National Rugby League (NRL) club Auckland Warriors sent their recruitment officers to check out young talents playing at the Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League compe­tition.

This was confirmed to SUN­sports yesterday by FNRL de­velopment officer Jone Wesele.

“The Warriors people were here for two Saturdays before they returned to Auckland,” the former Fijian Bati forward said.

“I don’t really know whether they had signed up any play­ers but they were welcomed at Ratu Cakobau Park during the first week of competition.”

Wesele said they are grate­ful to the teachers for work­ing closely with the voluntary referees, players and coaching staff in helping develop the children’s skill level and also how they play.

“We’re working on consist­ency on how players know the game but moreover to know what they’re doing. Any mis­takes they make this week should not be repreated follow­ing week.”

He said one of the challenges they’re facing is the transition of young players from the pri­mary school to the Under-15 grade. “We’ve seen improve­ments not only in that but on the overall play as well.”

Looking forward, Wesele says, the move now is to help send forwards abroad to play for the NRL clubs.

“We’ve lots of wings and cen­tres with NRL clubs but we need to send the forwards. The only forwards from the second­ary school level who are doing well with their NRL clubs are Vili Kikau for Penrith Panthers and Tui Kamikamica for Mel­bourne Storm. We need to send some of the forwards soon.”

RESULTS

U15 – Sila Central 22 -12 RSMS, RSC 4-4 LDS, AOG 18-4 DHS, RKS 68-0 MCI, QVS 10-4 NSS.

U17 – QVS 66-2 LDS,AOG 20-20 WCC, MCI 0-50 SMC, DHS 14-8RLC,NSS 8-12 RSMS, MBHS 80-0AMC.

U19 – QVS 32-16, JWC 28-0 AOG, Naitasiri wbd SHC, LDS 26-14 DHS, Lomary 14-8 Rewa, RKS 24-6 NSS.

Edited by Osea Bola

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