Samu Kerevi is the one face in Australia’s medal-hungry rugby sevens squad who felt like he was home when he lands in Tokyo for the Olympics.
“I’m being sent home,” Kerevi laughed amid the thrill of his initial selection in coach Tim Walsh’s squad.
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It’s not just that he has played for the Suntory club in Japan since 2019 but a far more personal reason. Being a big brother sealed that deal.
Elder brother Josua and younger sibling Jone both live and play in Japan as well. They are now both so close but the spectator lockout of stadiums because of COVID-19 restrictions will make their reunion less than all had hoped.
Kerevi’s siblings were significant factors in his original decision to leave Australia two years ago when people pondered why he’d give up a secure Wallabies’ spot, after 33 Tests, and the captaincy of the improving Queensland Reds.
“My little brother (Jone) was the biggest factor in the whole thing,” Kerevi explained.
“I prayed about the situation, what I needed, what my family needed and being there for him.”
Kid brother Jone was finding his way with study and rugby at Tenri University at the time.
“I missed out on a lot of my little brother’s life while I was growing up in Australia and he was in Fiji. I wanted to be part of his growth as a man,” Kerevi said.
Kerevi was lamenting never getting to pass on big brother stuff as simple as how to shave or ride a proper bike.
Samu was a baby when his grandparents brought him to Brisbane in search of a better life. His two brothers stayed in Fiji with their parents.
Kerevi knows his brothers will be with him, even if not physically, when Australia opens the rugby sevens campaign against Argentina (11.30am Monday, AEST), South Korea (7pm) and New Zealand (11.30am Tuesday) in Pool A.
“My two brothers live here so they are my cheer squad,” Kerevi smiled.
“I’m creating memories with them here in Japan.”
Kerevi is the mystery element to Australia’s campaign. This will be a second Olympics for vastly-experienced sevens skipper Nick Malouf.
Kerevi has played just two top-level games albeit his youth included plenty of sevens and Fijian-style touch.
Coach Walsh, the master strategist who took the girls to Rio gold in 2016, was always going to roll the dice somehow. Just with who was the question.
He’s experimented with the ball playing of Quade Cooper, the straight-line speed of former track sprinter Trae Williams, former sevens gun Sean McMahon and other ideas.
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Come 2021 and Kerevi is his man.
“Walshy has backed me to bring a lot of energy off the bench. It's awesome. I’m still learning and there are always different situations to see on the field,” Kerevi said.
“Sevens is quick. I know that. If I attract an extra defender when I run there’s always going to be extra space somewhere to make it easier for someone else.”
Upset the Kiwis in pool play and the Aussies will earn a far easier run that could get them to the gold medal game.
Lose to the Kiwis and a potential finals path against South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, a second time if they get that far, has trip-ups everywhere.
Teammates like Joe Pincus are excited about the fresh dimension that a strong 106kg ball-runner like Kerevi can add.
“Samu has been so impressive at training. He’s a genuine footballer,” Pincus said. “He brings so many things that may have been missing. He draws in defenders, he offloads and he has footwork.
“He’s faced some big adjustments from XVs to sevens but he never needs to be told twice. He just gets to it.”
You’ll never see Kerevi play the full 14 minutes of a frantic sevens match. He may play five or six but they could be the game-changing minutes the Aussies need at a crucial time in Tokyo.
