Sosaia Feki aiming to be a Castleford Tigers fans’ favourite like Jesse Sene-Lefao

STAR SIGNING Sosaia Feki wants to follow in team-mate Jesse Sene-Lefao’s footsteps by becoming a fans’ favourite at Castleford Tigers.
Castleford Tigers' new signing Sosaia Feki at the Jungle today. Picture: Tony Johnson.Castleford Tigers' new signing Sosaia Feki at the Jungle today. Picture: Tony Johnson.
Castleford Tigers' new signing Sosaia Feki at the Jungle today. Picture: Tony Johnson.

Feki, who was born in New Zealand and has played Test rugby for Tonga, arrived in England on Tuesday and met Tigers coach Daryl Powell for the first time yesterday.

Now 28, he scored 67 tries in 148 appearances for Cronulla from 2013 to 2019 and was a Grand Final winner with the Sharks three years ago – when Sene-Lefao was also at the Sydney club.

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Sene-Lefao – along with another Tigers forward Junior Moors – is a good friend of Feki’s and was one of the reasons the powerful winger opted to join Castleford, on a three-year contract.

Castleford Tigers' Jesse Sene-Lefao.Castleford Tigers' Jesse Sene-Lefao.
Castleford Tigers' Jesse Sene-Lefao.

“Cronulla had a few young blokes coming through and I just thought it was time to make a move and come over to England,” Feki revealed.

“Castleford was the best option for me because I know Jesse and I have played with Junior Moors.

“Knowing them just made it a bit easier. I asked [Sene-Lefao] a lot about Castleford, I have seen he is a fan favourite and I want to come over here and be the same as him.

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“It looks like everyone loves him here and hopefully they love me here too, so I am looking forward to it.

Sosaia Feki.Sosaia Feki.
Sosaia Feki.

“I hope I can come here and do what I was doing at Cronulla and if all turns out well I’ll be happy.”

Sene-Lefao’s description of Castleford as an “attacking team” was also important in persuading Feki to sign on the dotted line.

“He’s said if I am not in position I will be getting Daryl on my tail,” he added.

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“At Cronulla they weren’t really hard on attack so I am actually looking forward to getting the ball a bit more and hopefully I can score a few more tries.”

Tigers were not the only club chasing Feki, who touched down nine times in 22 games for Cronulla this year.

He confirmed: “I had a few options, but me and my partner always talked about coming over to England and me finishing off my footy career.

“I felt it was time to come over.

“I know what the standard’s going to be like and it is pretty much the same, just go out and do your job and it all pays off.”

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Helping Tigers – league leaders shield winners in 2017 – to move silverware is Feki’s number one objective.

“That would be good, coming over here and winning a trophy in Super League,” he said.

“I have done it at Cronulla and that was an amazing feeling, but I am at Castleford now and back to square one.

“I would love to play in a Grand Final and win Super League, that’s another dream of mine.”

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Feki will train with his new team-mates for the first time on Monday.

He admitted: “I am a bit nervous, but I am looking forward to it and I can’t wait to get out there and play.”

The recruit will get a close introduction to Yorkshire in a week’s time when he takes part, with Tigers’ entire squad and coaching staff, in the Three Peaks challenge, to raise funds for Prince of Wales Hospice.

He said: “I’m not sure how I will go on that, I’ve never really done hiking – especially in this cold – but I am just going to have to do it.”