Behind the Leichhardt Oval stands on Sunday night there were two Wests Tigers NRL players posing for photos with Fijian fans dressed in traditional sulus and with flower garlands around their necks.
One of them was 10-time Fiji international Sunia Turuva and the other was Bati hopeful for this year's World Cup, Josese Lanyon.
"He's a gun and I want the best for him," Turuva said of 21-year-old Lanyon.
The pair had just been part of an euphoric 36-28 win by the Wests Tigers over Gold Coast to mark the last NRL game at the venue before a major renovation after 92 years. It will re-open its doors in 2028.
Lanyon was making his NRL debut in the absence of regular hooker Api Koroisau who is on NSW Origin duty.
