Fiji debutant Gordon Whippy will live out a childhood dream when he takes the field in Port Moresby on Sunday alongside the likes of Bati stars Maika Sivo and Tui Kamikamica.
Whippy made headlines back in 2020 when a video was posted of the then Raiders Jersey Flegg player putting his teammates to shame in the viral gym challenge, Thor Hammer Barbell challenge.
Since then, the Fijian forward has spent time in the Rabbitohs development system and most recently featured at prop for the Ipswich Jets in the Hostplus Cup.
A naturally gifted athlete, having previously represented Fiji in both swimming and athletics, Whippy said he will be filled with emotion when he dons the blue of Fiji Bati for the first time on Sunday.
“I’m really excited, it’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid, like every Fiji kid growing up so I’m really exciting to learn off the big boys and play on Sunday,” Whippy said.
“I grew up in Fiji and attended Mount Saint Mary’s Primary all the way up until I was 18.
“But I attended another college when I was 18 where I got given the opportunity to come and play for Australia.”
Four years later the athletic forward is set to live out his childhood dream, named to start in the front row for Fiji alongside the likes of Sivo and Kamikamica.
“I’ve always wanted to go down the path of footy so watching them as a kid back in Fiji, it was always a dream of mine [to play for Fiji] and I’ve worked really hard to get here," he said.
“It puts me in awe, every time I think of it, that I’ll actually be running out with these boys.
“I know for sure I’ll get really nervous standing next to them in the tunnel but I’m just really excited as this is a great opportunity for me.”
Having scored five tries, made 35 tackle breaks and averaged 89 run metres in 15 games for Ipswich this year, Whippy hopes to bring his own game to the Bati’s while also linking up with the likes of Wests Tigers star Jahream Bula in attack.
“I think for me it’s just about putting my best qualities forward and it’s just about running hard and tackling hard going into this game for me," he said.
“He’s [Bula] is always pushing up in support through the middle and he’s really quick so I’ll just look to use him out the back and wherever he is and try and run off him.”
Experienced winger Sivo will cap his eighth appearance for Fiji on Sunday when the Bati open their Pacific Championships campaign against the Cook Islands.
The Parramatta flyer said with several fresh faces among the new-look Bati side, including debutants Whippy and Bula, he has naturally adopted more of a leadership role in camp this year.
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“We’ve got a couple of young ones [here]… I’ve been with the boys now in Bati since 2019 and there’s a couple of older ones like Tui [Kamikamica] and Mika [Ravalawa] and them," Sivo said ahead of Sunday's Pacific Championship clash.
“It’s good to have a couple of younger ones in the camp now to look up to you and I can’t wait to run out with them on Sunday.
“I’ll just tell them to go out and be yourself and just have confidence and don’t second guess yourself.”
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