Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 32,095
- 25,698
[h=1]Salesi Chases Change[/h]
SALESI Funaki has come to Brisbane for a change and already likes what he sees.
The 20-year-old Junior Kangaroo has joined the Broncos from the Wests Tigers and is just a few weeks into his first pre-season in the not-so-gentle climes of Queensland.
A powerfully-built forward, Funaki said he had come north on a two-year contract to get out of his comfort zone.
And he is already noticing some differences.
"I felt like I was too comfortable down in Sydney," he said after completing a tough session this week.
"I thought coming up here would get me out of my comfort zone and train harder.
"I think being away from my family and everything like that will make me train harder.
"It is like a fresh start.
"(Brisbane) is very different to where I am from.
"It is way slower, but it is nice.
"The traffic is not as bad as Sydney - Sydney is bad."
Yet to get a chance in the NRL, Funaki is set on working hard on his fitness in the 2016 pre-season.
The pre-Christmas grind is on, with Funaki joining a host of other players fresh out of under 20s in the senior squad.
The Westfield Sports High product has benefitted from knowing a host of Broncos players from last year's Junior Kangaroo camp.
Young Broncos like Joe Ofahengaue, Jayden Berrell and Jai Arrow have all trained alongside him before.
"I just have to work hard and get through the pre-season - I want to get fitter," he said.
"I just want to play some games and work my way up.
"It is the toughest pre-season I have been in but the boys have been good.
"I know a few of the boys from before - I have known Joe Ofahengaue for a while.
"And I was also in the Junior Kangaroos squad with quite a few of them.
"So that has made it a lot easier."
http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2015/12/02/salesi_chases_change.html
SALESI Funaki has come to Brisbane for a change and already likes what he sees.
The 20-year-old Junior Kangaroo has joined the Broncos from the Wests Tigers and is just a few weeks into his first pre-season in the not-so-gentle climes of Queensland.
A powerfully-built forward, Funaki said he had come north on a two-year contract to get out of his comfort zone.
And he is already noticing some differences.
"I felt like I was too comfortable down in Sydney," he said after completing a tough session this week.
"I thought coming up here would get me out of my comfort zone and train harder.
"I think being away from my family and everything like that will make me train harder.
"It is like a fresh start.
"(Brisbane) is very different to where I am from.
"It is way slower, but it is nice.
"The traffic is not as bad as Sydney - Sydney is bad."
Yet to get a chance in the NRL, Funaki is set on working hard on his fitness in the 2016 pre-season.
The pre-Christmas grind is on, with Funaki joining a host of other players fresh out of under 20s in the senior squad.
The Westfield Sports High product has benefitted from knowing a host of Broncos players from last year's Junior Kangaroo camp.
Young Broncos like Joe Ofahengaue, Jayden Berrell and Jai Arrow have all trained alongside him before.
"I just have to work hard and get through the pre-season - I want to get fitter," he said.
"I just want to play some games and work my way up.
"It is the toughest pre-season I have been in but the boys have been good.
"I know a few of the boys from before - I have known Joe Ofahengaue for a while.
"And I was also in the Junior Kangaroos squad with quite a few of them.
"So that has made it a lot easier."
http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2015/12/02/salesi_chases_change.html
