Swire Shipping Fijian Drua co-captain Temo Mayanavanua has identified discipline as the critical area needing immediate focus following their opening match against Moana Pasifika in Lautoka.
Mayanavanua noted that Moana Pasifika started strongly, controlling the early phases of the game and putting the Drua in a challenging position. Despite the difficult beginning, he commended his teammates for raising their intensity and making a commendable effort to get back into the match.
“They started really well. They’re a quality outfit and they brought it to us. I’ll give credit to the boys for pulling their socks up and fighting hard,” Mayanavanua emphasized. However, he acknowledged that their lack of discipline was detrimental, allowing Moana Pasifika to take advantage of their errors and execute effectively in crucial moments.
“Discipline is the first one. They were able to capitalize on our mistakes and they did really well in the right parts of the field,” he remarked.
As the Drua prepare for a quick six-day turnaround before facing the Waratahs in Sydney, Mayanavanua stressed the importance of improving their discipline for future success. “The Waratahs are a good team. I watched their game last night. Going into the next round, our discipline really needs to improve,” he stated.
Mayanavanua also expressed gratitude to the Drua’s devoted supporters in Lautoka, offering an apology for not meeting their performance expectations. “Words cannot explain how grateful we are. We’re sorry we couldn’t perform to your expectations, but we’ll go back, fix our mistakes, and come back harder,” he promised.
As the Drua regroup ahead of their Sydney clash, discipline will be the focal point if they are to rebound effectively in their second match. The Drua are scheduled to take on the Waratahs next Friday at 8:35 PM, with live coverage available on FBC Sports.