Seventeen-year-old Jason Qareqare had a dream start to his Super League career after scoring a try on debut for the Castleford Tigers of West Yorkshire in England.
The Fiji-born teenager’s performance on the field for the Tigers against Hull Football Club attracted attention from Super League fans after he scored 45 seconds after his first touch of the ball.
Although the Castleford Tigers went down to Hull FC, Qareqare’s magic touch has been hailed as a fairytale start to what could be a promising rugby league career.
Speaking to this newspaper, Jason’s mother Dee Qareqare, said it was a whirlwind couple of days before the Queen Ethelburga’s Independent School student got the call from his new coaching staff.
“We were not really expecting him to be called up to play for the main team,” she said.
“He was actually preparing to play for the U19 team, but then he got the call while he was still in school that I needed to pick him up because he was playing that afternoon.”
She said Jason’s lifelong dream was to play professional rugby.
“He started in rugby union when he was young and was playing for his school teams and when we moved to West Yorkshire, the game they played here was rugby league.
“So he adapted to the game.”
Qareqare was offered a part time training opportunity with the Castleford Tigers Academy program developing his skills. His mother says his sacrifice and commitment to his training regime has paid off.
“He is very focused and knows what he wants to do.
“Even though I personally think it’s a little too fast but everything is in God’s hands.
“We are grateful that he is on his way to realising his dreams and we will continue to support him.”
