By Liam Cook

Norths’ winger Pauly Rakatau-Wiperi is confident that his side’s courage throughout the first half of the season will help in their contest with Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval this weekend.

“As a team, we’re not doing too great but I feel like we’re getting better each week and we just need to play for the full eighty,” Rakatau-Wiperi told Rugby News.

The Eagles have been ravaged by injury to this point of the 2022 competition and languish at the bottom of the table without a win.

Coming off a much-needed bye, Norths’ will be confident they can secure their first victory against a Souths side they drew with in round one.

“We are expecting some tough carries and fast gameplay this weekend,” Rakatau-Wiperi said.

Adding to Norths’ belief is the fact that Souths’ will be backing up on Saturday afternoon from a rescheduled game on Wednesday which they lost against Easts.

Despite the taxing and injury riddled season Norths’ have endured so far, the resilience of the team has never wavered according to Rakatau-Wiperi.

“We have been sticking together and believing in the players coming up who are filling in.”

The Eagles’ talent has been one of few players to be on the park in every game this season.

Much like his teammates however, the winger’s form and fitness is still a work in progress.

“I’d give it about a seven out of ten. It’s not been at its best lately.”

“My body is not really at 100% at the moment. Once I can get it up to scratch, I feel like I can give it my best.”

Now in his second year at Norths, Rakatau-Wiperi started his rugby journey idolizing his older brother.

The young prodigy is a New Zealand product who has enjoyed different opportunities in his career prior to joining premier rugby in Queensland.

“Start of 2019 I played club rugby back home in New Zealand for our team Fielding Old Boys-Oroua.”

“After that season I got asked if I wanted to go play over in Holland where I played for a year.”

Rakatau-Wiperi describes his best attributes as proactive defence coming out of the line, speed, and evasive footwork.

Many individuals have stood up despite the large absence of first choice players according to Rakatau-Wiperi.

“I think our fullback ‘Joey’ (Joseph Veramu), our number eight Will Rogers and AJ Woulf. Also, our other number eight ‘Sifa’ (Sosifa Funaki) has been playing really well.”

The winger and his teammates will be eager to prove their resilience once again by claiming a win over Souths this weekend.