Scrawny and unfit were words used to describe Fiji born and West Tigers winger Marika Koroibete when he first joined the NRL.
The West Tigers website reports that Koroibete, two years ago could only bench press a 20kg barbell and that was it.
The league scout who discovered Koroibete, Joel Greig said that was not just Marika’s first day at the Tigers but it was also his first day inside a gym.
Greig said in that first year of NSW Cup, the Tigers actually withheld him from the opening nine or 10 games as they were worried he would get hurt.
Now Koroibete who has learnt the art of bench press, has a 160kg maximum and can also bench two 60kg dumbbells for a staggering 15 repetitions.
Tigers coach Mick Potter said last week he approached his club board for extra money explaining they no longer had dumbbells heavy enough for the man from Wainimakutu.
Koroibete has now bulked up and considered by many the fastest man in the NRL.
Born and raised on the family’s farm in the Namosi highlands, Koroibete’s early tests of fitness were walking the 20km round trip to school on those days when his horse was being used by his father.
A gifted sprinter in his teens, he once clocked 10.75sec for the 100m but would often skip regional athletics carnivals fearing he would have to make a speech if he won.
Even now the Tigers have placed a media ban on the 20-year-old, who scored four tries in only his second NRL game last year as Koroibete can get through an entire conversation by only moving his eyebrows.
Meanwhile, the opening match of National Rugby League season start tonight featuring Sydney Roosters and Rabbitohs at 9.05pm.
Story by: Filipe Naikaso & Rusiate Baleilevuka
