After enduring the worst season of his career last year, Waratahs centre Lalakai Foketi is finally back enjoying his day job.
A freak neck injury before the start of last season cost him confidence, form and, ultimately, a place in the Wallabies squad under new coach Joe Schmidt. Ahead the visit of the Fijian Drua on Friday, Waratahs coach Dan McKellar believes Foketi could return to international rugby.
“He’s just got to string some performances together and that’ll become a possibility [playing for the Wallabies],” McKellar said.
“I certainly know that he hasn’t been forgotten about from a Wallaby coaching group perspective, and he scored one of the best tries the Wallabies have scored in Paris back in 2022.
“There’s a really good rugby player there we know can perform at that level. Hopefully he gets there.”
Last season Foketi returned from injury to play for the Waratahs in round six, but could not stop his side finishing bottom of the table.
In August, searching for form, he played for Manly against Easts in a Shute Shield qualifying final and was sent of for a dumping tackle in the final minutes.
Lalakai Foketi in action for the Wallabies against Portugal at the Rugby World Cup.Credit: Getty Images
When Foketi’s phone rang and Schmidt’s number flashed up ahead of the Wallabies’ squad selection for The Rugby Championship he immediately knew the New Zealander was not delivering good news.
“When he [Schmidt] was selecting teams, he was nice enough to give me a call, and I guess just to tell me that I didn’t do enough for the Tahs that year, which is fair enough,” Foketi said.
“I’m probably my harshest critic, and I didn’t really expect to be in there. It’s an ego hit when you get the call saying you’re not on the team, but I quickly brushed that off and focused on what was next.
“We had a few conversations, but obviously that tip tackle didn’t help me. But I’ve said it before, it kind of summed up my whole year.”
Lalakai Foketi speaks to the media ahead of the visit of the Fijian Drua on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
After missing out on the Wallabies for The Rugby Championship and the spring tour, Foketi focused on what he could control, impressing McKellar in one of the toughest pre-seasons he has completed.
McKellar now believes Foketi is in the best shape of his career and the centre played 80 minutes alongside Joey Walton in his side’s round one victory over the Highlanders.
This Friday Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is set to retain his place at fullback against the Drua.
With Suaalii excelling for the Wallabies at centre, Foketi is confident he could also slot into the midfield if needed at Super Rugby level.
“He [Suaalii] can play anywhere: he played fullback, for the Wallabies he jumped in at 13, and I think for us as a group, it’s just trying to get confidence out there with whoever we’re playing with,” Foketi said.
