'I want to be the best 10 in the world': Rising star Pasitoa 'coming after' gold jersey
Western Force flyhalf Reesjan Pasitoa wants to win it all with the Wallabies, and the rising star’s ambitions don’t stop there either.
Pasitoa wants to be “the best.”
After growing up in Western Australia, Pasitoa was given the opportunity to attend one of the country’s most prestigious High Schools on a rugby scholarship.
Clips of the former schoolboy sensation went viral online during his three decorated seasons playing for the famous Nudgee College 1st XV in Brisbane.
The well-known rugby nursery has seen countless world class players pass through their ranks, including former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom, James O’Connor, and Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo.
Pasitoa was able to eclipse even the greatness that those legendary names achieved in the blue and white strip, as he won two premierships before heading south to the ACT Brumbies.
Pasitoa signed with the Australian franchise while he was still at High School, as the first-five looked for more opportunities to develop his game.
However, he was given limited opportunities to star at Super Rugby level, as Pasitoa played second and even third fiddle to Noah Lolesio and Christian Leali’ifano.
So, the opportunity to head back home, and sign with the Force on a two-year deal, proved too good to turn down.
Pasitoa lived up to the hype last season, after two-time Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan tweeting earlier in 2022 that the up-and-comer must “be in the Wallabies squad.
Reesjan Pasitoa has to be in the Wallabies squad in 2022. Early days I know, but he is a future star. At 20 years old….the time is right. @StanSportRugby
— Tim Horan (@TimHoran12) February 26, 2022
While a serious knee injury has silenced those dreams for now, Pasitoa hasn’t lost sight of what he hopes to achieve in the future.
“I want to be the Wallaby 10, I want to be the best 10 in the world, I’ve always said that,” Pasitoa told RugbyPass.
“In terms of winning, I want to win a Bledisloe and I want to win a World Cup. That’s my goals.
“I’ve said that since I was a little kid that I want to be the best 10 in the world. If I can get that Wallaby 10 jersey, that’s what I’m coming after.
“For now, just focus on my knee and make sure I can get back on the field healthy and fit and then like I said, just do the best I can and put my best foot forward.”
Pasitoa’s rugby journey began in Western Australia, as he laced up his boots and ran out for Perth Bayswater Rugby Union Club.
It was the beginning of an exciting career which is seemingly set for greatness, and could have a lasting impact on Australian rugby if he gets his way.
Australian rugby isn’t what it used to be, but there’s no reason why the fallen giant of rugby union can’t return to former glory.
Growing up in Western Australia, Pasitoa – along with his teammates – was asked an interesting question at an awards night.
“Who wants to be an All Black,” the Australian-based young rugby stars of tomorrow were asked.
Pasitoa spoke about how that was “another reason why” he returned to Western Australia, as he hopes to usher in a new era of aspiring Wallabies.
“I remember going to games growing up as a young boy here and going to Force games and selling tickets at the front gates. Now I get to play for them which is pretty cool,” he added
“I’ll never forget this time at my club, we had our awards night and they asked us ‘who wants to be an All Black when you grow up?’ I’d argue almost everyone put their hands up.
“I think back now and why I came back is so that maybe if that question is asked again, people put their hands up for if you want to play for the Wallabies and if you want to play for the Western Force.
“I think that’d be pretty cool for young boys and girls to want to play for Australia and play for their Australian clubs.
“I guess that’s another reason why I came to try and change that mindset of things and hopefully we can be part of that change.”
But the question still remains: how did Pasitoa respond?
Along with his teammates, the Australian-born talent said yes.
Pasitoa once dreamt of following in the footsteps of legendary All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter, by donning the coveted black jersey in the test arena.
“Yeah (I wanted to play for the All Blacks). My favourite player and my idol was Daniel Carter, always has been.
“I grew up going for the Blues. Some of my family is in Auckland, my dad grew up in Auckland, so it’s always been for the Blues, always been for the All Blacks.
“Even in League I go for the Warriors still but I guess now I’m just really pushing for that gold jersey.
“If I could change that for young boys and girls who are growing up here in Australia, to want to play for Australia, then that’d be cool. That’s the goal.”
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments