The interim Fiji Bati coach says more time and effort needs to be spent on development in rugby league, especially in the Pacific Islands.
Former Penrith Panthers and New South Wales State of Origin player Matt Adamson will coach the Bati against Papua New Guinea next month in the annual Pacific Test.
The Fiji Bati were eliminated by Australia in the Rugby League World Cup semi final. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 45 year-old previously worked in various coaching and player development roles with the Melbourne Storm and said it was part of the game that needed more attention.
"My passion - one of my gripes actually - with rugby league is our lack of development. It was something as a young kid when I came into the Parramatta system back in the early 1990s development was an integral part of rugby league but I've seen over the years that has sort of wavered a little bit," he said.
"It's become more the responsibility of the NRL and the ARL rather than being put into clubs. I just think for an island like Fiji, and many other Pacific Islands actually, it's a really integral part of trying to help some of these young kids really hit their peak and reach a development and create a pathway."
Matt Adamson. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Matt Adamson previously applied for the Fiji Bati job four years ago and was contacted by the board of the Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) when former coach Mick Potter resigned after the World Cup.
He is a regular visitor to Fiji for work and said he would continue to help develop rugby league in the country, whether he has an official role or not.
"I was in Fiji doing business and just saw an amazing abundance of talent and potential visiting Marika Koroibete's old college and Suliasi Vunivalu's schools as well, so I was just getting in there doing some work and helping some of these young kids," he said.
"It's just an exciting opportunity and from there I got offered this opportunity to look after the test team going into this upcoming test at the end of June."