Salford’s Ben Nakubuwai follows father’s footsteps – but may not listen to him
Forward star's dad blazed a trail by helping bring rugby league to Fiji
BEN NAKUBUWAI is following in the footsteps of a trailblazer but sometimes ignores him – his dad.
The Salford new boy is the son of Pio, who was known as the Black Shark after starring for Fiji’s rugby union side.
But in 1992, he switched to rugby league and was one of the first group of players to introduce the 13-a-side code to the Pacific Island.
That meant Nakubuwai Snr was largely ostracised in his homeland but now his son aims to make the grade in Super League after starring in Fiji’s World Cup campaign.
However, his old man still has a say as the prop, set to face Widnes tonight, revealed: “My dad was part of a group that introduced rugby league to Fiji and he talks about it. It was difficult for him at times.
“Now he’s like any dad, he tries to be the extra coach on the sidelines. Even if I do block my ears away, I wouldn’t admit it to him!”
Nakubuwai, 21, has had a shock to the system, not least swapping Australia for a cold camp in Wales then two doses of the ‘Beast from the East’.
But he had been tipped off about the weather by former Warrington man Ashton Sims as they linked up in Fiji’s push to the World Cup semi-finals.
He added: “I’m still seen as a front-rower who’s developing, so I thought, ‘Why not come over here and develop?’ The World Cup made me hungrier to taste a high level of football.
“Ashton talked to me a fair bit, he told me the weather would be a big change and how to be prepared for snow and ice. He also told me things about the little cultural changes I’d have to get used to."
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