Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have retained the James Pickering Bowl with a strong 44-14 win over the Kaiviti Silktails in Round Six action of Jersey Flegg Cup, but the man himself could not wipe the smile from his face seeing the Fijian players on his beloved Belmore Oval.
“It’s awesome the opportunity the Fijian boys have today, especially at such a young age,” Pickering told nswrl.com.au after presenting the Pickering Bowl to Bulldogs captain Bud Smith.
“Of course Belmore is close to my heart, right alongside my love for Fiji.”
Pickering was a prop forward spending four seasons with the Bulldogs in the 1990s including the 1995 Premiership year, before a stint with the Sydney Roosters and four years in Super League (Workington, Castleford). He also played two Tests for the Fiji Bati (1993-94).
“There hasn’t been too much opportunity in Fiji even though Rugby League has been going for 30-odd years or more there,” Pickering said.
“This (Silktails) club really opens the guys’ eyes to what’s possible,” he said.
“The sort of training programs they are doing, the knowledge of the game they are picking up, it is all developing Rugby League there.
“In the past it was just raw talent and speed rather than skill that got you into the 13-man game, but now they are learning the fundamentals.
“Yes there is still some way to go but they are playing in a top-level competition (NSWRL Jersey Flegg Under 21s) and they are growing into that. It’s only upwards from here.”
The Silktails began a formal three-year partnership with Canterbury-Bankstown in October last year, where personnel and training programs can be exchanged. It gives Fijian players another avenue into the NSWRL pathways system.
“I’ve been lucky enough to stay in touch with not just the Bulldogs but (Silktails Executive Director) Steve Driscoll has always kept me in the loop,” Pickering said.
“They actually rang me earlier about the club joining with the Bulldogs and I told them it was one of the best things they could do.
“A lot of Bulldogs staff have connections with Fiji and Kiks’ academy is doing so well there too.”
NRL star Viliame Kikau started his Fijian academy in 2023 – the year he moved from the Penrith Panthers to the Bulldogs – as another way of helping emerging Rugby League talent in his homeland.
He was at Belmore Oval yesterday to speak to Silktails players after watching the game against the Bulldogs.
During Multicultural Round a week ago, Kikau told NRL.com he could see the signs of success from both his academy and the Silktails program.
"We have a lot of young talent back home. It's good to see the growth and working with the Silktails is cool. Hopefully it's just going to get bigger and better," Kikau said.
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.
