Wests fullback Ratu Tagive has swapped his NRL ambition for a Super Rugby goal, throwing his hand up to help ease the ACT Brumbies' back line injury woes despite admitting he's on a steep rugby union learning curve.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tagive is in the mix for a shock Super Rugby call-up as the Brumbies count the costs of a growing injury toll which includes Matt Toomua, Jesse Mogg, Tevita Kuridrani and James Dargaville.
The former Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs junior switched to rugby union this year in a bid to further his professional career and has been training with the Brumbies' full-time squad.
He helped Wests to a 36-24 win against the Gungahlin Eagles on Saturday in just his third game in Canberra's first grade competition.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has options in Rodney Iona, Nigel Ah Wong and Lausii Taliauli, but Tagive is willing to take on any challenge thrown his way.
"I'm still learning the game, but I love a challenge and if I get thrown into the deep end, I'll back myself," Tagive said.
"It was a scrappy game [against Gungahlin] and I'm learning on my feet. I've got a chance to learn off some of the best in the world at the Brumbies."
Tagive has floated around the Wests' back line in the first three games of the season, testing himself at fullback, outside centre and on the wing.
He got sideline tutelage from Mogg, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, as Wests went on a first-half blitz which set up 12-point win against the Eagles.
But it was his teammates who set up the victory, with flyhalf Joe Smellie's 16-point haul with the boot proving the difference.
Wests opened up a 26-12 lead at the start of the second half before the Eagles found their feet and finally launched a comeback at Gungahlin Enclosed.
Powerful back-rower Ratikha Ilolahia forced his way across the line for two tries and got the Eagles within nine points of the lead.
But they failed to capitalise on their second-half dominance and Smellie slotted a last-minute penalty to seal the win.
New Gungahlin coach Dan Atkins is still searching for his first win in charge after taking over from Owen Finegan this year.
"Once we found our feet we found our place in the game … if we had another 20 minutes we might have been all right," Atkins said.
"It hasn't been the easiest start for us this year, but we have developed different game plans and tactics and the guys are finding their way.
"But we're coming together as a team, we were fighting right through the game. In the end it was penalties that let us down."
Wests coach Craig Robberds said: "We had a good first half, but we had some late changes and a couple of the guys weren't fit enough. But it's only round three, we'll build from here."
AT A GLANCE
WESTS 36 (A Parsons, S Doyle, R Busderua, J Luteru tries; J Smellie 4 penalties, 2 conversions) bt GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 24 (R Ilolahia 2, A Barrell, L Duffey tries; L Duffey 2 conversions); ROYALS 22 bt UNI-NORTHS OWLS 19; TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 66 bt EASTS 21.
