Roko sets pace

Fiji Times - Saturday, March 29, 2008 1:29 PM

NASONI Roko has taken some time to adapt to the demands of international rugby but has slowly, yet surely, come of age.

It's been a fairytale journey from the rugged terrains in the interior of Naitasiri to the collection of skyscrapers in Yokogawa, Japan.

Formerly a dalo farmer from Serea, the stocky rugger is now looking to etch his name in the record books of the IRB Sevens World series this weekend.

Two more touchdowns and Roko will become the first Fijian to score 100 tries in the history of the series. He has 98 five-pointers to his name after notching one in last night's 42-7 win over South Korea. Only eleven other players have scored more tries since the series started in 1999.

They are South Africa's Marius Schoeman (99) and Fabien Juries (156), England's Rob Thirlby (101), Richard Haughton (106), Ben Gollings (152), Canada's Dave Moonlight (101), Australia's Peter Miller (107), New Zealand trio Tafai Ioasa (109), Amasio Raoma (112) and Karl Tenana (113). The highest try scorer is Argentina's Santiago Gomez Cora with 181 touchdowns.

"I am looking forward to the event," Roko, 27, said.

He plays down the notion that his focus will be diverted with his ton looming on the horizon. "I want to play and make the team win, that what matters most," said Roko, who made his international debut at the Singapore 7s in April 2002.

Having played two seasons for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's NPC, Roko, a Sevens World Cup winner in 2005, now plays for Yokogawa club in the Land of the Rising Sun. Roko attributes his success to hard work and is thankful to those who have supported him most "mainly Rajesh Singh and Waisale Serevi".

"Singh gave me the break to travel and play abroad when he brought me from Naitasiri to play for his Global Barbarians team," Roko said.

Serevi, Roko said, helped him become a better player. "Waisale is a real role model. Every time I'd play a poor game, he lets me know and if played well he'd praise me but remind me that I could have done better.

"He will not rest until he gets the best out of you." Fiji's other tries last night were scored by Setefano Cakau, Emosi Vucago, Lepani Nabuliwaqa, Timoci Matanavou and William Ryder.