The Kaiviti Silktails are already capitalising on their new partnership with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs after pinching a leaf out of the club’s book and setting up a hookers-halves academy.
Bulldogs General Manager Phil Gould was in Suva, Fiji, this week to formalise a three-year agreement with Silktails chair Petero Civoniceva that will allow the Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) side to also utilise the NSWRL pathways.
The Silktails previous four-year deal with the Sydney Roosters had some players compete in the Roosters SLE SG Ball (Under 19s), Sydney Shield and The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup sides. Some former Silktails players were also part of the Glebe Dirty Reds in the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup side, which is a feeder club for the Roosters.
“And the Bulldogs have a Ron Massey team as well, which was another attraction for us. So once players get past 21 they have that opportunity open to them,” said Silktails Executive Director Stephen Driscoll.
But like the Bulldogs NRL squad needing to develop more halves and hookers coming through the ranks, the Silktails have the same issue.
“It’s been an Achilles heel for us as a Rugby League nation and what Gus (Gould) has been able to do with the hookers-halves academy idea he started at Penrith and brought to the Bulldogs – that’s been a really big attraction for us,” Driscoll said.
“We want to replicate that in our Silktails high-performance work in Fiji. General Manager of (Bulldogs) Pathways Adam Hartigan on his visit to inspect our facilities has already briefed our coaches on how we need that to look.
“Our Silktails technical advisor Joe Saukuru, who coached the Bulldogs SG Ball side to a Grand Final back in 2018, will be the link with the Bulldogs and our local Silktails coaches on implementing that.”
Driscoll said there were other connections between the two clubs.
“Players like Kiks (Viliame Kikau) and where he sits, not only being a superstar at the Bulldogs but also for Fiji Bati, all adds up to a natural fit between us.
“Our former skipper Peni Tagituimua is now with the Bulldogs Ron Massey and NSW Cup teams. And the biggest ex-pat community of Fijians live in the Belmore club’s district.
“The Bulldogs have already been really active with us since returning to Fiji. They so enjoyed playing us in the Ron Massey in 2023 that they handed back their return home game to us so they could play at our headquarters in Lautoka, Fiji. After playing us this year in Round 15 that has seen the Bulldogs play in Fiji three times in less than 12 months.”
During 2024 matches between the Kaiviti Silktails and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs saw the clubs play for the James Pickering Bowl, celebrating his contribution to both clubs.
Pickering played for Fiji Bati (1993-94) and spent four of his five NRL season with the Bulldogs (1995-2000).
The Silktails are proudly supported by the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports. PacificAus Sports creates opportunities for Australian and Pacific athletes to learn, train, play, and grow together.
