We select 5 players and put them in a different code or sport. How would they go?

Every now and again we’ll pull out a few names from our talent pool and throw them into another code or sport altogether.

While changing codes is not new to our players, and yes most our backs and loose forwards could switch to the rival code, we’ll focus on 5  players who have the physical attributes, style and ability as they are now, to change codes or sports.

Levani Botia – Switch to Rugby League
Position – Lock Forward / Centre

Levani has that raw power and aggression and is built for the Rugby League bash and barge up the middle. He could easily play lock forward and be a menace in the middle third or as a centre out wide. If you look over at the NFL Levani is a little on the shorter side for the linebacker position but with a few extra kilos he is virtually a Ray Lewis clone or he could be used as a 3^rd down running power back for those tough, short yards.

Peceli Yato – Switch to Rugby League
Position – Second Row / Front Row

Being one of our most gifted players, we believe Peceli could easily make the switch and be an absolute star in the second row.

Yato, who usually plays in the middle third of the field is no stranger to lurking out wide as we’ve seen in games for Fiji. He has the speed, size and mobility to play the second row position and also a threat on both sides of the ball. If you want to put some pads and a helmet on him, everything about Yato screams linebacker or defensive end.

Josua Tuisova – Switch to NFL
Position – Running Back

Yes Tuisova could probably play Rugby League as well but he probably lacks the turn and chase to really be a League winger and for the same reason he’d get found out at centre. Plus, it’s more fun thinking of the carnage he’d cause with players blocking for him running out of the backfield in the NFL. If Tuisova was in Madden, his trucking would be in the high 90s. He has all the genetic weapons to be a star running back.

The ideal weight of a power running back is usually in the range of 215-225 pounds (97kg-102kg), players like Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson weigh in at this range. Tuisova is listed at a whopping 112kg but 91kg on other websites so we’d say he is somewhere in the range of 98-108 kg. Either way, he has a low centre of gravity, big lower section and great acceleration, perfect for those tough carries.

Asaeli Tuivuaka – Switch to Rugby League
Position – Second Row / Centre

Ok, Botia, Tuisova and Tuivuaka all seemed like they were genetically engineered out of the same lab. All built for that collision, all built for the trenches.

Seven’s wrecking ball Asaeli Tuivuaka would make for a perfect second row or centre in the 13 man code. He has his tackling technique already down pat and the speed and aggression to hold down the middle of the league pitch and mobility and agility to play the centre position.

We would absolutely love to see the Tank Tuivoaka come out of the line in defense on a second man shift play with his target locked on the attacking fullback.

Viliame Kikau – Switch to Rugby Union
Position -Number 8 / Outside Centre

This one seems an obvious and one that just about every Fijian would love to see before the next World Cup. The only question is, where do you put him? He would make a for a blockbusting, linebreaking number 8 or be completely wasted there working overtime and killing his impact.

He may be a little big for the backline but a lighter, trimmer Kikau could be a sensation at outside centre.

We think he’d be best used at number 8 moving Mata to Flanker for the retiring Waqaniboruto. A starting forward pack with Kikau, Mata, Yato and Nakarawa is mouth watering to say the least. Kikau is signed at Penrith until 2022. Should he make the transition, he’d have around 12 months to be ready. Never say never

Join in the conversation

What did you think of the players we mentioned? Let us know in the comments below. Tell us which Fijians could transition into another code or sport.