Marika has Wests Tigers smiling

[tiger_one]

source: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=168111

Koroibete joins Lote
IFEREIMI NADORE
Saturday, March 12, 2011

NAMOSI'S Marika Koroibete, 19, flies to Australia on Monday to join Lote Tuqiri's Wests Tigers on a three-year contract.

It was the patience and sacrifice that paid off for the former Nasinu Secondary School Under-19 rep.

It was a relief for the Naraiyawa lad, who had to miss his Fiji School Leaving Certificate examination last year, only to be told to wait a little longer.

"I nearly lost hope and at times I thought of going back to school," said an elated Koroibete.

"Now that I'll be leaving. I will play my best to make my parents and my village proud," he said.

Koroibete was spotted by the Wests Tigers scouts after touring with the Meli Baledrokadroka-coached national Fiji U18 team to Australia last year.

Koroibete was hosted to a dinner at Naraiyawa Village on Thursday as villagers bid him farewell.

Coming from a remote village, accessible only by three-tonne trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles, securing a lucrative contract with a top NRL club is a dream come true for Koroibete.

His parents are staunch Seventh-day Adventist members whose main source of income is selling dalo and cassava.

"I want to help my two siblings with their studies and help build a decent and modern home for my parents," Koroibete said.

He said he was excited at the prospect of playing alongside one of Australia's great Lote Tuqiri.

His proud dad Iliesa Rokodrika said he was happy to see Koroibete finally leave for Australia.

FNRL general manager Steve McLellan spoke highly of Koroibete and hinted that he would be the next big thing in rugby league.

"He's done a lot of preparation and we believe that he'll up to the challenge."

 

[Spartan117]

There are tons of "Next big Things".. we t the tigers have our fair share of them

I will look forward to seeing this guy develop and hen Sheens can have the problem of fitting him in somewhere in the 17.

 

[tigesup]

Maybe he should be worrying about making the 20's side initially, then worry about playing with Lote!!!

 

[Snake]

Love the thinking big ..playing with Lote good luck young fella.

 

[tiger_one]

I think the fact that Lote is much admired in his own country (Fiji) and now another young player is setting out on his footy dream is really where this article in the Fiji Times is, in context.

The whole Fijian rugby league community is over the moon at another of their boys maybe making it on the world stage.

 

[Balmain_Tiger]

would love to see how things turn out for him

 

[Guest]

That explains why we haven't seen him in any of the trials, he's only just about to arrive in country. Interesting to note the Tigers have signed him on a 3 year deal. There was also talk of him playing fullback in the Toyota Cup team, which is where Ratu Tagive is lining up tomorrow night. There's going to be plenty of competition for spots this season.

 

[gatorman]

Could certainly do with a strapping winger, looking forward to see what pace and skill set he has.

Obviously is a talent hence the 3 year contract !

 

[thinkbig]

Hopefully he gets to complete his school studies here.

 

[you_know_who]

Whats it with Sheens and his fijian wingers first he had noa nandruka at canberra and the cowboys, lote tuquiri at wests tigers and now this dude.

 

[magpiecol]

Whats it with Sheens and his fijian wingers first he had noa nandruka at canberra and the cowboys, lote tuquiri at wests tigers and now this dude.

Could be three out of three.

 

[T-REXX]

Whats it with Sheens and his fijian wingers first he had noa nandruka at canberra and the cowboys, lote tuquiri at wests tigers and now this dude.

Yeah we better punt Sheens… no good all these Fijians😉

 

[Blackandwhite]

http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=37009&title=marika-has-wests-tigers-smiling
MARIKA HAS WESTS TIGERS SMILING
By Wayne Cousins
19/05/2011 6:28:38 PM

Grant Jones and Warren McDonnell had every reason to sit back with a cheeky grin in the Wests Tigers coaches box after the U20s match at ANZ Stadium last Saturday.

Coach Jones and Recruitment Manager McDonnell could afford to smile after witnessing the two try effort of rookie winger Marika Koroibete in the 38-14 win over South Sydney.

His first try came off a bomb just before half-time but it was Marika’s second in which he displayed scintillating speed that left them happy.

Marika is one of two talented young league players McDonnell had recruited from Fiji over summer.

Both quietly spoken, Marika and Taqele Naiyaravaro are being brought along slowly by the Club. Taqele made his NYC debut against the Gold Coast Titans in round 6 and is now playing NSW Cup for Western Suburbs Magpies.

“The speed Marika showed, I don’t think any other player would have scored that try in the second half. He has remarkable pace,’’ McDonnell said.

“Playing at this level in the NYC is a long way from playing up in the hills of Fiji. Marika is still learning the pace of the game but is fitting in quite well.”

When asked about Marika’s pace, there was a glint in Jones’ eye.

“Marika has plenty of speed and power. He runs hard and is a tough hombre. His second try, I’m sure the opposing centre thought he had him wrapped up but Marika just went whoosh,’’ Jones said.

“We have some fast outside backs at the Club but Marika would have to go close to being the fastest man here.”

McDonnell first spotted Marika whilst playing for a touring Fijian side last year. Jones was equally impressed after watching Marika play against a combined Bundaberg Cup team. It was from there, he was signed to Wests Tigers.

“Marika just needs to play footy at this level. He has two more years in the U20s and the more he plays, it will enable us to smooth those rough edges out. Marika certainly has got enough natural ability to be an NRL prospect.”

McDonnell revealed Marika has already been pencilled in for the Wests Tigers full-time squad in 2013.

“It is a work in progress with Marika but it will certainly be worth it,’’ McDonnell quipped.

Marika will be looking to add to his tryscoring tally when he lines up against Penrith at Campbelltown Sports Stadium this Saturday night in round 11 of the NYC competition. Kick-off is 5.15pm.

 

[Guest]

Sounds like a good prospect provided he continues to learn and develop. At only 18 years of age he'll certainly get bigger, stronger and hopefully even quicker. If the club have him penciled in to train with the fulltime squad in 2 year time there's obviously some future plans in place for him.

 

[Discussion_Bot]

Grant Jones and Warren McDonnell had every reason to sit back with a
cheeky grin in the Wests Tigers coaches box after the U20s match at ANZ
Stadium last Saturday.

Coach Jones and Recruitment Manager McDonnell could afford to smile
after witnessing the two try effort of rookie winger Marika Koroibete in
the 38-14 win over South Sydney.

His first try came off a bomb just before half-time but it was Marika's
second in which he displayed scintillating speed that left them happy.

Marika is one of two talented young league players McDonnell had

recruited from Fiji over summer. Both quietly spoken, Marika and Taqele
Naiyaravaro are being brought along slowly by the Club. Taqele made his
NYC debut against the Gold Coast Titans in round 6 and is now playing
NSW Cup for Western Suburbs Magpies.

"The speed Marika showed, I don't think any other player would have
scored that try in the second half. He has remarkable pace,'' McDonnell
said.

"Playing at this level in the NYC is a long way from playing up in the
hills of Fiji. Marika is still learning the pace of the game but is
fitting in quite well."

When asked about Marika's pace, there was a glint in Jones' eye.

"Marika has plenty of speed and power. He runs hard and is a tough
hombre. His second try, I'm sure the opposing centre thought he had him
wrapped up but Marika just went whoosh,'' Jones said.

"We have some fast outside backs at the Club but Marika would have to go
close to being the fastest man here."

McDonnell first spotted Marika whilst playing for a touring Fijian side
last year. Jones was equally impressed after watching Marika play
against a combined Bundaberg Cup team. It was from there, he was signed
to Wests Tigers.

"Marika just needs to play footy at this level. He has two more years in
the U20s and the more he plays, it will enable us to smooth those rough
edges out. Marika certainly has got enough natural ability to be an NRL
prospect."

McDonnell revealed Marika has already been pencilled in for the Wests
Tigers full-time squad in 2013.

"It is a work in progress with Marika but it will certainly be worth
it,'' McDonnell quipped.

Source: Wests Tigers (by Wayne Cousins)

 

[alien]

i look forward to seeing how he goes on saturday

 

[hammertime]

Our wing stocks are looking pretty good with these two and tagive.

 

[Easy_Tiger]

taqele naiyaravaro 196cm 113kgs big kid

 

[batboy]

Our wing stocks are looking pretty good with these two and tagive.

I've seen Tagive in about 6 Games this year, Both in NSW Cup and NYC….
I don't rate him at all!! He's rubbish...
I can see why the doggies let him leave.

 

[batboy]

ps: Saw Koribete's Debut last week… He was ABSOLUTELY GOLD!!
Apart from an unlucky grab flying for a Bomb which lead to a try (10/10 effort!! he was fearlessly up there!!) He looked at AMAZING for his first game!! Much shorter and Stockier than Tuqiri or Tagive... VERY, VERY POWERFUL!!
Wouldn't be surprised if he gets a run in 1sts this year....