The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have signed rising Fijian pathways players Sailosi Molikula, Fia Colati, and Weni Turagaitoga to join the club in 2028.
The trio of young talent was identified through the club's pathway connection with the Fijian-based club, the Kaiviti Silktails, which plays in the NSWRL Jersey Flegg.
The trio of talent will remain in Fiji for 2027 and continue plying their trade in the Under-21s competition, before heading to Sydney in their final year of eligibility for the Jersey Flegg competition in 2028 to continue their dream of playing in the NRL.
It is a significant milestone for the Silktails club, developing strong talent who have been rewarded for their exceptional work on and off the field.
“Sailosi, Fia and Weni have demonstrated over an extended period that they possess the ability and potential to progress into the higher grades of Rugby League,” Bulldogs pathways coach Craig Wilson said in an NSWRL statement.
“We have already witnessed the success of former Silktails players progressing through the Bulldogs pathways teams. The next challenge is to help these players take their development to another level and continue moving towards senior Rugby League.”
It takes the total tally to four Silktails players contracted by the Bulldogs, with the latest crop joining Seremiah Ramasima as future stars in Belmore.
Joining that list are Gabriel Rawaimila, Alipate Qoro, Noah Rauluni, and Tevita Wanisi, all earmarked to progress into the Bulldogs system in Sydney this year.
The Fijian rising prospects are set to graduate from the program at the end of the Flegg season and train part-time with the Bulldogs in the 2027 preseason this November.
Given that the World Cup looms at the end of this year, it acts as a motivating tool for the next generation of Fijian talent to strive to take part in the 2030 campaign on the biggest stage.
“These contracts are recognition of much more than Rugby League ability. They reflect the commitment these young men have shown to becoming quality people through our work, study and high-performance program,” Silktails chief executive Stephen Driscoll said.
“The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs continue to provide an outstanding pathway for our players, and it is exciting to see another three young Fijians earn this opportunity.
“Seeing another three young players earn contracts while our senior players prepare to transition into the Bulldogs senior system demonstrates that our pathway is working exactly as intended.
“It provides our players with a clear progression from Fiji into one of the NRL's strongest development environments while ensuring they leave our program as better footballers, workers and people.”
All three of the recently signed players are under 19 years of age and will continue to develop as they finish passing through the Silktails Elite Development Pathway Program.
The impact will not only hope to yield results on the field but also hope to give Fijian youth ambitions to reach the NRL as the number of Pacific Islander contributions to the game continues to grow.
