Injuries may have robbed him of two years in Force blue but Perth product Reesjan Pasitoa is determined to seize his opportunity in 2025 - wherever he can.
Pasitoa, 23, hasn’t tasted Super Rugby Pacific since laying on a 73rd minute try assist to sink the Hurricanes back in 2022 with successive season-ending injuries plaguing his short career.
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A little-known shoulder dislocation sustained for Perth-Bayswater last year threatened to further derail Pasitoa’s recovery after the playmaker was scratched from 2023 (ACL) and 2024 (elbow) but early signs indicate he’ll be available for selection come Round 1 against Moana Pasifika next week.
“We’re all good now, it’s been up and down but I’ve had a really good pre-season and I’m in a good headspace right now,” Pasitoa told rugby.com.au.
“It’s been interesting. With the ACL (in 2023) I had a whole year to work on myself. First time for a while I’d had a break - definitely not how I wanted it - but it was a good process and I learnt a lot about myself and my body.
“Cronno (Force coach Simon Cron) got me watching more games, more tape. I learnt a lot off-field and was starting to bring that on-field before I popped my elbow out (in 2024).
“So yeah, I’ve had a lot of time to work on my mental game. When my shoulder popped out for Perth-Bayswater after (2024) Super that was pretty tough too. I was just thinking ‘here we go again’ but I’m pretty lucky with the team we’ve got here.
“Now my body’s in a good spot and I’m mentally tough. Not many boys realised how long I’ve been out until I played that exhibition game against the Cheetahs so I’m excited to get an opportunity to get back out there and show everyone potentially what they’ve missed out on these past two years.”
While Pasitoa’s reputation as a junior sensation was forged at flyhalf, the emergence of Ben Donaldson and Max Burey as primary playmakers has seen him cast a wider net for selection in 2025.
“I’ve been running around in the centres, working on my power game,” Pasitoa explained.
“My running game is a strength so I’ve been training mostly at 12, a little bit of 13, just trying to see where I can fit in. I still enjoy playing 10 and I’ve always played 10 growing up, but I’ve just got to find my spot in this team.
“I trust Ben (Donaldson) at 10, he gives feedback and I listen, and Hamish Stewart and Sio Tompkinson have been great in centres. I’m picking their brains about what they’ve learned, same with Matt Proctor.”
Cracking this Force squad will be no mean feat with Donaldson, Stewart and Harry Potter among their Wallaby-laden backline but Pasitoa is no shrinking violet.
He still harbours a burning desire to represent Australia on the world stage – and knows a breakout 2025 with the Western Force can help realise that dream.
“First off (the goal is) to get back into his Force team. We’ve got a really good squad and there’s awesome competition across the board but everyone’s got goals and I want to play this year," he said.
“The end goal is still that Wallabies arena – that’s the pinnacle for me, to be in that space and learning – but first we’ve got to win here. We’ve had a really enjoyable pre-season working a lot on connection, our relationships. and we’re pushing each other to be better all the time.”
