Hardworking Manly’s Jersey Flegg prop Kylan Mafoa has been rewarded for his strong performances for the Sea Eagles this season.

He also got a taste of the NSW Cup, now he is putting his hands up to make his international debut for the Vodafone Fiji Bati in the upcoming Pacific Bowls Championship.

Mafoa is the son of former Fijiana XVs prop and captain, Lailanie Burnes.

“It is my first time,” Kafoa said.

“Right now, I’m very excited, very grateful to be here. It’s a massive honour. It’s been a big goal of mine since I was a kid. It’s just very exciting, very grateful right now.”

Kafoa said he is putting his hands up to play for Bati but it would be tough.

“You know at the end of the day, it is international football and you know those countries (Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands), they produce NRL players all the time. A lot of first graders come from these countries and to play against them would be a massive honour. I’ll do whatever I have to do. It’s going to be a tough game.”

Mafoa said he grew up hearing that his grandfather played in the lower grades for Manly.

“I was always looking upto at him and other people in my family to play footy so footy was always massive for me. My mum and my aunty both played football. Growing up and hearing how my grandfather played was a massive part of why I started playing.”

He was born in Manly before he moved to Fiji.

“I’ve spent years here. I went to an international school in Nadi and later a Christian school. I lived in Nasoso and Namaka for a bit.”

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj