The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua experienced a challenging lesson in their recent match, suffering a 26-40 defeat at the hands of Moana Pasifika. This loss underscored a pressing need for the team to improve their performance right from the outset. Captain Temo Mayanavanua stressed that the players must take control from the opening minutes instead of waiting for a late-game turnaround.
“We need to start strong. We can’t be relying on a try or a penalty to wake us up. Taking initiative and controlling the game from the start is something that’s fully within our power,” Mayanavanua affirmed. Head coach Glen Jackson shared this view, noting that the disruptions they encountered early in the match significantly impeded the team’s momentum and overall rhythm.
“It felt like an NFL game with constant stops. We didn’t get the start we wanted,” Jackson commented, highlighting the difficulties encountered during play. Despite the setback, there were encouraging signs, particularly from the team’s bench players. Jackson highlighted the efforts of Sikeli Rabitu, Frank Lomani, and young Isoa Tuwai, who injected energy into the game and nearly shifted the momentum in favor of the Drua.
“Sikeli did a solid job coming on, Frank brought a lot of energy, and Tuwai was outstanding in the back row. They nearly turned the tide — we were just one pass away from scoring the winning try,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, the Drua’s next match is against the Waratahs on Friday at 8:30 PM at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The team is steadfast in their commitment to learn from their recent experience. Mayanavanua reiterated the focus moving forward: “Our emphasis now is on starting strong, staying disciplined, and ensuring we don’t have to chase the game.” With this determination, fans are hopeful for a more dominant showing from the Drua in their upcoming encounter.