'Ego hit': Tahs midfielder aiming for Wallaby recall after frightening neck injury

NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar is tipping strike centre Lalakai Foketi to rebound from a 2024 “ego hit” and re-emerge as a Wallabies contender under Joe Schmidt.

After a rough start to last year’s Super Rugby Pacific season, when he missed the opening six weeks with a frightening neck injury, Foketi didn’t feature for Schmidt.

But McKellar is backing the revitalised 30-year-old to hit back and rediscover his best after returning to peak fitness in a strong pre-season with the Waratahs.

“He had a rough year last year with injury and I’m just really pleased that he’s got himself into probably career-best shape, to be honest.” McKellar said ahead of the Waratahs’ hosting of the Fijian Drua on Friday night.

“He’s trained really well and ideally we get a little bit more ball in his hands than we did in round one.”

Foketi, who’s equally at home at inside or outside centre, was taken to hospital in a neck brace after a ruck collision before the Waratahs’ opening game last season.

“That would have impacted his confidence,” McKellar said.

“It was a pretty serious injury by all accounts and would have knocked him around.

“But having coached him at Wallaby level, he’s a really good player – powerful both sides of the ball.

“So I’m pleased with La. I know he’s really motivated to have a big year. He just seems to be loving his footy because it might have been taken away from him.

“He’s just a good man. He’s obviously got a young family now and his priorities have changed.

“He just seems to be in a really good head space off the field and I think that flows onto your on-field performance as well.”

Foketi said Schmidt was “nice enough” to call him when he was first overlooked for Wallabies selection last year.

“He said that I didn’t do enough for the Tahs that year, which is fair enough,” said the nine-Test midfielder.

“I’m probably my harshest critic and I didn’t expect to be in there.

“It’s an ego hit when you get the call saying you’re not in the team, but I quickly brushed that off.

“We had a few conversations. It was more my movement around the field and how I get involved.

“I pride myself on my ball carry and that wasn’t up to scratch, and defensively making good reads.

“It was good honest feedback and I probably needed that.”

Foketi admitted he had motivational issues last year “because of myself and where I was at with the game”.

“This year it’s changed,” he said. “I get in here every day and I’m excited, so my main priority is to perform consistently with the Waratahs.

“I’ve just got to go out there and deliver when it matters.”