Inside story: Parramatta cult hero Semi Radradra seizes his chance for a better life
Phil RothfieldSports Editor-at-large
The Daily Telegraph
June 05, 2014 10:00PM
SEMI Radradra’s NRL career was almost over before it started.
Back in 2011 as a fresh, unknown arrival from Fiji he struggled to cope with the culture change and got desperately homesick. Like a lot of 19-year-olds do.
“I missed my family and my food,” he says, recalling life and the family bond with his parents, five brothers and two sisters in their battered old home in their poverty stricken village of Somosomo.
“That’s what kept me here,” he said. “I think about how much my family struggle and I just couldn’t go back.
“This was my chance to change my family’s whole life.”
Semi grew up in the same three bedroom house where his father was born. They had no money for beds and all slept on the floor.
Then came the big opportunity for a teenager who was earning just $300-a-month as a gold miner, who had been spotted by recruitment staff in a Dubai Sevens rugby tournament.
“Parramatta rang me but I told them I’d never played league before,” he recalls.
“They offered to teach me and so I thought, why not?”
His first contract was for just $10,000 and the opportunity to earn a little bit more in match payments.
After a struggle at the start he burst into first grade in round 18 last season and suddenly emerged as the game’s hottest new personality player.
The man they call the Semi Trailer, a barnstorming left winger with scorching speed and incredible power.
A 21-year-old who averages one try per game this year and has made 50 tackle busts since the beginning of the season.
Who would have thought Blues superstar Jarryd Hayne would ever be challenged as Parramatta’s No. 1 personality player?
This guy is, according to Eels CEO Scott Seward.
“Jarryd in definitely No. 1 but Semi is closing the gap quickly,” Seward said.
“We sell player badges and Semi gets the second highest number of sales.
“The biggest thing is when he touches the football. He bring people to the footy and puts bums on seats.
“And that’s what our game is all about.”
While admitting he’s still learning, Radradra has set himself some lofty goals, including playing for Australia’s Kangaroos.
Because Fiji is a second-tier rugby league nation he can play for both his home country and still wear the green and gold.
“If Australia wanted me to play, I would play for Australia,” he said.
“I’d also like to play Origin one day if the rules changed just like Jarryd.
“Jarryd is a great man and a good example for me.
“He’s always been my idol. I didn’t know anything about rugby league except for Jarryd Hayne.
“Back home everyone knows him and that’s why I came to Parramatta. He helps me a lot.
“I’m still learning now and trying to understand all the rules so it’s step by step.”
Australian coach Tim Sheens says he will monitor Radradra’s progress from here on.
“He’s come a long way in a short period and really blossomed this year,” Sheens said.
“It’s interesting that he’s done it on the back of experience he gained at the World Cup last year.
“He’s a player of enormous potential and we’ll certainly be watching his progress closely.”
Being labelled a rugby league excitement machine and budding superstar is something Radradra appreciates.
“I can’t believe it (the popularity) but I enjoy it,” he said.
“Especially all the kids that look up to me.
“I love hearing the crowd when I get the ball — it gives me more energy.”
The energy, the skill and the talent that this week earned him a new lucrative four-year contract with the Eels.
It’s set him and his family back home up for life.
“I’m very proud that I can use my money now to build a new family home which was my original goal,” he said.
“I just want to keep improving, win games and maybe play in a grand final. That is my dream.”
