Flying Fijian To Make Name Of Himself

Sun Herald

Sunday February 24, 2008

Adrian Proszenko

YOU can call Ratu Peni Tagive pretty much anything you want. The next big thing. The next Noa Nadruku. The Flying Fijian. Or just plain Bula. But whatever you do, don't call him Chief.

"Ratu means 'chief'," explained Wests Tigers under-20s coach Peter Gentle. "He's embarrassed about the Ratu bit and he's trying to crop that out of his name - we're reluctant to let him."

Named after his grandfather - a village chief in Fiji - Tagive has plenty to give. The 19-year-old outside back is perhaps the quickest man in a club which boasts speedsters Chris Lawrence, Shannon McDonnell and Benji Marshall. The former Australian Schoolboy recently clocked a blistering 6.79 seconds over 60 metres and is expected to make his NRL debut this year after a shoulder reconstruction sidelined him for all of 2007.

Campbelltown-born Tagive has two brothers in Fiji but has never visited the country.

"Most of my family live in Sydney," he said. "I am one of seven children. Everyone at Wests Tigers calls me Bula. I don't think anyone knows my real name. My strength lies in my attack. I'm big and I've got a fair bit of speed on me."

ADRIAN PROSZENKO

STARS UNEARTHED

2007

Israel Folau, Krisnan Inu, Michael Jennings, Dave Taylor, Feleti Mateo.

2006

Jarryd Hayne, Chris Lawrence, Luke Douglas, Darius Boyd.

2005

Tim Smith, Greg Inglis, Jarrod Mullen, Nate Myles.

2004

Sonny Bill Williams, Benji Marshall, Todd Carney, Karmichael Hunt.