Tough young Manly Warringah Sea Eagles lock Caleb Navale is living out a childhood dream in following in the footsteps of his father, Eparama, at Test level.
Just two games into his Test career with Fiji, Caleb has already made a strong impact for the Bati in the Pacific Championships in Papua New Guinea, running 230 metres and making 66 tackles.
A player with great leg speed and a big motor, Caleb is flying the Navale name once again on the international stage, some 23 years after Eparama represented Fiji at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
A powerful winger, Eparama played three Test matches for Fiji against Russia, Australia and England after impressing in his first-grade career at the Parramatta Eels (1997-1998) and the Northern Eagles (2000). He scored eight tries in 16 games for the Eels.
His lone try at Test level came against England at Headingley as a Northern Eagles player. He played just the one game for the Northern Eagles.
Eparama made his first-grade debut against the North Sydney Bears in 1997 where one of his team-mates that day was Jim Dymock, the current Manly NRL Assistant Coach.
“Epa was a typical Fijian winger. He didn’t talk a lot but he let his footy do the talking,’’ Dymock recalled.
He was built like a back-rower with plenty of speed and knew his way to the tryline
Jim Dymock on Eparama Navale
“I really enjoyed playing with Epa as nothing fazed him. He always had a smile on his face.”
Today, it is 20-year-old Caleb that is being spoken about for Fiji after being named in the Bati squad following a very strong season for the Sea Eagles where he took out the Jersey Flegg Best and Fairest award.
He came through the Manly Pathways program and can play Jersey Flegg for the Sea Eagles in 2024.
Speaking ahead of his second Test match for Fiji against Papua New Guinea on Sunday – where he scored his first international try – Caleb said he has loved ‘every moment’ of the Pacific Championships
“It’s been unreal…it’s such a proud moment to wear the Fijian colours and to represent my nation. It’s been enjoyable,’’ Caleb said.
“I want to make (my Dad) proud. It’s meant so much to him seeing his surname on the back of my jersey. Hopefully, I can keep doing it.”
