Tweed Seagulls second-rower Lamar Liolevave to make debut for Fiji against Samoa tomorrow

Tweed Seagulls coach Ben Woolf believes one of his stars has the talent to reignite his NRL career.

TWEED Seagulls coach Ben Woolf believes Lamar Liolevave has the talent to reignite his NRL career and the star back-rower will on Saturday have a golden chance to take the first step.

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A one-game NRL player for Wests Tigers in 2015, Keebra Park product Liolevave will showcase his talents on the international stage when he makes his Test debut for Fiji against Samoa in Auckland.

The 23-year-old, who was born in Auckland and played for the Junior Kiwis in 2014, qualifies for Fiji through his grandmother and will become Tweed’s fifth international representative this year in the 11.20am battle at Eden Park.

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Joined by former Titan Ben Nakubuwai in the Bati line-up, Liolevave will come off the bench in a game Woolf says could kickstart his journey back to the NRL.

“I definitely think he does (have the talent), I think the key for him I finding consistency with his footy. If he can find that I think he’s definitely capable of playing at a high level,” Woolf said.

Tweed’s Lamar Liolevave will make his Test debut for Fiji tomorrow. Picture: SMP Images

“He’s a really good bloke, Lamar. He had a game with the Wests Tigers but it just didn’t eventuate for him. He probably didn’t work hard enough to stay in those systems.

“He’s a very athletic back rower with good footwork and strong carry. He finished the year really strongly, which is what I think the section has come off the back of.”

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Liolevave has been a pillar of strength in his three seasons with Tweed, missing just one Intrust Super Cup game each year to rack up 66 appearances in the black and white.

His efforts, which helped the Seagulls reach the semi finals this year for the first time since 2014, caught the attention of ISC rivals and Broncos feeder club Redcliffe but he has recommitted to Tweed for 2020.

“Redcliffe did offer him a contract but he knocked it back to stay with Tweed and continue his progression with us,” Woolf said.

“We were probably pretty unlucky to lose to Redcliffe in the semi final and the guys realised that if we stick together and keep working hard we can do a bit better in this competition. (Lamar) is really close with a lot of those boys and I just think he wanted to stick with those boys and achieve something with the group of mates he has there.”

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Tweed’s CJ Sims and Teaghan Hartigan played for Fiji’s women’s team this year, while clubmate Tarryn Aiken featured for the Jillaroos at last month’s World Cup Nines.

Seagulls Mal Meninga Cup graduate Xavier Coates made his Test debut for PNG against Samoa in June and is likely to line up for the Kumuls against Fiji next weekend.