Putting on the Vodafone Fiji Bati jersey holds special significance for hooker Kurt Donoghoe, extending beyond national pride. The 22-year-old last visited Fiji for a family reunion at the age of 12, and now he returns as a player, strengthening his family connections.
Donoghoe, who qualifies for the Bati team through his paternal grandmother from the Thaggard family in Savusavu, is making the most of his time in Fiji. He made his debut for the team during last year’s Pacific Bowl Championship in Papua New Guinea. Reflecting on his experiences, he stated, “I definitely feel closer to the jersey this year playing in Fiji. I got to meet some family that I’ve never met before; it was pretty cool. Playing in front of them and receiving my jersey after the game made me feel much closer to Fiji compared to playing in Papua New Guinea last year.”
Despite having close friends on the Cook Islands Aitu team, Donoghoe is focused on the upcoming match, aware of the toughness that lies ahead. “I think it’ll be a good game; they gave us a good run last year. It’s going to be an exciting game, and it will definitely be a close one. They’ve been building from last year and will come at us especially after the game we had on the weekend.”
The match is set to kick off at 8:10 PM at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Donoghoe has signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins and made his NRL debut in the opening round of the 2023 season against the Sydney Roosters. He recently re-signed with the club until the end of 2025 after playing a total of 10 matches during the 2024 NRL season, in which the team finished 10th on the points table.