was his awareness on the sandow chip and chase that was most impressive. Sandow scores that the game most likely goes in a different direction
 
After his run across field in the field first half when he Palmed off the hooker then dropped the ball. He got up and slammed the ball into the ground, you could tell he was furious with himself. I loved it.usually when our blokes miss a tackle or drop a ball they simply shrug their shoulders. Loved the passion.
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I didn't see the game against Souths but one of my mates (Souths supporter, I know that's against the rules but anyway…) went to the game and Koro was the first player he mentioned, telling me that Taylor ran at him all game but Koro kept turning up to try his best to stop him.

So there's more to like than just his pace...

Bula vinaka Marika!
 
Obviously Marika is blessed with speed and strength but outside of that, the things i've been pleased to see in his first two game have been his lack of fear and but also his willingness to come in a do the little things, which for a player still learning shows he's listening and learning. As long as he's surrounded by the right people and keeps up his hard work you get the feeling he'll be fine and he'll score more than the odd meat pie along the way.
 
I thought he was stony faced whenever wise ol Moltzen was giving him words of encouragement after each of his four tries - as it turns out he was probably just too shy to tell him to rack off.
 
@Centaur said:
I thought he was stony faced whenever wise ol Moltzen was giving him words of encouragement after each of his four tries - as it turns out he was probably just too shy to tell him to rack off.
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Blokes can give it to Moltzen from anywhere.

Even congratulating a team mate on scoring
 
@smoking gun said:
It wasn't his 4 tries that were impressive it was his awareness on the sandow chip and chase that was most impressive. Sandow scores that the game most likely goes in a different direction
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Agreed.

I just hope people don't start bagging him when he doesn't get 4 tries this week.
 
@fergiefurr said:
After his run across field in the field first half when he Palmed off the hooker then dropped the ball. He got up and slammed the ball into the ground, you could tell he was furious with himself. I loved it.usually when our blokes miss a tackle or drop a ball they simply shrug their shoulders. Loved the passion.
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I am with you on this one! I was so pleased to see that. Its the little things like holding on to the ball that win football matches so I was pleased that he was geniuenly upset. I hate the old shrug of the shoulders and all your team mates patting you on the back.

Its the passion and enthusiasm of the young players that keep the old fella's on their toes! I hope is attitude and enthusiasm rubs off on blokes like Ayshford and Moltz, a bit more ticker and these boys could start tearing it up!
 
rather than his speed, power strength, skills etc. imo it's his freshness that is so important to the team imo.

i give bad analogies but we've all heard of how one rotten apple can ruin the entire basked, atm it feels like this one fresh apple can freshen the entire team which has gone stale. hopefully, it makes sense 😕
 
It's good to see someone with pace back in our side who an break the line and not get run down. Awesome effort from the young bloke, dare I say it the next TNT. Sheens should leave him in there & not put him back in the Toyota cup, & also maybe blood some more talent before seasons end. He definatley should if we lose the next couple.
 
@cuzzo said:
It's good to see someone with pace back in our side who an break the line and not get run down. Awesome effort from the young bloke, dare I say it the next TNT. Sheens should leave him in there & not put him back in the Toyota cup, & also maybe blood some more talent before seasons end. He definatley should if we lose the next couple.
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Different type of player to TNT. Tuiaki had decent pace but was all about brute power once he got going. Marika is powerful, but he's giving away 15kg to Tuiaki, but he makes up for it with explosive pace and the ability to hold his speed.
 
@willow said:
@cuzzo said:
It's good to see someone with pace back in our side who an break the line and not get run down. Awesome effort from the young bloke, dare I say it the next TNT. Sheens should leave him in there & not put him back in the Toyota cup, & also maybe blood some more talent before seasons end. He definatley should if we lose the next couple.

Different type of player to TNT. Tuiaki had decent pace but was all about brute power once he got going. Marika is powerful, but he's giving away 15kg to Tuiaki, but he makes up for it with explosive pace and the ability to hold his speed.
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Sorry I should have been clearer, I meant as in how TNT had colt following. I know watching Monday night I found myself getting excited everytime the young bloke got his hands on the pill for a run or kick return, sort of brought back memories reminiscing of TNT.
 
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