Rising star Salesi Foketi will never complain if he receives a poor pass from dummy-half after the boom back-rower was thrust into the unfamiliar role for the first time in his career in Tonga\u2019s statement win over England at the World Cup.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old played a starring role for the Roosters on the left edge in their run to the premiership, but he might not spend a second of this World Cup in that position after playing 80 minutes at hooker on the weekend.<\/p>\n
Foketi was originally named on the bench but was thrust into the starting side that would have allowed coach Kristian Woolf to bring on dynamic dummy-half Soni Luke when the sting was out of the contest.<\/p>\n
But an injury to five-eighth Latu Fainu threw the bench rotation out of whack and meant Foketi had to spend 80 minutes in the middle passing to his halves and big forwards. <\/p>\n
Roosters coach Trent Robinson was stunned when he saw him in the middle, but Foketi says the seed was planted last year when he was part of Tonga\u2019s wider squad for the Pacific Championships. <\/p>\n
\u201cWolfie (Woolf) mentioned it briefly last year and I came in for a week and didn\u2019t actually train at hooker,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was training a bit of lock but a few of the guys were carrying small injuries last year in the Pac Champs. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then he called me at the start of this year and was like \u2018how does hooker sound?\u2019 and I was like \u2018wherever you need me to play, I\u2019ll play there\u2019.<\/p>\n
Foketi made 31 tackles and only missed one, while he still managed to make an impact with nine runs from dummy-half. <\/p>\n
It was the first time he\u2019d played there in any grade, and he has a newfound respect for Roosters teammates Reece Robson and Benaiah Ioelu who have to bend town countless times every week to pick up the ball and pass.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played six right up until I was 17 and moved over to the Roosters, so I\u2019d never played hooker,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the first time my quads have ever cramped in a game and I think it was all of the squats to pick up and pass the ball. But honestly, it was fun. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou see it from a different kind of perspective, obviously playing on the edge and then moving into that hooker role. If Reece Robson or Benaiah ever throw a bad pass, I will never, ever say anything to them at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foketi was so impressive that he\u2019s been named to start at hooker for Tonga\u2019s next match against Lebanon on Friday, with the team blessed with so many star edge forwards in Haumole Olakau\u2019atu, Siua Wong, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Leka Halasima.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a meteoric rise for the premiership star who was overcome by emotions in his first game representing his country. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt hit me at the national anthem,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a huge opportunity to go out there, sing that, and then obviously into the Sipi Tau as well. It gives you goosebumps just thinking about it. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs a kid you grow up and you want to play for your country and represent your nation, and it couldn\u2019t have started any better. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the boys make it so comfortable and made my job super easy and kept it really simple for me.\u201d<\/p>\n