Some three or four months ago Sosaia Feki was plying his trade in the Sharks NSW Cup team wondering if an opportunity in the top grade would ever come his way.
His form was solid, his fitness and physique the best it had been since joining the Cronulla club, but with the outside backs performing well in the NRL squad it had become a case of Feki needing to bide his time.
Probably when he least expected it, Fekis time did come, albeit in sad circumstances.
Nathan Stapleton was called home to northern NSW with his mother gravely ill, tragically she later passed away after a battle with melanoma, but back at the Sharks the show had to go on.
After Stapleton was forced to withdraw from the Sharks clash with the Newcastle Knights, Feki was a last minute inclusion and since then has made every post a winner, playing 11 consecutive matches in the NRL and at the same time has put himself in the frame as a long term option on the Sharks left wing.
But his elevation to the Sharks NRL team wasnt all about luck, misfortune, or whatever his initial selection might be called, it also had to do with hard work and perseverance, with Feki earning the chance.
Sosaia took a little while to adapt to full time training and to getting his body in a position to play in the NRL, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan explained. But hes done that. Hes trained really hard over the off season and at the moment hes fit, hes fast, hes tough and hes competitive each week.
As Feki would himself admit, it was a different beast to the one Flanagan described who arrived at the Sharks during the 2012 pre-season.
I came in weighing 102 then after the pre-season I ended up 90kgs. I feel stronger and fitter and I can play more minutes. I used to cramp up in a lot of games but now I dont do that, Feki said.
Now a regular in the NRL squad Feki is about to embark on another memorable moment in his rugby league journey when he travels home to Auckland for a match against his former club the Warriors.
A member of the Junior Warrior under-20s team which won consecutive NYC titles in 2010 and 2011, Feki was a teammate of boom centre Konrad Hurrell. Now he is set to come face to face with his former friend and with family cheering him on in the stands, is looking forward to what Saturdays game might bring.
Playing alongside Konrad Hurrell, making two grand finals, was a pretty awesome experience for me, Feki said. Im pretty excited, its my first home game against them. Im from Auckland so its good to get the chance to play in front of my family.
In 11 NRL games for the Sharks Feki has been more than dependable on the Sharks left flank, defusing many a difficult situation in defense, while at the same time managing to cross for five tries.
However as modest as he is quietly spoken, Feki downplayed his contribution and was content to divert praise to some of his teammates, who are happy to chip in with some words of wisdom for the young Kiwi when needed.
They tell me what Im doing wrong, what I do good and I just go out and play, Feki said. Its up to the boys in the middle, plus I have a great centre in Jono (Wright) and he just sets me up and I finish it off.
NRL.com caught up with both Flanagan and Feki ahead of their trip to Auckland to tackle the Warriors. See the interview package, now playing live on Sharks TV.
His form was solid, his fitness and physique the best it had been since joining the Cronulla club, but with the outside backs performing well in the NRL squad it had become a case of Feki needing to bide his time.
Probably when he least expected it, Fekis time did come, albeit in sad circumstances.
Nathan Stapleton was called home to northern NSW with his mother gravely ill, tragically she later passed away after a battle with melanoma, but back at the Sharks the show had to go on.
After Stapleton was forced to withdraw from the Sharks clash with the Newcastle Knights, Feki was a last minute inclusion and since then has made every post a winner, playing 11 consecutive matches in the NRL and at the same time has put himself in the frame as a long term option on the Sharks left wing.
But his elevation to the Sharks NRL team wasnt all about luck, misfortune, or whatever his initial selection might be called, it also had to do with hard work and perseverance, with Feki earning the chance.
Sosaia took a little while to adapt to full time training and to getting his body in a position to play in the NRL, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan explained. But hes done that. Hes trained really hard over the off season and at the moment hes fit, hes fast, hes tough and hes competitive each week.
As Feki would himself admit, it was a different beast to the one Flanagan described who arrived at the Sharks during the 2012 pre-season.
I came in weighing 102 then after the pre-season I ended up 90kgs. I feel stronger and fitter and I can play more minutes. I used to cramp up in a lot of games but now I dont do that, Feki said.
Now a regular in the NRL squad Feki is about to embark on another memorable moment in his rugby league journey when he travels home to Auckland for a match against his former club the Warriors.
A member of the Junior Warrior under-20s team which won consecutive NYC titles in 2010 and 2011, Feki was a teammate of boom centre Konrad Hurrell. Now he is set to come face to face with his former friend and with family cheering him on in the stands, is looking forward to what Saturdays game might bring.
Playing alongside Konrad Hurrell, making two grand finals, was a pretty awesome experience for me, Feki said. Im pretty excited, its my first home game against them. Im from Auckland so its good to get the chance to play in front of my family.
In 11 NRL games for the Sharks Feki has been more than dependable on the Sharks left flank, defusing many a difficult situation in defense, while at the same time managing to cross for five tries.
However as modest as he is quietly spoken, Feki downplayed his contribution and was content to divert praise to some of his teammates, who are happy to chip in with some words of wisdom for the young Kiwi when needed.
They tell me what Im doing wrong, what I do good and I just go out and play, Feki said. Its up to the boys in the middle, plus I have a great centre in Jono (Wright) and he just sets me up and I finish it off.
NRL.com caught up with both Flanagan and Feki ahead of their trip to Auckland to tackle the Warriors. See the interview package, now playing live on Sharks TV.
