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'Queensland's been a massive part of my life' - Samu Kerevi


Samu Kerevi
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Samu Kerevi will keep fans guessing ahead of what might be his last game at home for the Queensland Reds on Friday night.

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The inspirational captain has been strongly linked to a move to Suntory in Japan’s Top League from January, after this year’s World Cup.

The Reds will host the Auckland-based Blues at Suncorp Stadium, with both teams camped on five wins and all but out of the finals race.

The Wallabies centre has made the most carries (187), beaten the most defenders (58) and made the second most offloads (20) in the Super Rugby season and, aged 25, would depart at the peak of his powers.

He also took over the Reds captaincy this year, his sixth at the club.

But Kerevi declined the chance to confirm his farewell game when pressed at Thursday’s captain’s run.

“To be honest it’s not up to me,” the Fiji-born, Brisbane-raised Kerevi said.

“I’m here to serve the team and what’s best for the team … I’ll do the same tomorrow night, the same today (at training) and keep serving until that time’s up for me.

“Every time I put on the jersey I play like it’s my last (game), so tomorrow won’t be any different.”

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Counting his grandmother as one of the Reds’ biggest fans, Kerevi admitted the call on his future had been playing on his mind.

“It’s probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to look at, in terms of my whole life,” he said.

“Queensland’s been a massive part of my life, my family’s life.”

While Friday may be the end of Kerevi’s Reds tenure, it will mark a beginning for good mate Scott Malolua, who has returned from the rugby wilderness to start at halfback.

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Malolua spent a year out of the game but has surged into favouritism at Ballymore ahead of Moses Sorovi, with Tate McDermott injured.

Wallabies lock Izack Rodda returns from his mandated rest, although Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will miss the game for that same reason.

Themed “Beat the Blues”, Friday’s match wil l be the Reds’ first ever Super Rugby Mental Health Round, seeking to raise mental health awareness.

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NoLongerARuck 52 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

The Six Nations produced so many compelling games and so much of action packed moments that you can only conclude that its the best international comp out there at the moment except for a world cup. If Wales improve it will be even better especially given the strides Italy have made in recent times. The Rugby Championship is now taking a hiatus in a year it really should be building toward something better which is terrible considering the competition was so tight last year. The Nations Champs promises much but one gets the feeling that the 6 Nations teams will not be at their peak given its at the end of their long season. In terms of rugby quality and entertainment Id rather watch the 6 Nations over everything else other than a world cup right now. The North arguably offers more in terms of entertainment than the South at club level as well. The Prem, the Champs Cup, URC and Top 14 all feature plenty of scoring and different playing styles while Super Rugby seems to be the same thing game in game out. While the South tries to speed up the game artificially with new trials and law variations the North has shown you can do it with good refereeing which penalises cynical play harshly and encourages positive actions on the field. In terms of entertainment the North wins. In terms of winning? They are making strides but until they win another world cup or get a team to rank number 1 again for an extended time again they cant really say they are better than the South.

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