In the spotlight: Ilami Buli

Most players within the Hastings Deering Colts want to one day play in the NRL.

First stop Colts, then Hostplus Cup and then that ultimate dream.

But for Central Queensland Capras under 21s captain Ilami Buli, his biggest career goal is to one day play for Fiji.

The giant prop, born in Proserpine, started playing rugby league in under 7s in Mackay and took up the sport after he was inspired by the Fijian players at the top level.

"I watched all the Fijian players when I was younger and I just loved watching them play," Buli said.

"That's what got me started.

"I look up to Viliame Kikau. He's a great player and hopefully one day I can represent Fiji, like him.

"I know NRL is everyone's goal but trying to play for Fiji is my goal.

"I'm just proud of being Fijian. I watched my parents and how hard they worked for us to live a better life, just to come to Australia. 

"They grew up in Fiji and my dad moved over and then my mother came and they came over here because of us kids, I guess to provide us with a better life."

Buli - a middle child of three - played his junior rugby league with the Walkerston Wanderers and progressed through the Mackay Cutters Academy before he moved to Emerald in 2018.

He played in the Central Highlands competition for Emerald Brothers and did boarding at St Brendan's in Yeppoon and that's how he landed in the Capras system.

The 20-year-old has been playing in the Colts competition since he was 18 and now, in his third year, is the captain of the team.

So far in season 2023, the Capras have struggled to find their groove, sitting in 13th on the competition ladder with five losses and one draw.

It's a different story to last year when Central Queensland finished in the top four and bowed out one week before the grand final.

With a high turnover rate after last year and a number of younger kids playing at the Colts level for the first time, Buli said it was a challenge that was to be expected.

"It's been a tough season to start," Buli said.

"We're trying to build as a team. There's new faces in the team from last year so we're trying to build on being more connected this year.

"It's really tough. We're missing some boys due to injuries and some boys going up to Cup but it is what it is. We have to get through it."

For Buli, it's been a big learning curve to take on a leadership position this season with the struggles his side are facing, but one that he is embracing.

The young skipper said he used to look up to former Colts captain Sam Strohfeldt and is learning from Cup duo Jack Madden and Trey Browne as he guides his team, but also works out what kind of leader he wants to be.

"It's a learning process but I'm getting used to it," Buli said.

"I'm trying to learn off the boys from Cup, like Jack Madden and Trey Browne. Sam Strohfeldt was our captain before... he was my captain from school to the Capras. I've learnt off him. I know how hard he works on and off the field and his attitude.

"For me, it's about keeping the boys motivated and trying to push everyone. There's new faces and most of our team hasn't played this competition before so trying to feed that information to them.

"I'm not too sure on (what type of leader Buli is) yet. I want to lead by example off the field mostly, trying to show the boys that preparing yourself and getting your body right is key to making it in this competition."

The Buli-led Capras will face another big challenge this Saturday as they hunt for their first win, taking on the Tweed Seagulls at Piggabeen Sports Complex from 12pm.