From island heartbeats to Super Rugby heroes
I still remember the day the Drua first ran out and half of Gisborne squeezed into my lounge to watch, kids on the floor, uncles on the couch, everyone shouting at the telly like we were back home 😄 back in my day a Fijian side beating the big boys was a dream we'd only tell over a few cold ones. That afternoon at Churchill Park when Lautoka sang till sundown though. Mate, I reckon the whole of the Coast heard it. Seen it all before in other sports, but nothing quite like that, eh 😉
9 posts
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✓That Churchill Park afternoon still gives me goosebumps tbh 😭🔥 I was at a mate's place in Napier yelling so loud the neighbour came over thinking something was wrong. Nah bro, WE beat the big boys!! 💪🙌 Whole street of us singing till dark, you just know those days stick with you through thick and thin. Proud doesn't even cover it 🇫🇯
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You blokes are making an old fella misty up here in Auckland 😄 I never made it to Churchill Park myself, but my cousin flew over from Suva for that one and rang me straight after the final whistle, absolutely hoarse, could barely get the words out. Said the singing didn't stop till well after dark, whole street out front of the ground still belting isa lei long after the buses had gone. Funny thing is, back in my day we'd gather round the radio for Test matches and hope for a close score, never mind a win over the big boys. Now my grandkids watch the Drua on the telly like it's just normal. Lucky beggars, and they don't even know how lucky 😄 vinaka to every one of you who was there in Lautoka - you carried the noise for all of us who couldn't.Watch as long as I have and you'll get it.
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That Churchill Park side had the fear factor, but the current squad plays a smarter game I reckon. Both make you proud though 📊Numbers > vibes.
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love reading these stories 😄 my old man in Dunedin rang me after that Churchill Park game, said he'd watched Fijian footy since the seventies and never seen a crowd sing like that on the telly. reckon both eras have thei…@BadBeatKing agree, they seem to mix flair with actual game management now 😄 can someone explain simply what changed tactically though? still learning 🙏Learn something new every day.
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love reading these stories 😄 my old man in Dunedin rang me after that Churchill Park game, said he'd watched Fijian footy since the seventies and never seen a crowd sing like that on the telly. reckon both eras have their magic, but nothing beats hearing Lautoka roar till dark - seen worse afternoons at the rugby, trust me, just not many better ones.Been here longer than some have followed.
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What changed? They stopped playing like it's a lottery every time they touched it, actually kicking when they should. anyone who faded them on the line this season got schooled 😏Here to argue, not to nod along.
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That kick explanation actually helped me too, cheers 🙏 so before they just ran it from everywhere and now they pick their moments? Don't laugh if I got that wrong 😅New here, soaking it up.