Eels Blogs

Radradra, a four-try hero against Brisbane last weekend, will be Parramatta’s main strike weapon in the club’s historic charge toward a first title in 31 years.

After that, the 25-year-old will head to French rugby union on a two-year deal, but with a pledge to wear the famous blue and gold again

The Eels’ finals campaign will be Radradra's last rugby league action for 2017 after he confirmed he would not play at the World Cup for either Australia or Fiji Bati.

“I’ll be back one day,” he said. “My heart is here at the Eels.

“When I first came here, I didn’t know how to play league. I learnt so much at this club. They have made me. This club will always be inside me.”

Radradra wants to be known as an Eels legend.

“I would love to. That would mean everything to me and my family,” he said. “I am going to play union, I signed for two years and want to honour that contract.”

Radradra has a one-year deal with French giants Toulon, with an option for a second, meaning he could be back in blue and gold by June next year after the Top 14 season finishes.

Asked whether he could return in 2018, Radradra said: “Let’s see what happens. I want to try something new, I don’t know what will happen after.”

JUST MARRIED

Happy wife, happy life. Radradra flew to Fiji this month to secretly marry childhood sweetheart Vika Fifita.

“It’s a whole new life for me,” he said. “Everything is easier to me, my wife has been helping me a lot as well. This is a new journey for me and my life.

“We talk every day about focusing on the game more. Just going home and spending time with her. She gives me motivation to keep striving.

“Every day we sit down as a family. I ask her about the future of myself, us and our family. We went to school together (in Fiji). She is my best mate.

“I am more settled now, I am happy. I am just looking forward to whatever comes our way. We stick together, take things day by day.”

THE PAST

Radradra spent the past year facing domestic violence charges in relation to his former partner Perina Ting, before the charges were withdrawn in May.

“It was hanging over my head for 10 months, 12 months,” he said “It’s gone now and I don’t want to think about it anymore, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

“I feel relief now, to start a new journey, a new life. I have been going through hard times lately but she (Fifita) has stuck with me.”

THE VILLAGE

Radradra describes himself as the “breadwinner” for his family back in the Fijian village of Somosomo. His mum and dad, five brothers and two sisters.

“I have a big family back home — that’s how we Fijians are raised,” he said. “We have to look after each other. I am playing good footy here, I am the breadwinner for the family. I help with their school fees.

“Life back home isn’t easy. It’s pretty hard, pretty tough. That’s how we grew up. I am happy I am here. I have to give back to them. After the finals, I will go spend a couple of weeks at home before I head off to France.”

 

Brown awarded by teammates

FORM

Even Radradra was happy with his four-try performance in last week’s 52-34 demolition of Brisbane.

After threatening to take over a game for a few weeks now, it all came together last week.

“There is no secret,” he said. “I’ve just been training hard, trying to come to training every day and give my best.

“Last week was my best game of the season. I was happy with that. I have done a lot of work with the boys. It was pretty good to score those four tries — it had been a while.”

Radradra produced two length-of-the-field runs to score, evoking memories of tearaway 80s winger Eric Grothe Sr.

“I know he is the best winger at this club,” he said. “A legend. I have heard stories about him.”

Despite the comparisons, the humble Fijian was quick to pass on the praise.

“It came from the hard work from those in the middle, the big boys. I took advantage,” he said.

“I just try and do my best on the field as well. I want to take the right option to score a try. To finish it off. Even myself, I want to get more involved in the game. Get my hands more on the ball.”

Despite heading for their first finals appearance in eight years, Radradra isn’t making any bold finals predictions.

“We’ve been going pretty good — we just want to take it a game at a time and focus on that,” he said. “We have been trying our best and working really hard. We have stuck together.”