Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi is kicking on after his breakthrough season last year by signing a new deal with Rugby Australia until the end of 2024.
The Waratahs 27-year-old broke into the Australian team last year and earned his international debut against Wales in the Wallabies’ final Test of 2021.
After growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, he made his Super Rugby debut for the Melbourne Rebels in 2014, before stints for Bay of Plenty in the NPC and Bayonne in France.
The former Australian under 20s representative returned to Sydney at the end of 2017, making his debut for the Waratahs in 2018 and has since gone on to become a mainstay within their match-day squad. He will play his 50th Super Rugby match for the Waratahs on Friday night against the Fijian Drua on the Gold Coast.
“My family’s happy here and settled and I’m loving playing at the Waratahs, so deciding to extend my time here for another two years was a no-brainer,” he said.
“It’s an extremely tight-knit group at the Waratahs and there is a real sense of excitement about what this team can achieve, and I want to play a part in putting this great club back on top.
“I think scratching the surface of international rugby at the end of last year made me incredibly motivated to stay in Australia and to continue to push for higher honours, especially with a World Cup next year.”
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said Foketi was “a quality man who adds a lot to our mob on and off the field”.
“He’s had a unique journey to the Wallaby jersey and we saw how much it meant to him and our squad when he was selected for his debut in Wales last year,” he said.
“His quality distribution and footwork are a genuine point of difference but it’s his diligence to develop all parts of his game that has impressed us.”
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman described him as “a really likeable, super humble, popular member of the team who genuinely cares about his teammates, which is hugely important”.
“He was a little late on the Super Rugby scene and had to bounce around the world before he got his gig here and his dedication and focus have seen him get the call up with the Wallabies.
“Lalakai is an ultimate all-rounder, he can ball play, he can carry and he’s really strong defensively and he’s now at a point where he’s one of the most dangerous strike centres in the league and we’re glad he’s staying.”
Drua on the move, coach in isolation
The Fijian Drua are relocating to the Gold Coast for the next fortnight due to the intense flooding in Lismore, while coach Mick Byrne has been placed in isolation after testing positive to COVID-19.
Their Australian base at Lake Ainsworth on the NSW North Coast has been inundated with rain and the flooding has caused them to head north.
“With our camp closing due to operational issues caused by the rising water levels, we had no choice but to move to the Gold Coast for the next 10 days,” CEO Brian Thorburn said in a statement.
“It was challenging to move almost 55 people with just a few hours’ notice, but we have managed to find suitable accommodation with training facilities nearby for our entire squad of players and staff.
Of course, our situation pales in comparison to those folks in Northern NSW and the Northern Rivers region, as they brace themselves for yet more adversity. Our thoughts are with them.”
Byrne will be monitoring the team from isolation, says Thorburn.
This comes as head coach Mick Byrne enters isolation after testing positive to COVID.
“Mick is clearly gutted not to be with the team but remains in good spirits as he completes his recovery and self-isolation period,” he said. “He continues to call the shots, of course, and the players are in the very capable hands of our coaching and management staff.
“Mick will join the team once cleared by the medical staff. This is just a minor bump in the road compared to everything else we’ve faced in our inaugural season.”
(Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)
Campbell injury gives Daugunu chance at Reds
Injury to Queensland Reds back Jock Campbell has provided Filipo Daugunu the chance to re-establish himself after the Wallabies winger found himself on the outer this Super Rugby Pacific season.
Campbell played the bulk of last week’s game against NSW with a broken hand, the winger even collecting an intercept to score at the death.
He and in-form back-rower Seru Uru (ankle) will miss the top-of-the-table clash with the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, with Daugunu and fellow fringe Wallaby Liam Wright the men to fill the void.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will also return via the bench from an ankle injury while hooker Richie Asiata will appear on the bench for the first time after breaking his arm in the pre-season.
Daugunu showed his explosive power and speed in a brilliant Test debut in New Zealand in 2020, but has often been his own worst enemy with reckless tackles and unforced errors.
“Lipo in for his 50th (Super Rugby game) … he’s a great character everyone’s excited for,” Wright said.
“He’s going to bring that typical flair he’s got, but he’s been working on reducing a few mistakes and being a composed member of the backline.
“Thorny’s been in his ear with that and he’s been training the house down.”
The visit will be the Brumbies’ first since the Reds sunk them with an 85th-minute try to win the Super Rugby AU title in a full stadium.
The home side has won 14 of their last 15 games despite the margin being five points or less in seven of their last eight clashes, including a controversial four-point win to the Brumbies in Canberra earlier this month.
“The AU final was an epic night and all the games we’ve had recently have been down to the wire,” Wright said.
Jesse Mogg will wear the Brumbies’ No.15 for the first time since 2015, replacing the injured Tom Banks (cheekbone).
Michael Hooper (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Hooper massive boost for Tahs
Michael Hooper will play his first game for the Waratahs since 2020, returning as forecast on the bench to face the Fijian Drua on the Gold Coast on Friday.
“Having Hoops back in the team is a massive boost for us,” coach Darren Coleman said.
“To have one of the best players in the world return is really exciting not just for us but for our fans and we can’t wait to see him on the field this weekend wearing the sky blue.”
Laulala banned for dangerous play
Blues prop Nepo Laulala was suspended for three weeks by the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee after he was sent off in the Super Rugby Pacific victory over Moana Pasifika on Tuesday at Mt Smart Stadium.
The incident occurred in the 58th minute of the 32-19 triumph when he made a reckless clean-out at a ruck. His shoulder connected with the head of Moana Pasifika centre Fine Inisi and he was shown a red card.
Committee chairman Michael Heron said: “the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level.
“Taking into account mitigating factors including the player’s clean judicial record, his acceptance of foul play and his expressed remorse, the judicial committee reduced the suspension to three weeks.”
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Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Ok, replace Donaldson with McIntyre then.
Markus
Roar Rookie
"Horan rates him, who are we to argue" People who have watched more than one game. Pasitoa has been benched for McIntyre the last few matches after struggling to fire. He will be back of course, but the calls were premature. Again.
Frankly
Guest
I think you got a bit carried away there.
Homer Gain
Guest
Perhaps if the ref had pinged Laulala for an exactly similar assault on Jack Lam in the first few minutes he would have learnt his lesson. In the event, the 20 minute rule and the laughable "judicial process" will only encourage him to continue until either somone gets seriously hurt or the authorities finally take much more substantive action.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
My ins and outs would be: Uelese in for L. Lonargon (way to small for a test hooker, remember the French tests!) Fotuaika for HGH Blyth for Neville (Good player, too old) R.Smith for Frost (Reward loyalty, BPA wasn't the same because he had given good service) Uru for Holloway L. Wright for Swinton Fines-Leleiwasa for Gordon Pasitoa (Horan rates him, who are we to argue) for Donaldson Stewart for Foketi Flook for Pulu (too old)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Who was signed by the Rebels and then Biarritz before he ever played for Easts…
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I thought he and Douglas shared time. And who says the Q’ld selectors got it right at the time? As for form, I’d rather have a team of players playing at a known level than hope that players who haven’t yet reached the level will suddenly stand up where they hadn’t “recently”. This is why RA is knocking down my door. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Greysy
Roar Rookie
I don't think you've watched Neville if you think he was better at the Reds. He played few minutes there and was basically always benched behind Simmons and Douglas. I think you're just revealing your bias. Neville was arguably the form lock last year and only didn't get capped because he was injured right before the french series. He's lucky to be in there this time, but that's because he's been injured and is being picked on past form. Also seeing as the coach is picking players based on their individual attributes, why does a squad have to accurately reflect a super rugby team's form?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
With Campbell out now we get to see how Jordan will go as the only fullback on the field. Hopefully he can step up positionally in defence and we don't have a situation of nobody at the back (again). Reds definitely the underdogs with this one with quite a few injuries. Who's the ref?
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
TH,you obviously didn't realise that Eastern Suburbs now play out of the northern beaches!
Tight-Head
Roar Rookie
You mean the manly junior and colts player?
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Undefeated, yes, but only by 4 points and not defending champions. I agree with your choices. I might also add Caderyn Neville. Unfortunately I think he should have been included back when he was playing for the Reds, but passed his best now at 33. If those three were replaced by Reds, take your pick, then Brums 12, Reds 11 and Tahs 10. Might more accurately reflect form.
Dougie
Roar Rookie
Busted, is Hamish Stewart eligible for Scotland ?
Chufortah
Guest
Great singing that - please stop spending money on wingers
Matt
Guest
BF well they are on top of the table unbeaten. Hooker Lachie Lonergan is a tad lucky to be there. Maybe Tom Wright on past mishaps/blunders in gold. They are the only Brumbies i can think of who could be jettisoned. How about yourself, who do you reckon from the ponies needs to shunted?
Jockstar
Guest
Another product of Easts Shute shield. Great player .
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Geoff not once has Bobby said that either Stewart or foketi are the best or not. All Bobby said was that the selectors must see something in Foketi that they dont see in Stewart and he thinks Stewart probably wont be a wallaby despite his talents. I 100% agree with him. Being deliberately obtuse is what it is whether you are a guest or not.…..
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Don’t just pick on the Tahs. Do you really think the Brums, being so close to the Reds, deserve 15 players compared to 8? (Don’t get me wrong, I also think Tahs over-represented, even for a t-shirt sizing camp.)
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day sav. You’d hope that the way Stewart played against Roberts would adjust thoughts about the inadequacy of his size. So he doesn’t hit with the drive back, so called, “dominant” tackle that doesn’t come off every time, just ask HP. Instead, he is effective, bend maybe, but not break. My thought is that there’s nothing Toomua could do at his best that Stewart doesn’t do, sometimes more quietly. Sadly, I think he’s going to be an overseas cult figure like Liam Gill.
Geoff
Guest
Savant, I agree with everything you have said about Hamish. Rennie for mine has his pre conceived bias`s.He definitely has his favourites. Unless you are a 9 or 10 you can get away with being tiny. He loves outside backs and backrowers to be yuuuuuuuuge, even if they are in poor form or the smaller guys are playing better. Pete Samu is not one of his favourites. imo . And i doubt smallish but really talented players like Uru Stewart Harrison Muirhead Flook ASY Wright and Campbell will ever get a run in the Wallaby 23 whilst he is coach. Id like the Reds to trial Jock as a 10.He has great hands and is good in traffic can kick well and is a playmaker, i also rate Isaac Henry but until he gets an extented run in Thorns starting 15, he has to wait.