He plays with "Mum" written on his wrist strapping, in honour of the woman he longs to see.
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And he plays with a fleet-footed explosiveness that has instantly made him one of Group 4's most attractive sights.
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On Saturday afternoon at Jack Woolaston Oval, Tevita Peceli, a Fijian flyer classic, crossed for five tries in North Tamworth's 60-10 touch-up of Boggabri.
The 25-year-old is en route to a special season that was delayed a year because of the pandemic.
He scored six tries in one match playing for Tamworth in the New England rugby comp last year, after joining the club when the Group 4 season was cancelled because of COVID. He had intended to play for Norths in 2020.
Hailing from Suva, the winger has been joined at the Bears by his countrymen, centres Livianai Tuicakau and Tevita Cegunavaili, and all three have been excellent additions to the reigning six-time premiers. Tuicakau crossed for two tries against the Roos.
Peceli has not seen his Fiji-based mother, Elena, since relocating to Tamworth to work at the Teys abattoir. He is in his second year in the city, having played first-grade rugby union for Newton in Suva. He also played rugby league in his homeland.
His mother has been the sole carer for his family since his father left when he was 21.
"I always miss Mum," he said. "Because Mum is always supporting me when I go to the footy. That's why I always put 'Mum' on the strapping."
Peceli has formed lethal left-edge combination that includes Tuicakau and five-eighth Scott Blanch, who returned to the starting side for the round four clash after being injured in a round one win over Dungowan.
Blanch was in typically destructive form against a Kangaroos side who are struggling after heavy back-to-back losses (Narrabri beat them 46-24 last round).
And like what happened against the Blues, Boggabri leaked a heap of points early against the Bears and went into the break 32-0 down after three tries to Peceli and one each to Blanch, Tuicakau and second-rower Jake McManus, who Blanch put into a gapping hole in the Roos' 20m zone.
Boggy scored their first try early in the second half when No 8 Nick Millar crashed over. But Norths responded with five unanswered tries: two more to Peceli, with him finding himself in open space on both occasions, and one each to Wadwell, Tuicakau and prop Ben Jarvis.
Roos centre Mitch Fletcher scored a late consolation try.
It was a remarkable 46th straight home win for Norths - their last loss coming to West Lions in round three in 2015.
Peceli is loving his Bears experience. "I really like this club," he said. "They always look after me ... I learn some things about footy."
NORTH TAMWORTH 60 (T Peceli 5, L Tuicakau 2, S Blanch, B Jarvis, J McManus, B Wadwell tries; B Taylor 4, McManus 2, M Sheridan 2 goals) d BOGGABRI 10 (N Millar, M Fletcher tries; R Doolan goals)