ONE FOR THE GRANNIES
The Corronulla
Sharks hooker says he would not let his armor down even if death comes his way. “I have vowed to my grandmother that I will play for Fiji at
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Source: http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=3&fijidailynews=19268
ONE FOR THE GRANNIES
1-Oct-2008 08:59 AM
By ISAAC LAL
JAMES Storer maybe a name unique to the Fijian name style but that is the main points says Storer himself.
“The name may sound weird to many as they would have expected Api or Semisi but James is more like a Jemesa,” he said.
The 26 year old is one of the faces in the Vodafone Fiji Bati squad for the Rugby League World Cup in Australia later this month but he believes that the name Bati says it all.
Bati means teeth or warrior in Fijian and Storer says that is exactly what the players need to put their mindset on.
“Bati means the teeth that tears apart or warrior in the Fijian hierarchy and my grandma says that it is this name that means everything behind the team.”
“I have played a little bit of union but I believe I fell in love with rugby league from a very long time,” Storer said.
The Corronulla Sharks hooker says he would not let his armor down even if death comes his way.
“I have vowed to my grandmother that I will play for Fiji at international level and I am willing to sacrifice my all for them.”
And why his grandmother?
“My grandmother hails from Namosi and my grandpa comes from Lakeba in Lau and they moved to Australia when my dad was still young.”
And what a combination did the family choose in building this muscular man to be one of the names that would be on the starting line-up for the Vodafone Bati side when they line up for the national anthems against France and Scotland later next month.
“My dad married an Aborigine so I think I have a lot of tough blood running in my veins which has made me very strong,” he added.
And what he thinks of the opposition?
“Our first aim is France and we will give them a good run for their money. We know their style of play and we have been studying their matches and know how to counter them.
“We have a good combination and a right mixture of players and with a wholesale of players coming from the NRL I think we have a good chance of pulling some surprises,” he said.
And the strongest word he knows in Fijian? “Kaivitipower”