Josaia Naulumatua Lovodua, widely known as Joe Lovodua, aspires for the Vodafone Fiji Bati players to serve as positive role models for Fiji’s youth amid rising drug use cases.
At 26 years old, Lovodua is making his comeback to the national rugby league team after missing the 2021 Rugby League World Cup due to an injury. He originates from Vabea in Ono, Kadavu, and has family ties to Naivucini in Naitasiri.
Lovodua expressed that reuniting with his relatives after over six years away from Fiji has been the highlight of his return. He praised the team’s community engagement initiatives and the joy of connecting with family members in person.
“The best thing is just seeing all the people and putting a smile on everyone’s face,” he remarked. “We understand that it’s a hard time going on in Fiji right now, concerning drugs and all that, but we just want to be a positive role model in the public for the kids looking up to us.”
He expressed his enthusiasm at being back in the Fiji Bati camp after a lengthy absence. With several younger players in the squad, Lovodua believes the future of the team looks bright and is thankful for his selection. He hopes to be part of the next World Cup team.
“It’s always an ambition and goal of mine to be available for selection in the World Cup team,” Lovodua stated. “We always perform well in the World Cup, often underestimated by other nations. The board and the team aim higher; they want to reach the finals and not just be there to fill numbers. We aim to keep improving.”
When discussing the upcoming match against the Cook Islands Aitu, Lovodua acknowledged the challenge they present. He stated, “There’s a lot of pride and passion in the game, with both sides eager to give their best performance for their nation. We all take pride in where we come from and where our parents are from.”
He believes the team has learned valuable lessons from their previous game against Papua New Guinea and is determined to correct their mistakes in the upcoming match. Currently, Lovodua plays for the Doncaster rugby league club in England.