Marika Koroibete married his girlfriend of three years, Emma Whippy at his village in Naraiyawa, Namosi yesterday.

“While he was attending Nasinu Secondary School, he used to see me standing at the bus stop near Gospel High School.

“That’s where he first saw me,” Emma said.

“When he went to Australia in 2011, he contacted me on Facebook and after that we started meeting. In 2013 we started going out, and three years later we are here with a beautiful son and now married.”

Being married to a high profile league player and now a Melbourne Rebels winger, Emma is excited to see what the future holds for her and her husband but made it clear that family will always be first.

“I am excited and so happy right now to see what is in store for us from here on,” she said.

“I know the road will not be easy but as long as we have each other, continue to love and be honest with one another that’s all we need and the only thing that matters.

“The fame and spotlight will not faze me,

“I have been doing it for the past three years so I can handle anything.

“You just have to be strong, him being in the Melbourne Rebels and training with the Wallabies will not be any different from when he was in league.

“As long as he stays humble and keeps us first in his life’s priority. Our son and I have to be first nothing else, his rugby and everything comes second.”

Kelesi a proud Mum

Emma’s proud mother Kelesi Whippy said it was a happy and sad moment to watch her daughter get married.

“It is a happy as well as a sad occasion; I am happy because it is a mother’s wish for her daughter to be appropriately married and sad because I am losing a daughter but it is not about losing but gaining a son,” Kelesi said.

“All in all I am quite emotional as all mothers would be when occasion like this happens but then I am rest assured that she is in very good hands.

“We had Emma for 10 years before we had our second child so she is very special to us.

“I will definitely miss her when she goes back to Australia.”

Proud moment for Sainiana

Marika’s mum Sainiana Torika was in tears after the wedding and said she is at peace now knowing her son has settled down.

“I am happy today for what my son has achieved.

“We have planned for this wedding a few years back and to have it finally happen is a proud moment,” she said.

“I am at peace that my son will settle down with his family.”

Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  justine.mannan@fijisun.com.fj