Lawrence Ellison, Project Manager at MacMark Construction and Development, has recently joined the board of the Kaiviti Silktails Rugby League Football Club. With a deep passion for sports and community development, Ellison’s involvement signals a bright future for the club and its young athletes.
Ellison first became aware of the Kaiviti Silktails in 2020 when they entered the Ron Massey Cup. “Being the local Fiji Rugby League team, I was excited to be able to go watch some semi-professional Rugby League games at Prince Charles Park & Churchill Park. Being coached at the time by Wes Naiqama, I was excited to support the Club and now I’m at every home game cheering the boys on,” he shared.
In discussing the values crucial for youth sports and community development, Ellison emphasized the importance of attitude and discipline. “I would definitely say attitude & discipline are two fundamental values our youth need to have in today’s society. Having both of these key components will go a long way to being successful both in sports & within the wider community.”
What draws Ellison to the Silktails program is the opportunities provided to young players both on and off the field. “The most compelling part of the Silktails Program that interests me is easily the opportunity that is being provided by the Club to these young players. The Jersey Flegg Competition is the largest nursery of future NRL Players in the world, and the Program provides a 26-week competition of the highest standard for these young Fijian players to test their skills against the best Australian talent. Off the field, the opportunities and mentoring that the Club provides through employment really interest me personally. We have plans to increase this each year and provide skills training with Australian accreditation so that they can continue to provide for their families post-football.”
Ellison recalls memorable experiences with the Silktails players that showcase their growth. “There’s definitely been plenty, but if I had to pick two that stand out, it’s the way in which the players have all come out of their shell over the duration of the season so far, from pre-season to playing week-in week-out. The confidence and maturity of the team have increased tenfold. The first Jersey Flegg win versus St George while the NSWRL Board was here was a big one; especially for Meliseteki Nacaginimasei, who is an employee of ours, having kicked the winning field goal which meant a lot to the entire Club and its supporters.”
Lawrence hopes that his involvement is already making a major impact on the players and their families. “Whether that’s through employment, Man of the Match Awards, or just being there as an older brother figure, a lot of the players come from broken families or have parents working overseas, so it has been good to form a close bond with them.”
The Silktails’ philosophy of integrating work and play resonates with Ellison. “When the Club made it a prerequisite that if you don’t work, you don’t play, we were more than happy to provide employment to a group of players. By giving the boys structure and an understanding that hard work is rewarded has been very beneficial to the players’ development both on and off the field. It’s pretty cool that these young players get to work, train, and play with their teammates, which has been one of the points of difference to last year.”
As he sets his sights on future goals, Ellison mentioned ongoing plans for the club. “Most of the goals have been set in place for 2025, so we will continue to provide an area of support to the Club from an Australia/Fiji perspective. There are so many great stories and goals being ticked off each week, so we just need to continue the momentum for the remainder of the season and we are looking forward to what the future holds for the organization.”
Ellison is already implementing significant changes to support community development surrounding the Silktails. “We’ve put a few things in place already, and some of those will be announced in the coming weeks, but the upgrade to infrastructure is a key component for us. The new training gym in Lautoka will allow the team to maximize their training programs, which will reflect on the field and into the future.”
About Lawrence Ellison
Lawrence Ellison was born and raised in rugby league heartland Ipswich, Queensland, naturally becoming a sporting enthusiast and lover of all sports, playing his junior rugby league with Brothers Ipswich. Ellison has been proactive within Fiji’s sports community, serving as the Chairman of the Nadi Cricket Association for the last seven years. During his tenure, he has played an instrumental role in reviving cricket in the Western Division of Fiji and has previously sat on the Board of Cricket Fiji. Ellison continues to provide critical infrastructure to Fiji and is further implementing this through various essential sports infrastructure upgrades, which will be showcased through the Kaiviti Silktails’ new training gym to be carried out in Lautoka in the coming weeks.
Growing up in sunny Queensland and spending school holidays in Fiji visiting his father, Ellison quickly realized how fortunate Australia is regarding sports infrastructure. Watching the State of Origin at Suncorp Stadium as a child and seeing Kaiviti Silktails Chairman Petero Civoniceva has been a full circle moment for him. Ellison views his role on the board as a privilege and an honor to be a part of the Kaiviti Silktails Vuvale.
