Semi and Maiko. They left a permanent mark at Parra. They thrilled us and left unforgettable memories.
Semi came up from our juniors, and to me at least, was unheralded. But not for long as his talent shone from day one.
He scored try after try and displayed a footy brain not often seen before in a winger. He never seemed under pressure and always made the right decision in drawing and passing or going for it. I can still see him bringing the ball out of our red zone in all his majesty
But he was always homesick and chased the big money elsewhere and boy did we miss him.
Afterwood we took a chance and signed Maiko who soon was honoured and was given the Maiko chant for scoring in the corner! But he soon started to come out of the line in defence, mostly missing his man and a try ensued. Sometimes he was forced into this decision by our defence being caught short on his side, but still it was noted by other teams and they made sure they spun the ball out to his side at the end of the tackle count and scored multiple times. BA made note but made allowances because of his scoring record.Then Maiko displayed a lack of grunt and desire in bringing the ball off his line, and the writing was on the wall.
They're gone now, and no longer in our colours. But they're not forgotten. Christ they were excitement machines.
And perhaps an inspiration to future generations of Fijian and Islanders. We also have a young winger currently in Ball who, could, possibly one day achieve this level.
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The game in Brisbane where he got 4 that night and we put 50 on them.
That night I saw a man schooling boyz.
He ran around through over anyone in a bronco jersey.
Ive just never seen anyone close since take a game by the scruff of the neck and win it by themselves with his legs and ball running.He had subtlety to him also the way he changed angles late in long runs to defeat defenders who had the angle on him.Great footwork for a big man also where he skipped outside defenders and using that fend to give him an extra yard or 2 there was plenty of subtlety to Semi's game.
I think if asked he could play any outside back position centre fullback no worries just a guy with so much natural flair and talent.We only really saw it with his running game but in 15s and 7s he's got ball skills to burn also.He was the one a complete player and we've had nothing that touches him talent wise since.
During that game in Brisbane you can just see their coach, with Semi running rampant, saying Shit how do we get this bloke!
Get more of them at about 16-18 to learn league. We'd be in a no lose situation.
Coryn has said it for years and I agree, why are we and more NRL sides absolutely invade Fiji rugby getting their best talents. Not all will be Semi and Sivo, but a few will be.
Yes that plan of identifying young talent is Fiji guys is a no-brainer. It's just so logical. The Broncs own those sports schools in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and sign every one of their talented. Penrith lure most of their juniors from anywhere in NSW courtesy of their standing in the nrl, while the Storm now breed their own from all victoria. As you say a foray into Fiji would be benefical.
Not just Fiji the world 7s circuit is another avenue.
I mean just recently there was a South Pacific 7s 18s tournament in NZ you'd like to think scouts we had scouts there but I doubt it.
fuckimissSemifuckimissSemifuckimissSemi
https://youtu.be/j1aOmHoteoU?si=21RHHyMyoBAQggLj
Thanks for that clip Pato.....wasn't he something
I didn't want to watch it, seen all before, but something said "go on" you know you will enjoy it!
After watching again I am very close to giving him the title over Eric Senior.....I will stop and say i can't seperate them, fcuk how good was he!!!!
You know we had some on here that didn't want him, money hungary, wife beater, etc.
He actually got so depressed about the accusations (proven untrue) that he slept on a park bench at Richie Benaud oval where BA found him one morning.......looking back how we let him go has to be one of the worst decisions that we have ever made.......God Bless you Semi for the thrills and the opportunities you gave us poor bastards. Also some may not realise this but Meninga stopped him representing Australia after his one Test Match for Aussie, it was believed by many because of the accusations made about him in his domestic violence case.....my personal reason why he left our game.
I understand he is still playing somewhere and even if he was half the player he was, I would still take him.....like to think Parra can do something to realign him with the club and get him involved in talent selection.
NB. This will tell what sort of a judge Gus Gould is, in about his 2nd/3rd game for Parra, Semi was cornered and threw a pass back inside.....Gould laughed and said don't try and pass it Semi, implying he would not have any football skils to do such a thing.......I remember in the latter period of his time with us, for some reason he took a conversion from the side line and everyone said, gee never seen Semi kick for goal before........he hit it clean as a whistle and it went over the cross bar at a hight of the top of the posts, that was from the sideline....I don't think there was anything with a football he could not do.......in a field of Rugby where there are numerous test playing nations it was no coincidence that he became recognised as the best Rugby Player of any codes playing the respective games.
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