2. Super Sefa
GAGR’s man of the match in the Rebels win over the reds was rookie centre come winger Sefa Naivalu. Blessed with lightning speed, deft footwork and a sturdy physique the Fijian born dynamo has been a revelation for Rebels. Against the Reds he had freakish figures of one hundred and ninety two metres gained, five linebreaks, five defenders beaten, four offloads and two turnovers. According to GAGR’s own Forcefan he also hit 19 rucks, that’s pretty keen.
Where did this guy come from? In a stunning rise to prominence, Sefa has gone from playing in the Dewar Shield (Victorian club rugby) for the Box Hill Broncos last year, leading in both tries and points.
That form got him a shot with the NRC’s Melbourne Rising where he continued to shine, scoring five tries in five appearances. Super Rugby’s Rebels were convinced of his ability and Naivalu became the first Rebel to be signed directly from the Dewar Shield competition.
It’s a great story for rugby in Melbourne and showcases the value of the NRC as well. It could be great for the Wallabies too, but one would imagine the Fijian national team would also be paying attention to the young back’s progress. He is eligible to play for Fiji, not yet for the Wallabies, unless he hangs around for another year or two and we all hope he does.
